Rudder Repair

Triticum had a successful cruise in the San Juan Islands.  Skipper wasn't paying attention and the rudder found a rock. Fortunately nothing was lost and I didn't hit the prop under power.  Next question - How should I go about repairing this damage?

 

Hundreds of rudder repair videos on You Tube.  Just search, and watch several.   Photo is not showing the full extent of the damage?   Does not look too serious.  Waterproof any blems that will allow water to soak inside.

Try to do a repair, where the issues are not only fixed, it looks like it was never broken.

The main damage is where the lower pintal bolt was pulled almost two inches through the solid teak.  One suggestion was to put sheets of Aluminum on each side and run a number of screws into it to spread the load.  Another thought was to cut out the broken section and replace it with some screws and maybe external metal plates for reinforcing.  Since the damage is at the waterline, it won't have much impact on the hydrodynamics.

Go to the marine store and buy some epoxy (West System is the best) and some adhesive filler such as West System 404 High Density Filler.

Mix the epoxy and then add the filler until it is thick enough to not drip freely from your stir stick.

Prep the surface you are repairing by cleaning and sanding it so it is free from dirt and any oil, sludge or seaweed. Then apply the thickened epoxy to the area to repair, let it cure, sand it to shape and re-drill new holes.

The epoxy will be stronger than the original wood.

Make sure you buy marine grade epoxy, what you find at Home Depot is not what you want.
Also, make sure that you fill the holes with epoxy completely but be careful not to glop on too much of the mixture as this thickened epoxy is difficult to sand.

Good luck!

I agree with Diggs about the repair, and in fact have done some that way. I don't use West, but that is a personal choice. I would recommend that if you have a farm supply store around to go get a couple of the biggest syringes that you can find and put the thickened epoxy in one and squirt it all the way down into the wounded rudder. You don't want any air pockets in there.
Russ

Thanks for the suggestions.  There is a farm supply a couple miles down the road from work.  I an still thinking about putting something in vertically to help tie the patch to the rest of the structure.  Maybe a stainless steel bar...

The risk you run with adding a stainless bar is that now your rudder will be stronger than your boat. If you have another accident, which would you prefer to break?

Very good point...  Now where was that post on a tilt up rudder, or maybe I should think about getting a hovercraft....

I finally got started on the rudder repairs today.  In looking closer, it is not the first time this rudder has had significant repairs.  Both bolts were embeded in fiberglass filler...   I know why I haven't been on the water...  What is everybody else's excuse?

heh i have different rudder problems.  took the boat out last weekend, cracked the handle.  now i gotta get a new wheelbarrow handle lol