For ten years I have been studying the differences in the H37C model years. Last night while looking at the Hadoulias project( Related Link) for the umpteenth time I discovered a biggy. That rudder bearing shelf on his boat(1982) extends across the entire width of the boat(http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/pix.tpl?folder=73166949225&sku=104906158286228113&fno=17 ). Mine(1979) is about twenty inches so has no lateral support, something that always bothered me. It extends just to the edges of the vertical supports. True, it is glassed in to the back and the sides are tabbed to the back and the lower shelf. But you can imagine how much stronger the top rudder support would be when it extends to the sides of the hull.
It does give me an idea for strengthening the shelf. I plan to glass a piece of 2 x 4 on the sides of the hull. Then I will bolt a piece of angle iron to those and to the leading edge of the shelf, right in front of the bearing surface. I will also replace the 2 x 4 that was across the lower shelf, the one with the rudder stops on it. I will use 3” angle iron like is seen in the Related Link.
I miss Tom being on this site. He did such good work and always posted his results. Many of his projects have been lost from MOW. Tom moved on, sold the boat and went motor-homing.
It does give me an idea for strengthening the shelf. I plan to glass a piece of 2 x 4 on the sides of the hull. Then I will bolt a piece of angle iron to those and to the leading edge of the shelf, right in front of the bearing surface. I will also replace the 2 x 4 that was across the lower shelf, the one with the rudder stops on it. I will use 3” angle iron like is seen in the Related Link.
I miss Tom being on this site. He did such good work and always posted his results. Many of his projects have been lost from MOW. Tom moved on, sold the boat and went motor-homing.
