Another Rudder Bites The Dust

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E

Ed

Well, in the tradition started by John, confession tradition that is, I managed to drive MYST into a submerged rock jetty last Thurs while on our way to Beaufort NC...Those of you that have been in and out of the Beaufort area are familiar with the one off the point of Radio Island... We were following another boat, and yes Rick, I do realise that I shouldn't follow another boat, but when they draw more than you do, well, you get the idea...We must have gotten set a bit, as the tide was still running in, and it does scream through there... Bottom line, as we motor sailed through, we clipped the jetty pretty had, before we could get the pressure off the staysail, we spun and knocked the rudder, cables off the stearing quadrant, and the rudder jammed...Now no steering...Got the staysail dowsed, the hook down..Cuaght so had that the sampson post snapped slam off...But it caught and we staed off the rocks and the "LST" ramp that is on the end of the island...For those of you that don't know, they load LST's off this island for Med Floats, as well as other deployments... Wendy got on the radio and called Sea Tow, who was on the scene in about 15 mins..They passed us a line, took the strain and allowed us to get all the chain and the 35 lb Delta back aboard...Then he moved us further out to gain some working room and got us in a hip tow...We attempted to use the emergency tiller, bu had found the rudder was trully jammed hard..He towed us to the same slip we were headed for over at the Beaufort Town docks... We spent the next couple of hours, untill dark, trying to get the rudder back into the "down" position...The guy that discovered the "Queen Ann's Revenge" Black Beard's ship, was helpfull with loaning us the scuba gear we needed...As well as the come alongs...We tried the chain, come along trick for several hours before we decided that we were wasting our time and air.... Sooooo, we made arrangements to haul out on Tues...And get the friendly Sea Tow bubbas to take us over there... On time, proffessional, etc...Got us out of the slip..and docked us at the yard's gas dock until the travel lift was ready for us (we were almost an hour early)..The slid us in the travel lift slip as easy as pie.. Turns out they would have aken us back down to the yard we normally use (a day's tow) if we had asked earlier, and got it arranged...All for the price of the membership...So far the only investment I have ever made that returned 3:1 on my investment... So, am I a dumb shit? Yep...But I'm not the only one....There were SEVEN boats that wacked that same structure over the time we were there..2 of them in excess of 55 ft, and professionally crewed....The marks in that area have been changed 3 times that I know of, twice in the last week alone...Not an excuse, but does drop my dumb factor a bit... All in all, a learning experience...We might not have done everthing right, but hat we did do after hitting was on the mark, and done fast enough to preclude any further damage... No leaks, and no other damage, other than a gouge in the keel and possibly a replacement rudder if it can't be fixed...Will find out today.. Ed S/V MYST
 

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E

Ed Schenck

Bogue Inlet?

No, you said Radio Island so you were already inside I think. That's a real shame Ed. I have stood on the rocks on Bogue Inlet and watched that tide come in. Always was thankful that I wasn't trying to get out . . .or in! I have been through there on charter fishing boats though. Where did you do the haulout? In case I ever need them. Would you feel safe with a "repair"? I guess I would have to watch it done. I guess opening up the glass/foam and welding in a new stock would not be that difficult. But maybe cost as much as a new one from Foss?
 
K

Kenneth Pfaff

Did Sea Tow just charge you for a tow or salvage?

(NM)
 
E

Ed

No Not Bouge Inlet

Noo Ed, we were running up the ditch headed towards Beaufort for the weekend with the yacht club from Camp LeJune... The haulout is at Town Creek Marina, they seem to be fairly organized, and have been very helpful... As far as the repair goes, I'm going to wait and see what the surveyor/adjuster thinks...The yard guys had a thought yesterday, maybe just taking a bit off the top of the rudder and removing the interference with the bottom skeg, and reglassing the top, and reinstalling it..Leaving the rudder sfat with the bend in it and pressing on that way..Again, gonna see what the the adjuster/surveyor has to say... Not sure if we want to go that way..A new one from Foss is up to $1600 plus shipping... As far as straightening the stock, I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with that... So, we wait and see... Reguards Ed
 
E

Ed

Sea Tow

No, it was a simple tow, both away from Radio Island, and from dock to dock...Memebrship covered it both ways....These guys were professional, helpful, etc...Cheapest 100 bucks you'll ever spend...The tow away from Radio Island would have been almost 300 bucks, and the dock to dock to get us to the yard would have been almost 400 bucks...All covered...As it turned out they would have done the tow all the way back to a yard closer to our home base, about 8 hours, for the memebership as well..Just would have to have arranged it for a weekday, had we thought about that we would have done that to make logistics easier on us..As it is, it's a bit over an hour away by car..Local yard is 15 mins... Ed S/V MYST
 
Feb 15, 2004
735
Hunter 37.5 Balt/Annapolis/New Bern
Comealongs worked for me...

I did a similar thing up at Hobucken last fall, although not on the rocks. Me, a large motoryacht and a tug/barge. Guess who lost? The rudder was hard up against the stub, etc. Once we hauled her out, we used a large come-along against the keel and she straightened right up. We had tried in the water without success. Whew, a load off my mind. BTW, I grew up around J'ville/Morehead but sail the Chesapeake now. Last fall was my first trip back down there via sail (37.5) and I have a newfound respect for you guys. Sailing with those cross winds, strong currents, and darn hard pack sand bottom was a real experience for me. I went hard aground right off town creek marina and it was hopeless. With all that, plus the summer crowds, you guys have my respect for just being out there. Best of luck.
 

