[Public-List] Drain Your Rudder ?

[Jonathan Bresler via Public-List]

Folks,

SAIL magazine "Tip of the Week" has the following, among other ideas:

Drain your Rudder

When I bought my first cruising sailboat, I falsely assumed the rudder was
watertight. I later learned otherwise when I began seeing rust streaks at
the seams. The staff at my boatyard informed me that water can get into the
rudder around the rudderstock where it meets the fiberglass. To reduce
fiberglass delamination, internal rusting of the rudder’s armature and the
possibility of blisters forming, they recommended I drill a small hole near
the bottom of the rudder whenever I haul my boat for storage in the fall.

Now every year when I drill a hole in my rudder, I am amazed at the trickle
of water that comes running out. I leave the hole open through the winter
to allow the rudder to drain completely. In the spring before bottom
painting, I patch the hole with a little Marine-Tex. –Bill Bleyer


Never heard of doing such a thing before.   Thoughts ?

-- 
Jonathan M Bresler
S/V Constance Alberg 30 #262
Annapolis/Eastport MD