I've looked at a lot in the archives but no answers to this.... How much rudder mis-alignment is " OK ". My rudder was about 2 inchs to starboard at the bottom. I have pulled the skeg, and dis-assembled all the rudder hardware, but I have the rudder stuffing box, so there's really no room to re-align. It looks like the best I'm going to get is about an inch to starboard. I'm on my way down with a level and a plumb-bob to make sure my eyes aren't paying tricks on me. It just looks like the rudder tube was glassed in slightly mis-aligned. I don't really want to have to re-do that unless absolutely crucial. Any thoughts? Thanks
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Bill O'Donovan
Try this
Put a piece of tape around the true center of the top of the wheel, then you'll be the only one to know it's off-center.
Put a piece of tape around the true center of the top of the wheel, then you'll be the only one to know it's off-center.
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John
Wrong alignment
But thanks for the response. I wish it was that easy. I'm talking about the vertical alignment through the center axis of the boat. Checked the level, and the rudder is still off. Either the tube is crooked, or the rudder is bent. I saw a few posts where people bent back their rudders. Doesn't that make it even weaker? Thanks, John
But thanks for the response. I wish it was that easy. I'm talking about the vertical alignment through the center axis of the boat. Checked the level, and the rudder is still off. Either the tube is crooked, or the rudder is bent. I saw a few posts where people bent back their rudders. Doesn't that make it even weaker? Thanks, John
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Ed Allen
Dont bother
The reality that goes with production boatbuilding is sometimes more than we like to know about. It probably is not straigt thru the hull. If you drop the rudder you can check for a bend, and if bend you should probably have it fixed as you may not be able to tell what is going on inside. But it is common to have such things happen. the tube may be in a bit off. If your racing, or the boat does not handle well it will probably be and issue. If not its not worth fixing. Sure it may work a bit better if its straight but is the juice worth the squeeze. after working in the industry for years you learn that alot of boats have these kinds of things wrong. most go indetected. Ive seen masts steeped 4 or 5 inches off the centerline lots of keels are on cocked to one side or the other. some boats point better on one tack than the other. but in the big picture, most times they are not worth fixing. If the tube is in wrong it could be repaired and the right yard could do it easier than you think. Im not sure i would bother if thats whats wrong.
The reality that goes with production boatbuilding is sometimes more than we like to know about. It probably is not straigt thru the hull. If you drop the rudder you can check for a bend, and if bend you should probably have it fixed as you may not be able to tell what is going on inside. But it is common to have such things happen. the tube may be in a bit off. If your racing, or the boat does not handle well it will probably be and issue. If not its not worth fixing. Sure it may work a bit better if its straight but is the juice worth the squeeze. after working in the industry for years you learn that alot of boats have these kinds of things wrong. most go indetected. Ive seen masts steeped 4 or 5 inches off the centerline lots of keels are on cocked to one side or the other. some boats point better on one tack than the other. but in the big picture, most times they are not worth fixing. If the tube is in wrong it could be repaired and the right yard could do it easier than you think. Im not sure i would bother if thats whats wrong.
