"Joe" wrote

Water dripping out of a rudder give me the willies, recipe for disaster.

According to two boatyards I've talked to, it's far more common than you
would think. They say the only foam and glass rudders that don't have some
water in them are the ones where no holes have been drilled to check.
Considering the strains and the nature of the materials and interface where
the stock enters, I think water intrusion is pretty much inevitible with
conventional construction. Only something like leaving a space in the foam
and injecting something tenacious and resiliant like 5200 around the places
where the shaft enters is likely to keep water out.

My rudder was in fresh water until 2005 so I'm not as concerned about it as
I might be. However, I do plan to remove and rebuild it before too many
years.

--
Roger Long

On Feb 26, 11:15*am, "Roger Long" wrote:
"Joe" wrote

Water dripping out of a rudder give me the willies, recipe for disaster..

According to two boatyards I've talked to, it's far more common than you
would think. *They say the only foam and glass rudders that don't have some
water in them are the ones where no holes have been drilled to check.
Considering the strains and the nature of the materials and interface where
the stock enters, I think water intrusion is pretty much inevitible with
conventional construction. *Only something like leaving a space in the foam
and injecting something tenacious and resiliant like 5200 around the places
where the shaft enters is likely to keep water out.

My rudder was in fresh water until 2005 so I'm not as concerned about it as
I might be. *However, I do plan to remove and rebuild it before too many
years.

--
Roger Long

Hollow steel rudder filled with antifreeze is a good way to go.

Joe

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...

According to two boatyards I've talked to, it's far more common than you
would think. They say the only foam and glass rudders that don't have
some water in them are the ones where no holes have been drilled to check.

Two out of four of my rudders (one each on two cats)had water inside, before
any holes were drilled. As easy as it is to plug a hole in fiberglass, I'm
skeptical about what your boatyards say.

Two haulings ago I drilled two holes(different heights) fore and aft through
both walls of the rudder post (ss pipe) of each rudder. Now I don't have to
re-drill the rudder to drain any water. I just stick a long tube down the
post and use my oil change pump to extract any water. This can be done while
afloat, as well.