Replacing the rudder seal on a C30

[J Simmonds]

I need to reseal the head of my rudder before relaunching this spring. I have removed the rudder from the boat to dry it out for the winter. I am planning to clean out the area between the O ring and the rudder blade and reseal it with Sikaflex. Has anyone had any experience in this area? Does the O ring at the top need to be replaced? Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lauraine3557]

It helps. But don't expect miracles.

The whole design of the rudder system makes it just about impossible to keep the rudder dry. We've taken ours off twice over the winters in the last 3 years to dry out. We've drilled holes to let the water drain. Hung it in the basement to dry and filled the holes with thickened epoxy, barrier coated and bottom painted. We have replaced and rebedded the Oring...All of which has slowed the water entry down but it has not stopped it. Our next move will be a new rudder. I'd love to know if anyone has actually come up with a method to stop the water permanently. Some folks I know have tapped their rudder and filled the holes with screws that act as drain plugs. Periodically, they just remove the screws and let the thing drain. I'm not advocating this procedure.

 

[Chris Burti]

Help from a former Cal owner.

The most effective solution is to chamfer a v-groove in the glass around the rudder post at the top. Fill this v with 3M 5200. It is more flexible than epoxy and adheres almost as well.The more serious issue is whether there is serious corrosion in the rudder matrix. Stainless steel corrodes badly when exposed to salt water in an, essentially, anerobic environment. Drilling holes doesn't permit an examination of the matrix, nor does it really dry out the foam.

 

[J Smmonds]

But she is only in Fresh water

Chris, Thanks for the input. The boat has only ever been sailed in fresh water, would there still be as big a corrosion issue as there would be in salt water. JS

 

[Chris Burti]

Not as big,But....

The stuff still rusts if held in contact with water. How much I would cut for inpection would depend on how old the rudder is. If you have a buddy MD, who will x-ray it, you can minimize the cutting since you will know where the grid is.