C30 rudder cracks/ brown goo

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Mar 16, 2009
4
2 30 Douglas
:cry: Every year, for the last five years, I've had to repair cracks, and leaks in both the leading and trailing end of my '80 C30 rudder. At the end of last season, I drilled two holes in the bottom (after a recommedation) in hopes that any water would drain out. I just inspected the rudder and still have crackes with brown goo coming out of the same area of the cracks I've sealed the at the start of the season. I'v tried to seal the top of the rudder and around where the rudder post exits the top, only to be back to the same old problem. I'm worried that the thing will just fall off! Any way to stop these cracks/leaks and dry it out? Help?
 
Aug 31, 2007
296
Catalina 30 Petoskey, Mich.
The more I thought about your post, the more it worked on me. My 85 has had some streaks like rust some years. Then after 5 years I noticed the very bottom had a hairline crack and I could see some seepage after on the hard for winter. I decided to drill a 1/4' hole up into it (after talking to the marina) to see if it was full of water. NOTHING came out!! I let is sit all wiinter and nothing. I mixed up some epoxy and filled the hole and coated the bottom real well and no problems since. I have read of the rudder sagging,dropping, flopping and all that. I give it a big bear hug every spriing and yank and pull and lift and twist and don't seem to have any problems that I can detect. As a result, while I am sailing throughout the summer I seem to pay special attention to the "feel" of the rudder to see if anything develops. So far so good.

Just get in there and check it out the best way you can, bring a friend, maybe a big strong guy. Fiberglassing is fun and fixes everything.
 
Mar 16, 2009
4
2 30 Douglas
I found a repair guide at www.catalina30.com in the technical link that was very helpful. For now I will just seal up the holes I drilled and repair as best as I can. I plan to pull it at the end of the season and do a real repair. Ah-boat repair, don't we just love it (yes)!
 
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