[Public-List] Rudder re-build & mis-aligned stock

Len Payne lenpayne at bresnan.net
Mon Nov 14 09:50:06 PST 2011


Good morning to Everyone.
I recently purchased an Alberg 35 that is currently undergoing re-fit in Charlevoix, MI.
I know she's not a '30', but you guys seem to have some pretty good discussions and advice.
Besides, she's just the Big Sister you your boats (I had planned to buy a '30', but could not pass this up).
The rudder was in pretty bad shape, so I'm building a new rudder for "Myranda".
I finally got the mahogany plank in and got the rudder laid-out and roughly cut-out. 
I have cut 1/2" x 1-1/2" slots in the mating edges and cut splines of mahogany, snug-fit, with the grain 90* to that of the rudder parts. I will epoxy those together and will use 3/16" x 1-1/2" SS "U"-straps around the rudder stock, along with epoxy bedded bolts ( may also reuse the drift pins to help hold the two parts together). Where the rudder meets the rudder stock, I will use thickened epoxy to bed the stock and the bolts to draw the rudder tight to the stock.
The problem I have is that the holes in the upper stock are 15* out of line with how the stock is bent into the propeller aperture. It appears that the bolt holes were drilled in the rudder stock, then the stock was bent to the appropriate angle. However, when the stock was put in the press for the bend, then bolt holes were 15* out of line with the bend made in the rudder stock.
Then the bolts were, apparently, set in the stock, bent to match the mis-bent stock, then the rudder was mounted to the bent bolts - rather than throw the mis-bent stock away when the boat was built.
What I plan to do is to ream the holes in the stock, machine 1/2" rod to about 0.0020" oversize and press-fit those pieces into the holes, then redrill the holes in proper alignment. I think that the material is Alloy 464 Naval Brass, but I'm not sure. What kind of electrolysis problems, if any, will I have in fresh water, or salt, if the alloys are not the same? Shouldn't be much, I would think.
Besides being pressed into the existing holes, I was going to braze, or peen the ends, to insure that the plugs will not shift.
I'll have to buy a 6' length of the 1/2" Naval Brass, but will use less than 1' of it - know of anyone that might want to buy some of the left-over?
Please feel free to comment on my plans.
Has anyone faced a problem like this?
Has anyone rebuilt the rudder on their A-30?
Ideas? Comments?
Thanks,
Len Payne
A-35 #A-192, "Myranda"


More information about the Public-List mailing list