Paint my rudder white?

[Bob]

I have the "wet" rudder from my Hunter 285 pulled off the boat and supported in a jig in my garage where I'm about to "open her up" to get rid of about five areas of delamination and drying out the insides. After drilling a few test holes the rudder is already leaking bay water. Some where down the line on this process, after I have the rudder put back together I'll need to bottom paint it.I seem to remember reading that it is best to bottom paint the rudder white or a light color to keep it from heating up from the suns rays in or out of the water on the "hard" during the winter. I seem to remember that it had something to do with keeping any water that may seep into the rudder from heating up and cooking the rudder from the inside. Am I nuts or did I really read/hear that advice. I've seen a fair number of rudders painted white in the yard although the bottoms are blue or some other dark color. Any other advice on rebuilding my rudder would also be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Jim A]

Cover the rudder

keeps it from getting hot. That is way you would paing it white. Not sure why?

 

[Roger Straub]

white rudder

The owner's manual for my 1992 Legend 35.5 advises painting the rudder white or a light color to avoid heating up in the sun. I use Interlux TriLux which comes in white and do a fairly good job of antifouling, but not as good as the Micron Extra that I use for the bottom.

 

[Bob]

Knew I wasn't crazy

Although I'm considered an "old salt" by some of my friends and family (even though I've only been sailing for about two years) I knew I wasn't loosing it! Thanks guys for confirming those thoughts running around in my brain.

 

[Steve O.]

rudders

I had a 28.5 that had a bulge in it that was caused (so I was told) from overheating. I was also advised to paint it white but I made a white cover for it instead. I really don't believe that a rudder will overheat while in the water. Up here in the frozen north there is a potential for the penetrated water to freeze in the winter. One recommendation was to drill weep holes in the fall and fill them with epoxy in the spring.

 

[Jay Eaton]

Rudder Maintenance

Foss Foam is a major manufacturer of rudders for Hunter sailboats. Check out their website. For maintenance tips, go to: http://www.newrudders.com/Rudder_Care/rudder_care.html

 

[Clayton Hintz]

Another reason for white

Painting the rudder white helps to make it more visible while in the water, especially here in Maine where the waters are murky with sea life for most of the summer. It makes it easier to see if the rudder is fouled with growth, kelp or lobster pot warps. I have even considered painting the keel wings white for the same reason.

 

[Dan Campbell]

white foam

Bob, after I rebuilt the rudder on my 28.5 I just painted it with the normal bottom paint. When I pulled the boat in the fall I found one inch thick white foam board at Home Depot and sandwiched the rudder with it. Two seasons later and it still has not delaminated again.