Ha!
@pclarksurf no, that crack doesn’t go all the way through.
Might be a delicate balance between between replacement cost and materials to rebuild.
Everyone’s reaction so far was mine as well. Back when I first got this rust bucket, I got quotes on rudder options:
OEM rudder >/= $601
Kick up complete = $869
After market (NRL) = $549 D2146
for those #’s, I could get a bunch of epoxy.
Dayum
@Sacto Dave — that poor thing! Definitely needs major rebuild— can’t tell from the photo if there's enough of the rudder to pull the rotten core, replace and reglass?
Ha! Thanks for the sympathy!
The core appears okay:
Not sure what to make of what I’m finding inside. The bottom pintle appears welded as though torn apart:
How that could happen without breaking the core? Beats me. Maybe it was soaking wet and bent without breaking. Bond all around the core is cracked.
I’ve never done any fiberglass repairs, so I figure what’s to lose? Maybe gain some experience, if nothing else.
I’m trying to stiffen up the core by soaking it in epoxy:
Like I did with the rounded-out hole for the tiller.
Been out to my waterskiing lake lately?