Paul F

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Jun 3, 2004
827
Hunter 1980 - 33 Bradenton
Might consider a new steel post

My 33 went around last year. In this case Sea-tow did my rudder in when they pulled the boat off. The damage tore a hole in the fibberglass and the rudder post was bent. The guys who fixed the problem said that in their experience the bent post was likely over stressed and said it was best to replace it with a new one. It may be well to check around before bending the post back.
 

Ed6885

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Mar 7, 2004
18
Hunter 37-cutter Jacksville NC
Thanks for the insite

Well, the adjuster was at the boat Thurs afternoon and he reccomends replacement..(he's a surveyor too) So that is what we are going to go with...So far, from what he told me on the phone, he is going to cover what we need to do...Time and check will tell.. Ed
 
B

Brian

What does a new rudder cost?

What does a new rudder from Foss for the 37C cost? Mine has a large area of delamination and will consider a replacement if it isn't to much. Otherwise I will probably drill it and fill it with some sort of epoxy. I know it off the topic at hand, but does anybody have any other ideas for fixing delamination in the rudder?
 
Jun 7, 2004
1
Hunter 37-cutter Port Jefferson
Rudder cost

I wouldn't trust a rudder that has been bent and straightened. A new rudder from Foss Foam for my 37C was $1725 including $150 shipping from FL to NY. The new rudders are made with a thicker wall tubing, about .25" instead of the original .13", and for $75 Foss will add a solid insert where the post enters the hull. That may or may not be a good idea, if you get a big enough hit something has to give, could be the hull and big leak but a stronger rudder might survive damage in the first place, take your pick, I went with the solid insert. In any case check the fiberglass tube for wear, mine was very thin on one side, beefed it up with cloth and epoxy.
 
Apr 20, 2004
3
- - New Bern
Where is that rock jetty?

Sorry to hear of your grounding. So that I (and others?) may avoid a similar fate, where did you encounter the submerged jetty? I'm looking at chart 11545 and I'm guessing you were rounding the southern tip of Radio Island and cut it too close...? The chart doesn't show shallow water there but I see a couple rows of "pilings" symbols. Maybe that was it. This is an area I hope to visit soon... so any advice is appreciated!
 

Ed6885

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Mar 7, 2004
18
Hunter 37-cutter Jacksville NC
Submerged Jetty

That jetty is on the North side of the point of the island, it has a Day marker, off the end of it, not sure how far off the end...There were added, several green cans to the Taylor Creek side channel that made the "picture" look very confusing... I guess until they put a hazard marker, perminent built type, atop the submerged jetty there will be others I guess... The good news is, the rudder came out with no troubles at all, the adjuster has been to the boat, his estimate and the yards estimate were withing 100 bucks of each other...So we wait for the new rudder to get here, Foss said 3 weeks..We ordered it last Fri morning...New Sampson Post is on order at WM (good thing I work there!), will take that to the welders when it gets in and have a plate welded to it for mounting, along with a full size backing plate....And in the mean time, grind..fair and finish the gouges in the keel.. We will get the bottom painted upon arrival of the rudder so we can splash... Ed
 
S

scott

Brian, is your delam toward the top

of the rudder. This was the case on my rudder when I bought the boat. Was hauling for other work so had the yard drop the rudder. The plan was for epoxy to be injected which would push out the water. For some reason this plan was changed to grinding down the glass in the delaminated areas to expose the foam and then letting the rudder dry out for a week before reglassing. I had two areas probably less than 2 square feet in area that had puffed/bulged out. I think I paid the yard around $1,200 at $60/hr with materials for the rapair including removing and install of the rudder. The rudder was painted black or dark brown, and the thinking was that this caused the rudder to heat up whenever out of the water with moisture in it and the water expanded and deformed the glass. I painted with light blue before the re-install. Scott
 
B

Brian

It's in the middle

The delamination is a round area about 6-8 inches across on the starboard side of the rudder in about the middle. My plan was to drill the area several times in different places and fill it with the thin West Marine penetrating epoxy. I figure if I drill it at the beginning of the lay-up season, it will be ready for the epoxy by spring. This way should be cheap and easy. Do you think the reason why your yard changed their mind on the course of action was because they could get more money that way?
 
S

scott

Hey Brian

I think the issue with the yard had something to do with the time involved with getting the rudder dry once some exploratory holes were done. If would be quicker to repair if the skin was opened up. your plan sounds fine. Other have also drilled hole(s) in the bottom to see how much water drains out and to dry out the rudder before injecting the "bulge". Also think about barrier coat on the rudder this winter, now I can't remember what I did in this respect. Scott
 

Ed6885

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Mar 7, 2004
18
Hunter 37-cutter Jacksville NC
Fairing Underway!

Well, we finally got the time to start fairing the keel..After judicious use of a hammer to reshape the lead..Ground/Sanded the effected area, we applied West System along with thickener, using the slower hardner because of the temperature we only got one coat on...We will be back today to sand, then apply a second coat and fair it up some more... The rudder was ordered last Fri, they said three weeks, so we wait for it..
 
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