While sailing last summer on our MacGregor 25, the rudder literaly broke off. I need a new rudder (preferably) or will need to build a new one. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
MacGregor 25 Rudder
- Thread starter 1st Time Sailer
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You' re going to give 1st time sailor a heart attack! The kick-up design is great, but it's expensive. Heck, even the rudder alone is expensive -
http://www.ruddercraft.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=43&products_id=110
I have the HDPE rudder on my 26S. They are nice if you have the $$
http://www.ruddercraft.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=43&products_id=110
I have the HDPE rudder on my 26S. They are nice if you have the $$
Keep them coming
Thanks for the links. I've seen both of these during my searches, the kick up and the standard HDPE.
Any others?
What about designs to build a new fiberglass rudder for this boat?
Thanks for the links. I've seen both of these during my searches, the kick up and the standard HDPE.
Any others?
What about designs to build a new fiberglass rudder for this boat?
I modified my ol'rudder on a 26D a few yrs ago, 3+in. leading edge and 8in longer, re-glassed and its worked great....but that was the only rudder I had, so I decided to make a new one. I watched all the post here on rudders I could, and decided to make a new one outta 3/4 Marine ply doubled up for 1.5 in. thick a 12% foil, 14 cord, 58in. long and a 56in. long .500 steel bar incerted 5in. behind the leading edge.= streangth + a lill added wght. so far its 4lbs.less then my ol'rudder.
Im getten ready to use the West syst. and close it up and start laying on the glass. gonna finish up the camber needed to give me the final 12% thats just missing when you use 1.5 thickness, anyway I'm gonna lay up a few pcs of cloth there and fair it in to get 12%
BTW I used a 4.5 disc from WoodCraft to shape out the rudder...I had it shapped out in 15 min. :dance: and a beltsander and 5in. orbital to fair it up. hope this gives U some ideas
Im getten ready to use the West syst. and close it up and start laying on the glass. gonna finish up the camber needed to give me the final 12% thats just missing when you use 1.5 thickness, anyway I'm gonna lay up a few pcs of cloth there and fair it in to get 12%
BTW I used a 4.5 disc from WoodCraft to shape out the rudder...I had it shapped out in 15 min. :dance: and a beltsander and 5in. orbital to fair it up. hope this gives U some ideas
Rudder Build
I went overboard, no pun intended, in a previous life I built model sailplane wings using vacuum bagged foam covered with epoxy and fiberglass.
I cut a NACA 0012 airfoil out of foam, vacuumed bagged it, removed the foam and used marine plywood to fill the void. The plywood was a loose fit so I used Polyester resin and glass to fill the rest. Its 4” longer with about 3.5” wider than the stock M25 rudder. 2.5 inches of the added width is forward of the hinge line.
That being said there are lots of very good post on this site with detailed instructions on how to build a better rudder. I think the true airfoil shape contributes a lot to the improvement in performance. These boats have basic controls, anything you can do to upgrade them helps. If I can figure out how to post a picture I’ll send one along
Erik
I went overboard, no pun intended, in a previous life I built model sailplane wings using vacuum bagged foam covered with epoxy and fiberglass.
I cut a NACA 0012 airfoil out of foam, vacuumed bagged it, removed the foam and used marine plywood to fill the void. The plywood was a loose fit so I used Polyester resin and glass to fill the rest. Its 4” longer with about 3.5” wider than the stock M25 rudder. 2.5 inches of the added width is forward of the hinge line.
That being said there are lots of very good post on this site with detailed instructions on how to build a better rudder. I think the true airfoil shape contributes a lot to the improvement in performance. These boats have basic controls, anything you can do to upgrade them helps. If I can figure out how to post a picture I’ll send one along
Erik
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