Having recently purchased a 1986 Hunter 28.5, I noted that rudder was painted with white bottom paint (remainder of hull was blue). The broker (a Hunter dealer) stated that the rudder needed to be painted white so that it would not absorb heat and perhaps become damaged or deformed. Yet the surveyor who looked at the rudder told me that it hardly mattered what color the rudder is painted since the amount of heat differential would not be a significant factor in the health of the rudder. Any thoughts on this?
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white rudder
Warren,this is a issue of great debate and no real answer (depending on who you ask) I paint my rudder white only because it gives me more bottom paint and I don't need to buy another gallon for a small amount of the hull. For what it is worth Foss Rudder (rudder mfg) suggest you paint the rudder a light color to help stop heat from building up and damaging the rudder. They will not warrenty a rudder that has "heat damage". This of course is only an when the boat is out of the water (winter storage) so depending on you climate it could be more of a issue then not.I figure by painting my rudder I can kill two birds with one stone.Based on Foss web site it is a good idea to do it and there is no harm not to do it. Check the link below and look at "rudder care". Good Luck with your new boat!
Warren,this is a issue of great debate and no real answer (depending on who you ask) I paint my rudder white only because it gives me more bottom paint and I don't need to buy another gallon for a small amount of the hull. For what it is worth Foss Rudder (rudder mfg) suggest you paint the rudder a light color to help stop heat from building up and damaging the rudder. They will not warrenty a rudder that has "heat damage". This of course is only an when the boat is out of the water (winter storage) so depending on you climate it could be more of a issue then not.I figure by painting my rudder I can kill two birds with one stone.Based on Foss web site it is a good idea to do it and there is no harm not to do it. Check the link below and look at "rudder care". Good Luck with your new boat!
Foss Foam
The company, Foss Foam, is the manufacturer of most rudders. A few years ago, this thread came up on the HOW. I contacted Foss Foam and they said that under certain circumstances, the rudder may receive significant heating from solar energy and could result in damage due to expansion of the urethane filler. This is not a problem when the rudder is in the water. However, when the boat is on the hard and as a precaution, one should cover the rudder with a white material, e.g., sheet, or paint it white to reflect the sun's energy. You can check with them online.
The company, Foss Foam, is the manufacturer of most rudders. A few years ago, this thread came up on the HOW. I contacted Foss Foam and they said that under certain circumstances, the rudder may receive significant heating from solar energy and could result in damage due to expansion of the urethane filler. This is not a problem when the rudder is in the water. However, when the boat is on the hard and as a precaution, one should cover the rudder with a white material, e.g., sheet, or paint it white to reflect the sun's energy. You can check with them online.
Only out of water, Warren
Warren, you only need be conderned when the boat is out of the water and you might have direct, hot sun on the rudder.
Warren, you only need be conderned when the boat is out of the water and you might have direct, hot sun on the rudder.
White after re-build
Warren, I just pulled my 1987, 285 out for the winter and if you look at the attached photo you can see that the rudder is also white. I painted it after I re-built it last winter to correct a lot of delamination. I also read that it was a good idea to paint it white and hey, it can't hurt.
Warren, I just pulled my 1987, 285 out for the winter and if you look at the attached photo you can see that the rudder is also white. I painted it after I re-built it last winter to correct a lot of delamination. I also read that it was a good idea to paint it white and hey, it can't hurt.
White after re-build (with photo this time!)
Warren, I just pulled my 1987, 285 out for the winter and if you look at the attached photo you can see that the rudder is also white. I painted it after I re-built it last winter to correct a lot of delamination. I also read that it was a good idea to paint it white and hey, it can't hurt.
Warren, I just pulled my 1987, 285 out for the winter and if you look at the attached photo you can see that the rudder is also white. I painted it after I re-built it last winter to correct a lot of delamination. I also read that it was a good idea to paint it white and hey, it can't hurt.
