H23 Wet Rudder

[dam_duggy]

Hi,

I have a 1987 Hunter 23.

I am currently in the process of getting the bottom prepared, several coats of epoxy for a barrier and bottom paint. Using his moisture meter, the manager of the marina let me know that the rudder is very wet and perhaps not ready to paint. At some point in time the outboard motor clipped the trailing edge of the rudder and exposed the foam core; other than this, the rudder is largely intact.

I have drilled several ¼ inch holes along the bottom and up the sides of the rudder. I have gotten a minimum amount of water draining out. I have also been keeping in my car, parked in the hot Florida sun. This has been going on for a week or so now. This past weekend I had it checked and the moisture readings on the rudder were still very high.

Do any of you have a good (more effective) method to dry out a rudder?

Thanks,

Doug

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Stand the rudder up so any water can drain out. If it has paint on the rudder, it is not a good idea to put that in a very hot place or direct in the sun as it will warp on you. It takes a while for the rudder to dry about 4 weeks. I was a former dealer who sold but also worked on a lot of the 23 wing keel sailboats.