Hunter 23.5 and 26 Rudder Head

[BrianW]

I have a question for you H- 23.5 and 26 owners. What is the position of the bottom of your aluminum rudder head in relation to the waterline? Thanks, BrianW

 

[fokker416]

The bottom of my rudder head on my '93 H23.5 is just above the water line. Close enough that it gets wet with boat motion. I can't remember how close and I can't tell right now since it's on the trailer.

 

[Rick Webb]

The Lip on My Stern Was Just Out of the Water

Until I added the stern rail seats I then moved the batteries towards the bow and that is once again the case.

 

[BrianW]

Thanks for your replies. My H-26 rudder head bottom sits about an inch below the waterline. I have some aluminum corrosion issues there. Looks like a housecleaning (junk removal) and some reballasting is my solution, rather than having to tackle the cause of the corrosion (likely dockside electrical issues). Thanks again for your input. BrianW

 

[Rick Webb]

Move the Heaviest Stuff

Moving ten pounds from the stern to the bow will have the sam effect as removing twenty pounds from the stern. When that does not work completly add a bunch of beer to the bow.

 

[BrianW]

When that does not work completly add a bunch of beer to the bow.

Rick, your later suggestion would only be effective for half my trip!

 

[American Marine and Sail]

May I suggest to anyone to throw a sacrafical zinc out by the boat and monitor it for electrolysis. IF that is occouring in the water, then you have an unsafe situation. Could be coming from bad dock wiring, cut shore power chord in the water, another boat thru the brass/bronze thru hulls or so forth. Report the problem. A friend's son feel into the water once where this occured and was electrocuted.

Crazy Dave Condon

 

[MABell]

My H26

...rudder plates are also an inch below the waterline (second battery, spare anchor on the aft rail and a 12 gallon fuel tank didn't help). I ground off the paint in one area of the plates and bolted a zinc to the plate. Problem solved, and I didn't have to move the beer.

 

[BrianW]

Thanks Crazy Dave and MA Bell. MABell, where did you bolt on the zinc and what size zinc did you use? I think both ballasting and zincs are in order. I'll also report zinc findings to marina owner.BrianW

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I don't understand the connection between shore power and the rudder head. Even with wheel steering there is no electrical connection between this part and the 12v. electrical system/shore power ground ? What am I missing here ?
The rudder head (bracket) on my 260 is stainless steel, with stainless bolts and rudder post so no dissimilar metals involved. I am not normally in salt water so less of an issue for us most of the time.
The ony part of our boat that is in the water and connected to the shore power ground wire would be the lower end of outboard motor and we try to have it tilted up when at a dock and plugged in.
Bob

 

[MABell]

Here you go Brian

As I'm sure you are aware, clean the plate down to bare metal and don't paint over the zinc. I only put the zinc on one side as the plates are through-bolted.

 

[BrianW]

Re: Here you go Brian

Thanks MABell, you also answered a question before I asked it ... about the single zinc and the thru-bolts adequately bonding the other plate.

Bob, my H-26 rudder head is aluminum with stainless steel bolts. I highly suspect stray current from adjacent power boats. BrianW

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Brian, from my understanding of how it works (and I am no expert on this by any means) is that for stray currents to cause a problem there has to be an electrical connection from the part in the water to the electrical ground on shore. Stray currents can then flow from other boats to ground through this connection. I would suspect in your case the problem is the two different metals used are setting up a battery and plating metal away. I think the zinc would help in this situation or you can try to insulate them from each other using washers and coatings.
Bob

 

[BrianW]

Re: Here you go Brian

Thanks MABell and all for your tips! MABell, I have a couple of follow-up questions and would greatly appreciate a couple more details. I'm on the hard now and am about to launch in a few days if the weather improves. How did you attach the zinc? Did you use a bolt and nut (nut on inside)? Drill and tap the aluminum and insert a bolt? Other? When the rudder is fully down, does your zinc location clear the rudder swing (if through- bolted with nut)? Thanks again! BrianW

 

[MABell]

Brian

I used two metal screws from the inside through the plate that "self-threaded" themselves into the zinc on the outside. No clearance problem.

 

[BrianW]

Thanks MABell!