Rudder Help!

[1974 Venture 24]

As you guys already know I am restoring a 74' Mac/Venture 24. Everything is moving along well but now I need some help fabricating the rudder. I called Macgregor and got all of the measurements for this project but... no pictures. I need photographs to get an idea of shape, what goes where, etc. If any of you proud 24 owners out there would be so kind as to take some good shots of your rudder assembly, I would be most appreciative. I'll need to see up close and personal as well as complete shots. The brackets, pivot area, and all of that are all a mystery to me. I have no clue how the rudder looks or pivots or any of that. Thank you greatly in advance.-Jason

 

[Dennis]

I can take

a pic of my V222 rudder where you have the dimensions already, if you would like, Im sure the set up is the same. Or if you would rather go with the Ida rudder, it is up to you. Quite probably you could make one yourself cheaper though! Let me know

 

[1974 Venture 24]

Yes a photo would be great!

I'm mainly concerned about how the hinge works... thats driving me nuts. I'm going to have to make the whole deal tiller, rudder, etc. I do like ida sailor rudders however, I'm a handy and would rather save money.-Thanks

 

[Dennis]

Okay Ill get a pic

Get a pic today and post it this evening. The hinge part is just a single bolt. Its no biggy.How did you make out with your pivot bolt on your keel. Did you grind the fiberglass off?

 

[Dennis]

As to the tiller

Also the tiller that originally came with the boat was 4 ft long. The cockpit on my V222 is 6 feet. So you can see the space it took up. i have since went to wheel steering! If you go with a tiller, you will need a hinge on top of the rudder, and Im sure you can figure that part out. Also i made my rudder 4 inches wider than its original width! Much more control! i truly hope the pics help. I too put a bow sprit on my V222! I went with a self tacking jib though, as it is much easier to handle! A further suggestion is when you put your rubber washers in around your pivot bolt, put them in with a little silicon rubber calking. It will help to seal the rubber washers even better! I made an aluminum, what I call a saddle over my keel trunk, to take the weight of the keel off the fiberglass sides where the pivot bolt runs through! I made it with 1/8th aluminum.

 

[1974 Venture 24]

Thanks!

Dennis,Thanks for all of the information and photograph! You've been extreamly helpful! I'll post some pictures when the rudder is complete; as for now the next step is to prime and paint the hull and deck. I'm rolling rather than spraying so we'll just see how it works out.

 

[Dennis]

Want a gloss hull

After you paint her, use Helmsmans gloss polyurthane, available even at walmarts. You can see yourself in the reflection after! At least I could! One further point you might consider, the lower pivot point (gudgeon), where your rudders pintle goes in, is most likely below the waterline. A lot of people said that it develops leaks with time. I moved mine above the waterline, as you can see in the pics, and have had no problems! It is just a thought!