Attachments
An ounce of prevention
Is truly worth a pound of cure. Removing and repairing the rudder - which I have done - is a pain in the aft. Keep in mind that once delaminated, it is inevitable that water will seep into the rudder, and getting that moisture out before repairs can be made is not a quick process. If white bottom paint will help prevent delamination from occurring while on the hard, then paint it white. Mine is painted white, while the hull is blue. I take umberage at a professional surveyor who dismisses this issue. I invite Mr surveyor to paint his own rudder with black bottom paint and see what happens. He will most assuredly stop turning his nose up at this debate thereafter. Oh, and my surveyor does not agree with your surveyor. The rudder paint (black at the time) and it's resultant delamination were in the top 10 ten problems list when I bought my '85 28.5. Think white, like the pure driven snow zipping by my office window right now..... Happy Holidays!
Is truly worth a pound of cure. Removing and repairing the rudder - which I have done - is a pain in the aft. Keep in mind that once delaminated, it is inevitable that water will seep into the rudder, and getting that moisture out before repairs can be made is not a quick process. If white bottom paint will help prevent delamination from occurring while on the hard, then paint it white. Mine is painted white, while the hull is blue. I take umberage at a professional surveyor who dismisses this issue. I invite Mr surveyor to paint his own rudder with black bottom paint and see what happens. He will most assuredly stop turning his nose up at this debate thereafter. Oh, and my surveyor does not agree with your surveyor. The rudder paint (black at the time) and it's resultant delamination were in the top 10 ten problems list when I bought my '85 28.5. Think white, like the pure driven snow zipping by my office window right now..... Happy Holidays!
I bought a black rudder
because it was attached to a really nice boat. The top few inches of the rudder are out of the water when the boat is docked and crew is off. During the purchase survey it was noticed that the top of the rudder had a bulge on one side. I bought the boat and had the yard repair the rudder. When the skin was ground off at the bulge there was moisture there and in a few other areas of the rudder. Our local waters are a constant 48 decrees. The local wisdom was that even with the boat in the 48 degree water there was enough of the black rudder out of the water to heat the water in the rudder which rose to the top of the rudder and then the vapor expanded creating the bulge. I repainted with light blue.
because it was attached to a really nice boat. The top few inches of the rudder are out of the water when the boat is docked and crew is off. During the purchase survey it was noticed that the top of the rudder had a bulge on one side. I bought the boat and had the yard repair the rudder. When the skin was ground off at the bulge there was moisture there and in a few other areas of the rudder. Our local waters are a constant 48 decrees. The local wisdom was that even with the boat in the 48 degree water there was enough of the black rudder out of the water to heat the water in the rudder which rose to the top of the rudder and then the vapor expanded creating the bulge. I repainted with light blue.
My rudder expanded at the top
above the water line. It was painted black/dark brown. This was dicovered during the purchase survey. The skin bulged out about an inch with a diameter of about 6 inches. The explanation from the surveyor was that moisture got inside and expanded with heat. It doesn't get very hot in Seattle very often and the water in the sound stays a constant 48 degrees. After repairs I went with a light blue and I plan to cover the rudder with a sheet during any non-winter haulout. The yard charged about $1,000 for the reapir and I had to wait a couple of weeks for the rudder to dry out before the yard would complete the repairs. Seems like a light color on the rudder is wise.
above the water line. It was painted black/dark brown. This was dicovered during the purchase survey. The skin bulged out about an inch with a diameter of about 6 inches. The explanation from the surveyor was that moisture got inside and expanded with heat. It doesn't get very hot in Seattle very often and the water in the sound stays a constant 48 degrees. After repairs I went with a light blue and I plan to cover the rudder with a sheet during any non-winter haulout. The yard charged about $1,000 for the reapir and I had to wait a couple of weeks for the rudder to dry out before the yard would complete the repairs. Seems like a light color on the rudder is wise.
Replacement Rudder
The link below is a company that can make a replacement rudder for about $650.00 which is supposed to be stronger and provide better sailing qualities. Cliff Rucksdale (sp) was looking into getting one and was looking for others to get a quantity discount. You might want to keep this in mind for future reference. I might replace mine next year if it looks too bad when I haul out in the fall.
The link below is a company that can make a replacement rudder for about $650.00 which is supposed to be stronger and provide better sailing qualities. Cliff Rucksdale (sp) was looking into getting one and was looking for others to get a quantity discount. You might want to keep this in mind for future reference. I might replace mine next year if it looks too bad when I haul out in the fall.
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