Replacement Rudder Source for a 1981 Hunter 33 Cherubini

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Can anyone suggest a source for a replacement rudder for a 1981 Hunter 33?
Seanorita is currently hauled out in Mexico, awaiting a new rudder. I have a friend who will sail a new one down there on his boat, and was wondering if anyone knew of someone who has the molds to make a replacement rudder.
We got hauled over a sand bank by a good samaritan park guard who wanted to help get us anchored out of the way of an approaching storm, resulting in a bent rudder post -- luckily rudder tube is intact.
Many thanks for all the excellent advice from the participants in this website.
Very well appreciated.
Bob
"Seanorita"
1981 Hunter Cherubini 33

 

[Tim R.]

Call Hunter

Or Foss foam.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Rebuild?

Mine is presently being rebuild by a good boatyard. And at half the price of a Foss Foam, the original builder of Cherubini rudders.

 

[Jim Boernge]

Foss

Ed is probably right, that you could get a rudder made at less expense than at Foss. However, since you are in Mexico, you might be careful about what you have built. Perhaps email Foss for a price and ask how the rudder is built. I bet he has the molds.
Mexican labor is gonna be cheaper, but be sure you get a rudder that will be as good as the one you had. If you have the old rudder, it would be easier to replicate at the lower labor rate in Mexico.
good luck.
Foss built me a rudder for my previous boat, a Columbia 23. I gave him a drawing and he cut down a Catalina rudder to make my replacement.

 

[Paul F]

Had same problem

As many of you know the same thing happened to me four years ago on my 33. A bad pull off. The boat repair company used the old rudder. They removed the rudder post and replaced it. If your rudder is usable and there is a good fiberglass repair company in Mexico it may be a lot simpler to have them repair the old rudder than buy and ship a new one. As we all know the great thing about fiberglass is that it is repairable.

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Reply to Ed Schenck

Ed,
Any chance you could let me know the boat yard you're using? Are they using yours as a model? Do they have a mold? Would they want to do a second one?
many thanks
Bob
pullenbob@yahoo.com

 

[Ed Schenck]

Too far away?

Bob, can you not find a good boat yard nearby? It would be very expensive to ship both ways. They would certainly do it there at Sailcraft if you got it to them. I have seen a couple that they rebuilt and they look like new rudders. They change out the stainless post and paddle by cutting out one side. Then they use a newer and denser foam than was available when ours were built. Then they use a new skin, they do not glass in the old skin. And they do that on both sides. But I still do not know the total cost, around $1300. I think.

They claim that the foam used in those years would not fill in, that after shaving it down to the dimensions there would be voids. Those voids are what took on water. I wish that I could have stayed around to see them open it up.

 

[Bob Pullen HC-33 1981]

Adding Keel to a H-33 -- reply to Ed

Thanks Ed! It seems like I was able to work out a pretty nice deal with Foss. I have a friend who is sailing down from Mass. to where my boat is in Mexico, and has offered to bring the rudder down for me, so shipping would not be a concern, but the price is, and I think Foss did me very well.
I am thinking of extending the trailing edge by 3 inches, to compensate for a bit deeper keel. I will just try to extend the keel so it will be at least a few inches below the rudder, without adding any torpedo shape or too much more weight. The purpose is to have the keel ground first, and reduce the exposure to damage at the rudder tube/hull.
Any ideas are welcome!
thanks again
Bob