Hi, Looking at 340 and having concerns with what looks to be a repair at the top of the rudder post under the floor panel in the cockpit. Apparently there was no damage to the rudder but it looks like there was a repair done at some point. The area looks like it was filled with some gelcoat material that is now flaking off and it's all around the top of the rudder post. Can anyone confirm whether this is the way they looked from the factory or has a repair been completed? Pictures attached for reference. Thank you!
Hunter 340 Rudder Concern
- Thread starter tdc03
- Start date
I don't know if this is helpful, but on my 1984 H34 my lazarette and rudder post area looked the same. It is because previous owners had drilled some holes much further away and never sealed them properly. This led to core rot in that locker and around the post and also delamination of the gelcoat to the glass. It also appeared that from the factory in the locker there was only gelcoat over just wood in some places, which obviously after 35 years has all cracked away.
Can you tell down below around your rudder post if there is a bottom skin to the fiberglass locker or is it just a top skin and plywood coring like my 1984? I know your boat is much newer but the poor construction of this area sounds very familiar to mine. If it is only wood and no bottom skin, take a screwdriver or pick and pike the wood especially around the post to make sure it isn't rotten. If it isn't, then the rest is cosmetic and easy to fix.
Can you tell down below around your rudder post if there is a bottom skin to the fiberglass locker or is it just a top skin and plywood coring like my 1984? I know your boat is much newer but the poor construction of this area sounds very familiar to mine. If it is only wood and no bottom skin, take a screwdriver or pick and pike the wood especially around the post to make sure it isn't rotten. If it isn't, then the rest is cosmetic and easy to fix.
Another H34 owner here. FWIW my boat has the same appearance around the rudder shaft tube and also around the bilge area. I had the same thought until I found it in so many places. I believe it to be a factory (sloppy as it looks) on mine at least. Not Gods word, just my opinion.
Artey1 - thank you for your response. There is definitely fiberglass under the flaking gelcoat so the area appears to be structurally sound. My biggest concern was that the area looked so bad, I was worried it was a poor repair after major rudder damage. However, the more I hear from others that their rudder area looks the same, the more I'm convinced it was just a sloppy job at the factory.
drew - thank you for the confirmation. I have heard the same from others regarding the sloppy job in those areas.
drew - thank you for the confirmation. I have heard the same from others regarding the sloppy job in those areas.