28-5 rudder split

[Jeff McVittie]

My rudder on my 28-5 is split down the rear seam when I purchased it. So now I have to decide whether to try to repair it or purchase a new one and if so what kind do I purchase and where. Thanks

 

[Phil Herring]

If you do need to purchase a new one...

http://shop.hunterowners.com/detail-ff.htm?group=889

I'm not sure if the foam rudders can be repaired but I'm sure people here wiser than I will know.

 

[Steve Dion]

I would suggest that you take the glass off of you rudder before you try to patch it. Many times the water may get to the welds.

If it is beyond repair Phil has the perfect place to purchase a new one.

 

[Cmp1110]

Just finished my rudder!! Was not to horrible drying is the key I left mine in a 20% humidity dome with a heater and dehumidifier running for two three weeks the rest is sanding grinding scraping used west epoxy filled all voids, reglassed bottom 3 inches coated with interprotect 2000 to hopefully seal it up mostly just time consuming

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Looking at where you are I can tell you from experience that it splits because the water inside freezes when the boat is on the hard for the winter. I had the same problem. Your rudder is probably a Fossfoam rudder. Mine is. I repaired it in place by opening the split wider and letting it dry. Then filled with epoxy and fabricated a form with plywood to squeeze it back in its original shape. Finished with reglassing where required. I now avoid the freezing problem by drilling a couple of 3/8" holes underside when the boat is out of the water in the Fall. Whatever little water that gets in it drains off through these holes and the rudder dries completely over the winter. I patch the holes with Watertight epoxy in the Spring, repaint the patched area with antifouling and I'm good to go. good luck

 

[Warren Milberg]

Here is a good article on rudder repair from the H28.5 website:

http://www.huntertwentyeightfive.com/rudder.html

 

[dansleau]

Tell us the story

My rudder on my 28-5 is split down the rear seam when I purchased it. So now I have to decide whether to try to repair it or purchase a new one and if so what kind do I purchase and where. Thanks

Tell us the story of how you got your boat and how you got your boat home.

 

[Jeff McVittie]

Just finished my rudder!! Was not to horrible drying is the key I left mine in a 20% humidity dome with a heater and dehumidifier running for two three weeks the rest is sanding grinding scraping used west epoxy filled all voids, reglassed bottom 3 inches coated with interprotect 2000 to hopefully seal it up mostly just time consuming

Nice looking job. I think thats the way to go. Ill open it up and go from there. I think its worth a try before spending $1600 on a new rudder. Thanks for the info