On Wednesday, April 8, 2004, while 2 miles off Rooker Bar Island near the Anclote River and Tarpon Springs on Florida's West Coast while nearing # 1 marker in 4 foot seas and winds of 15kts or so, my Hunter 31, 1983, model, lost its rudder. It separated from the post about 3 inches below the hull where it had obviously been welded. The weld was inside the rudder. I had the full main up and motor running, doing 6.5 kts, in preparation for a turn into the winds to lower the sail. A loud crack, similar to a high power rifle shot up close,occurred earlier in the day in calm seas and winds that affected the boat in no noticiable way. AT the sound of the extremely loud crack, there was no sensation to indicate the boat had hit anything or anything had hit it. I was running N82.52 longitude in 20 feet of water. I am on a sail from Virginia to Houston. The good news is that a Florida company bought the rudder molds from Hunter years ago and is making me a new one now. Production time is about 3 weeks. Has any other owner had this problem?
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HOW is now selling Rudder's I have gotten mine and it has a life time gurante. Foss Foam OEM for Hunter boats are #$%@ Cliff
HOW is now selling Rudder's I have gotten mine and it has a life time gurante. Foss Foam OEM for Hunter boats are #$%@ Cliff
Forget it
The only rudders listed here are for the trailer sailors and cost a small fraction of what larger rudders cost
The only rudders listed here are for the trailer sailors and cost a small fraction of what larger rudders cost
I hate that
Last Season on my newly aquired 79 27H I lost my rudder in similair conditions while returning from Block Island in the Watch Hill Passage (lined with rocks and funny currents)... Sorry to say mine wasn't previously welded, but it did fail due to certain construction circumstances of the boats design. The one main reason was lack of bushings, the other being the chafing of Stainless steel against a PVC pipe where over time- someone had replaced the tube that the rudder post went through but had not fixed the shaft damage which resulted into a sheer off situation (of the Post) Luckily, I was able to fasten my Kayak paddle through the rungs of my swim ladder, retrieve the rudder and manage back home. After that experience, I had a local weld shop fix the post with a solid chunk of SS as the core to the post (read sleaving) and then I did all other precautions to protect it from standing water invasion (dripping through the tiller mounting hardware), added some scrap mylar from the local sailmaker as a bushing and am hoping for the best this season
What I have found, is that this is a common problem with many of the Hunters production line in and around the same vintage years. So I'm not sure if it's a design flaw or a supplier's fault, but what I do know is that a kayak paddle lashed through the rungs of the swim ladder and lashed against the aft stantions makes for a tolerable steerage, although not a welcome one- it does work. Hope that helps some,
Last Season on my newly aquired 79 27H I lost my rudder in similair conditions while returning from Block Island in the Watch Hill Passage (lined with rocks and funny currents)... Sorry to say mine wasn't previously welded, but it did fail due to certain construction circumstances of the boats design. The one main reason was lack of bushings, the other being the chafing of Stainless steel against a PVC pipe where over time- someone had replaced the tube that the rudder post went through but had not fixed the shaft damage which resulted into a sheer off situation (of the Post) Luckily, I was able to fasten my Kayak paddle through the rungs of my swim ladder, retrieve the rudder and manage back home. After that experience, I had a local weld shop fix the post with a solid chunk of SS as the core to the post (read sleaving) and then I did all other precautions to protect it from standing water invasion (dripping through the tiller mounting hardware), added some scrap mylar from the local sailmaker as a bushing and am hoping for the best this season
What I have found, is that this is a common problem with many of the Hunters production line in and around the same vintage years. So I'm not sure if it's a design flaw or a supplier's fault, but what I do know is that a kayak paddle lashed through the rungs of the swim ladder and lashed against the aft stantions makes for a tolerable steerage, although not a welcome one- it does work. Hope that helps some,Not so Daryl
Rudders here are IdaSailor Marine Rudder's, Just had one made for my Hunter 28.5. Was all most HALF the cost of a Foss Foam Rudder and by far a superior Product. Life time qurantee, better foil section. Rudder of off my 28.5 should be very close to the rudder from the 31. Cliff
Rudders here are IdaSailor Marine Rudder's, Just had one made for my Hunter 28.5. Was all most HALF the cost of a Foss Foam Rudder and by far a superior Product. Life time qurantee, better foil section. Rudder of off my 28.5 should be very close to the rudder from the 31. Cliff
Hunter 31 Rudder Problems
There have been numerous problems with Hunter rudders installed mid-size boats during the 1980s. I posted some photos on the H31 photo forum of my old rudder which I replaced 3 years ago. I could at least see the impending failure as it was above the rudder itself. It sounds as if you handled the rudder loss very professionaly. I bought a new rudder from Foss and installed it myself with a little help from the yard which drilled the shaft holes for me. I'm unaware of any Hunter rudders other than those made by Foss. Good luck. Dave Winiker H31 "Champagne on Ice"
There have been numerous problems with Hunter rudders installed mid-size boats during the 1980s. I posted some photos on the H31 photo forum of my old rudder which I replaced 3 years ago. I could at least see the impending failure as it was above the rudder itself. It sounds as if you handled the rudder loss very professionaly. I bought a new rudder from Foss and installed it myself with a little help from the yard which drilled the shaft holes for me. I'm unaware of any Hunter rudders other than those made by Foss. Good luck. Dave Winiker H31 "Champagne on Ice"
Are these rudders supported by a skeg?
Or do they hang free with no support at the bottom of the rudder? My Cherubini 30 has a skeg, and I was wondering if the models that are experiencing failure are of a similar design. Something to keep a close eye on at haulouts, I suppose.
Or do they hang free with no support at the bottom of the rudder? My Cherubini 30 has a skeg, and I was wondering if the models that are experiencing failure are of a similar design. Something to keep a close eye on at haulouts, I suppose.
I thought skegs went away because they
jam when bumped from below and are not balanced so autopilots are hopelessly over powered? yes, no? P.S. oh, and they are slow. (something about more whetted surface) y/n?
jam when bumped from below and are not balanced so autopilots are hopelessly over powered? yes, no? P.S. oh, and they are slow. (something about more whetted surface) y/n?
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