Rudder Repair

[mrudman850]

Just cracked the lower (swing) part of my Buccaneer 180's kick up rudder assembly. Cracked right at the step down where it fits into the sleeve to swing up and down. Can this rudder be saved? Almost broken in half! If not, anyone have a resource on the East Coast for a rudder? Thanks

Mike in Plymouth MA

 

[Ross]

Broken horizontally or vertically? Take it to a wood working shop and ask if they can make a new piece or repair a vertical split in the old one.

 

[CalebD]

Can this rudder be saved?
Mike in Plymouth MA

Sure it can be saved/repaired. A picture of the broken appendage would be helpful.
Broken material is wood, fiberglass (FRP), or metal?

If the material is wood then find a woodworking shop, as Ross has suggested. If it is metal, there are metal workers that can be used. If it is fiberglass then get the West System epoxy manual or view it here: http://www.westsystem.com/ss/

If it is wood or FRP I could probably help you but I am a little far away.

There is nothing that can't be fixed by throwing more money, time and labor into the mix.

Good luck.

 

[AXEL]

Many years ago I owned a Buccaneer 21 and completely lost the rudder during a grounding. It was a huge rubbder, well over 4 feet in length. I had no luck finding anyone or any info (pre-internet days). I was lucky enough to find another identical boat in the area. The owner was kind enough to let me use his rudder as a templet and with that I was able to fab a new rudder that I will say worked just as good as the original. Since you already have your rudder you should be able with a little research put one together as well. The rudder on your boat isn't the big, should be an easy job.