Custom Rudder 28 Oday

[Jack Albanese]

We recently discovered our inboard rudder on our 28 ODay has delaminated. This was apparent when we had the bottom sandblasted (due to severe blistering). It looks as though one side of the rudder had already been damaged and repaired. We've owned several Odays and had to replace a rudder (broke under sail) for our 25. Had a custom one made by some guy in rhode island. We don't want a foam rudder since it was the foam that broke originally. Looking for a poly/foam rudder. Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[david lewis]

Foam Rudder?

I don't know what you mean by a Poly/Foam rudder or a "foam" rudder but I assume you are referring to a composite construction of a metal rudder post, foam core and glass reinforced plastic outer skin. In the case of a delamination you can try a few things before replacement. ! is cut off the skin being careful to retain the pieces. Maybe use a rotozip tool. Then you can let the core dry if it is saturated and then prepare and rebond the skin using epoxy resin. The foam core acts as the mold and you just need to apply pressure to get the skin to conform to the right shape. A vacuum bag technique would be ok for this. If you don't think the core was infiltrated with water, one of the techniques in the WEST system repair books is drill a lot of little holes, Then inject epoxy resin until it oozes out the other holes, then apply pressure until the epoxy cures by whatever Rube Goldberg method you can devise.

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Have you spoken with Rudy?

Jack -My first step would be to call Rudy Nickerson at D and R. If you haven't been following the board for long, you'll find his address in the archives.My next comment would echo David. I haven't tried to save a rudder, but I have do it with a foam cored fibreglass wing on a radion controlled glider. Its not as hard as it sounds. GoodluckJustin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Jim MacTaggart]

D & R has polyfoam rudders

I just ordered and received a new polyfoam filled rudder from Rudy at D & R Marine for my O'Day 26. I called him the first week in January and found out the old foam filling is no longer being used. They now use the polyfoam. I received my new rudder via UPS this past Tuesday. Give him a call. (1-508-644-3001)

 

[Jack]

D&R marine - custom rudder

This message is for Jim of Forked River, NJ. Thanx for the reply. In fact I've ordered from Rudy several times. We are going with the new rudder with him. Little pricey, but it comes to $1170 if we send him the original shaft (which we will). The UPS is approximately $150. The original manufacturer (Foss Foam) was about the same, but I didn't want to go with the foam again. Are you installing this yourself? Is yours an inboard rudder?

 

[Helen]

Custom rudder - 28

This message is for Jim MacTaggert of Forked River who was so kind to reply to our dilema. Yes, we deal with Rudy at D&R quite often, and yes he is making us a new rudder. Problem is, we have an in board rudder. Rudy said he makes the rudder with polyester core. Scraps of fiberglass cloths and resin. Our original one is foam. We had a problem years ago with our 25 rudder (it snapped under sail) and it was foam. We had a guy up in RI make a solid fiberglass rudder and it worked beautifully with the 25. We are in the process of removing the old rudder to send the old shaft up to rudy. Thanx for your reply. Helen