2019-05-31; 16:22:51 EDT
Member Since
2005-04-29
Posts: 805
Chuy: I just refurbished my rudder. I hadn't cracked but it had osmpsis and I discovered substantial voids in its core. I was worried about water working its way in and then freezing. I expect that freezing is the last of your worries in Arizona but the cracks suggest voids to me. You can find voids by tapping on the rudder with the butt end of a wood-handled screwdriver. When you think you have found a void drill two holes at either side of the void. If there is any hint of moisture inside the rudder you will need to let it dry thoroughly. That might mean drilling more holes and pumping air through the core with your shop vac. Once you are sure that the core is dry inject slightly thickened epoxy into one hole until it comes out the second hole. when that is taken care of you can repair the cracks by digging them out and filling with thickened epoxy. I covered the rudder with six coats of Interlux barrier coating 2000 and antifouling paint. Graham Stewart Agile 1976 Rhodes 22 Kingston OntarioSee the original archive post