Bent rudder post repair ideas please?

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Seanorita is a 1981 Hunter 33 with a yanmar 2gm20fWe were towed across a sandbank recently (by well meaning park personnel here) when some very strong southern winds (that were feeding a recent north storm) overpowered our ability to get outta its way.The rudder will not clear the hull by a tiny bit, which I translate as a bent rudder post. I have dived it. We have a typical edison pedestal steering with new cables, pulleys, etc.Can anyone indicate the best repair strategy?Many thanks again for the great support from this website and its users!Bob Pullen

 

[Richard Shelby]

Foss foam

These guys make Hunter rudders. They did one for my H37c after Katrina bent the stock of the old one.

 

[Paul F]

shoal draft

Imagine you have a shoal draft. I have one on my '80 33 and have had the same problem. If the rudder scraps just a little and you can still steer with a little effort. I would recommend leaving it alone and the rudder will wear down and be usable again in a while. I know not the best answer but it worked for me for a few years until like you a tow boat bent it and tore a hole in the rudder post thru-hull. At that time I had the rudder post replaced and the rudder itself modified. Took 7" off the bottom and added 7" to the back. I had a very good fiberglass company do the work. The rudder works better than original in that there is more rudder surface than before. The boat has a design flaw in that the rudder is longer than the keel and when you hit bottom it hits first. See if your insurance policy will cover the damage, as the repair is not inexpensive.