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John
Thanks Ed
I think I am going down that path. I'm going to get some more confirmation to be sure it's not the rudder shaft that's bent, and if not, just leave as is. Too bad I already cut off my skeg ( thinking it was holding the rudder crooked ) ...... TJohn
I think I am going down that path. I'm going to get some more confirmation to be sure it's not the rudder shaft that's bent, and if not, just leave as is. Too bad I already cut off my skeg ( thinking it was holding the rudder crooked ) ...... TJohn
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John
H30 Rudder Build
OK, so I went down and checked every angle, check to see that the boat was level, etc etc.....and the last thing I looked at was I ignored the rudder post and checked the "trueness" of the actual fiberglass part of the rudder and wouldn'tcha know it.....the actual rudder is bent. About a foot down from where the post enters the rudder, it starts veering off to starboard. A good two inches. So my question is, I've seen a lot about the innards of the H31 and 34 rudders, but how about the H30? Totally different rudder. If the post only goes about a foot down & then there's some type of welded frame after that, I think I'm hosed? Does this necessitate a new rudder to add to my list? ( I'm assuming yes )
OK, so I went down and checked every angle, check to see that the boat was level, etc etc.....and the last thing I looked at was I ignored the rudder post and checked the "trueness" of the actual fiberglass part of the rudder and wouldn'tcha know it.....the actual rudder is bent. About a foot down from where the post enters the rudder, it starts veering off to starboard. A good two inches. So my question is, I've seen a lot about the innards of the H31 and 34 rudders, but how about the H30? Totally different rudder. If the post only goes about a foot down & then there's some type of welded frame after that, I think I'm hosed? Does this necessitate a new rudder to add to my list? ( I'm assuming yes )
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Royce
Reglassed mine
I reglassed mine a few years ago. The fiberglass was blistered badly and was seperating from the rudder. The core was a rock solid chunk of polyester resin with something to thicken it up added. I do not know that the metal internals look like. I peeled off the glass and sanded and faired the core and reglassed over it. Hope this helps. I would be interested in knowing the internal construction if you do get yours apart.
I reglassed mine a few years ago. The fiberglass was blistered badly and was seperating from the rudder. The core was a rock solid chunk of polyester resin with something to thicken it up added. I do not know that the metal internals look like. I peeled off the glass and sanded and faired the core and reglassed over it. Hope this helps. I would be interested in knowing the internal construction if you do get yours apart.
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John
Thanks Royce
I think I'm just going to get a new one, but I probably will rip the old one apart after I'm finished with all my "restoration", and post some pictures. I still haven't purchased a new engine yet. How's that Vetus working out for you? Are you getting some nice speed out of it? John
I think I'm just going to get a new one, but I probably will rip the old one apart after I'm finished with all my "restoration", and post some pictures. I still haven't purchased a new engine yet. How's that Vetus working out for you? Are you getting some nice speed out of it? John
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Ed Allen
new one
You probably can get a rudder all made up to factor specs form foss foam in florida. The were in clearwater area but i think now i wildwood or alachua florida. Most of the ones i have seen are welded frames off the central shaft then molded and then foamed. check arround and you will find them easily. Ed
You probably can get a rudder all made up to factor specs form foss foam in florida. The were in clearwater area but i think now i wildwood or alachua florida. Most of the ones i have seen are welded frames off the central shaft then molded and then foamed. check arround and you will find them easily. Ed
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Mark
rudder alignment
On my last boat (A Victoria 26 with a spade rudder) I tangled with a submerged log and bent my rudder about 3 inches to port. I removed the rudder and found a crack in the fiberglass about 5 inches down from the top and right next to the rudder post. I cut away the fiberglass and found that the post had not been bent but one of the "ears" that is welded to the post was not only bent but cracked as well. I took it to a welder and had it straightened and rewelded and when I got it back it looked like Jaws had taken a 6 inch half-moon shaped bite out of the rudder. I had not worked with fiberglass before but found it's easy. Just glop in filler and resin and when it dries, sand it to shape with a belt sander. Fill in any voids or low spots with more filler and resin and then sand again. I finished by sanding and putting a new layer of cloth over the whole rudder, then sanding and painting it. Good as new.
On my last boat (A Victoria 26 with a spade rudder) I tangled with a submerged log and bent my rudder about 3 inches to port. I removed the rudder and found a crack in the fiberglass about 5 inches down from the top and right next to the rudder post. I cut away the fiberglass and found that the post had not been bent but one of the "ears" that is welded to the post was not only bent but cracked as well. I took it to a welder and had it straightened and rewelded and when I got it back it looked like Jaws had taken a 6 inch half-moon shaped bite out of the rudder. I had not worked with fiberglass before but found it's easy. Just glop in filler and resin and when it dries, sand it to shape with a belt sander. Fill in any voids or low spots with more filler and resin and then sand again. I finished by sanding and putting a new layer of cloth over the whole rudder, then sanding and painting it. Good as new.
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