Rudder Delamination

[Karen Doyle]

We are in the process of purchasing a 1987 Hunter 37. The surveyor identified the rudder with some delamination. Since we are several hunderd miles from the boat, we have not yet seen the boat out of the water to identify how bad it is. Has anyone had similar issue? Any suggestions for us? Thanks!

 

[Dave Kelton]

Very common

This is very common on all hunters, and most other sailboats that used a cored rudder. As a marine surveyor, about the only boats I have seen that don't have this problem are those that had solid laid up rudders such as old Pearsons. I have rebuilt a few of these, and have discovered that the problem seems to be in the construction process. If you cut the skin back over the delaminated area, you will probably see that the foam was incompletely filling the cavity, and voids are present. Fill these up with resin/cloth, then lay a new piece of skin on with mat and resin. Bottom line is.... about any one you look at will have this problem, unlkess someone has already fixed it. Good luck, Dave

 

[Tim Gabrielse]

Had one too!!

I recently bought a 1987Hunter Legend 37. Hull # 510. It also had a delaminated rudder. Due to the time of the year I bouhgt her ( spring) I decided to wait until I had her hauled this fall to repair. It has not been a big problem, and the rudder is fixed now. My local marine repair house fixed it. I'll let yopu know the cost once I get the bill, but I do not expect to be in schock.By the way the Legend 37 is a great handling boat. I won some races this year against a Schock 35 and C&C 35 on Lake MIchigan. BLAZE is a deep fin keel boat. Handles like a dream. You'll love your new boatTim gabrielseBLAZE Sail # 42082

 

[Jim McCue]

split rudder

I've got a '86 28.5 and mine split in half to to bottom. It was in the first or second year of my owning it. I talked to the dealer where I bought it and Hunter air shipped me a new one! free. I Had been on an overnite sail to Barnegat Light Near Atlantic City when swimming around the boat at anchor I noticed the difference in color on one side of the rudder to the other. I was lucky that in the trip back I didn't loose the other half.