cracked rudder

[Tim22926]

I own a 2001 Hunter 260. My rudder is cracked. I would like to know how to repair it or where I can buy a replacement at a reasonable price with a design that won't fail.

 

[Craig]

idasailor.com

Check out idasailor.com or the rudder link on this website. They make a hdpe rudder that is solid. That is what I used to replace my cracked rudder that sits in a corner in the garage now.

 

[Sean Coerse]

Ditto

Ditto on the Ida Sailor. I love mine no problems. Much cheaper than replacement from foss foam.

 

[Brigg]

Better repaired rudder

One of the biggest problems with the 260 is its rudder. The 26 rudder was solid wood core and was almost impossible to raise. The 260 has a foam core and is almost impossible to lower.I split the bottom edge on my 2001 260 rudder on a sandbar. So, I took it to my local boat repair, Schooner Creek Boatworks in Portland and had them add 3+ pounds of lead shot, epoxie and re-glass the bottom end. I then gel-coated it and now it goes down and up smooth as silk and is much stronger, for about $150.The devil you know is better than the devil you have yet to meet.Brigg Franklin, s/v Wand’rin Star USCG Licensed Marine OfficerASA Certified Sailing Instructorwww.northstarsailing.org45° 40.936' N, 122° 34.936' W

 

[william3045]

I too opted to repair vs replace

after last season i noticed a hairline crack in the leading edge of my h23 rudder. i considered the ida replacement which i have heard nothing but good things about but the price was a bit high for the budget so here's what i did. i took a craftsman hand grinder...like a dremmel on steroids, and ground a "V" down the leading edge through the crack. next i used a finish sander and completely sanded down the rudder to the origional glass. then, i filled the groove with a resin and microbaloon mix and faired it to shape. over this i ran a 4" strip of glass using epoxy vs resin from the top of the leading edge, (of the rounded part of the rudder...not where it goes up into the housing), all the way under the bottom and up the trailing edge of the rudder. i figured if the leading edge had cracked that the trailing edge and/or bottom would probably be next. over this more epoxy and faired this all in being careful not to sand into the glass itself. (the corners necessated a bit of fitting and it was messy as i am no experienced glasser.) over this 4" strip i next put a 6" wide strip. again, completely around the perimeter edges of the rudder. next a coat of finish resin mixed thinly with microbaloons again to give me a little something to fair. over this a final coat of finish resin on the entire rudder, 2 coats of gel, and 2 coats of interlux 2000e. both rolled on. it was time consuming, (...so what, i couldn't be sailing in the winter anyway), but you have to look very close to actually see the glass. i considered taking pictures along the way but didn't. i used epoxy to layer the glass as i was told it forms a more agressive bond than resin on old surfaces.