I have a 78 Hunter 30. My concern is my rudder. After reading other posts on the subject I'm wondering if I need to tear into mine and be sure it's not about to fall off. No apparent damage or problem that is seen. Was thinking about drill a few holes in the bottom and see if any water comes out. None then plug up the holes and consider myself in good shape. If it drips them cut out a side and inspect for rust, damage, whatever. Any thoughts? I sure don't want it coming apart on my way to the Bahamas.. tks
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30 years is a long time in the water
If it was mine I'd sure check it out. Also, check the rudder post for corrosion, especially where it goes into the hull and on top of the rudder. If the post is deteriorating like mine did ('86 H31) then you should probably get a new rudder. (See WWW.Fossfoam.com).
If it was mine I'd sure check it out. Also, check the rudder post for corrosion, especially where it goes into the hull and on top of the rudder. If the post is deteriorating like mine did ('86 H31) then you should probably get a new rudder. (See WWW.Fossfoam.com).
Inspect
Steve- If your rudder looks good with no cracks or crazing and taps out solid. I wouldnt worry. Or have a glass/rudder guy take a look at it. Best of Luck. Rob Hessenius
Steve- If your rudder looks good with no cracks or crazing and taps out solid. I wouldnt worry. Or have a glass/rudder guy take a look at it. Best of Luck. Rob Hessenius
What I would do
Every part of a boat's underbody is a potential weak spot. All through hulls, keel bolts and the rudder. Unless I had some evidence that these spots may be compromised I would assume, after inspection, they are OK. That may be a bad asuumption, but I would make it. One can spend a lot of money chasing nothing. We need to assume that our rudders take in water - most do. I know people who drill holes at the bottom of the rudder, thread themand put in plugs, and drain them annually. Me - I would sound the rudder out with a small hammer and if finding no problems - figure ok and go. Another option would be to bring in a surveyor. If your only concern is the rudder - it would probably cost only a couple hundred and would give you piece of mind.
Every part of a boat's underbody is a potential weak spot. All through hulls, keel bolts and the rudder. Unless I had some evidence that these spots may be compromised I would assume, after inspection, they are OK. That may be a bad asuumption, but I would make it. One can spend a lot of money chasing nothing. We need to assume that our rudders take in water - most do. I know people who drill holes at the bottom of the rudder, thread themand put in plugs, and drain them annually. Me - I would sound the rudder out with a small hammer and if finding no problems - figure ok and go. Another option would be to bring in a surveyor. If your only concern is the rudder - it would probably cost only a couple hundred and would give you piece of mind.
Steve, get someone big to hold the rudder
give them gloves and an old towel. Try to turn it with the tiller or wheel, back and forth. Feel for play or looseness. The rudder head is often loose. You can tighten that if it bothers you. If the rudder feels solid on the shaft and it's not cracked or bent or dripping a lot of water, don't worry about it. The Bahamas is only a few days of rough stuff to get there. It's unlikely the rudder will go from solid to busted in that short time, or even in a whoe season of cruising.
give them gloves and an old towel. Try to turn it with the tiller or wheel, back and forth. Feel for play or looseness. The rudder head is often loose. You can tighten that if it bothers you. If the rudder feels solid on the shaft and it's not cracked or bent or dripping a lot of water, don't worry about it. The Bahamas is only a few days of rough stuff to get there. It's unlikely the rudder will go from solid to busted in that short time, or even in a whoe season of cruising.
Don't fix what isn't broken
Your rudder is a series of stainless ribs forming chambers with foam inbetween and glassed over to hold it all together. Corosion is the least of your conserns, stainless ia not going to rust and fall off. Even if water intrusion caused delamination and failure in one chamber or large area the entire rudder would not fail before you could notice the issue with cursory inspection. If you are that worried keep an eye on it, if you notice delamination meaning large blisters the size of your hand or major splittig and cracking deal with it then.
Your rudder is a series of stainless ribs forming chambers with foam inbetween and glassed over to hold it all together. Corosion is the least of your conserns, stainless ia not going to rust and fall off. Even if water intrusion caused delamination and failure in one chamber or large area the entire rudder would not fail before you could notice the issue with cursory inspection. If you are that worried keep an eye on it, if you notice delamination meaning large blisters the size of your hand or major splittig and cracking deal with it then.
Rudders are worth checking
Steve, the rudders on classic plastic boats are lightly made and prone to water intrusion for a variety of reasons (split seams, seams not molded completely against the post, cracks, water intrusion through top of post, etc.). Since both of my boats have had water intrusion into the rudder I wouldn't accept the advice to leave it alone; you suggested procedure is exactly the right idea. A tiny drill hole at the base and maybe a tiny hole slanted upward from the mid-section will be a fair sampling. Seal them up tight if you're lucky enough to be dry. And dry or not, it can't hurt to slather some epoxy at the place where the upper seam meets the post. That's a place that the manufacturers didn't put a lot of effort into sealing and is the automatic weak link.
Steve, the rudders on classic plastic boats are lightly made and prone to water intrusion for a variety of reasons (split seams, seams not molded completely against the post, cracks, water intrusion through top of post, etc.). Since both of my boats have had water intrusion into the rudder I wouldn't accept the advice to leave it alone; you suggested procedure is exactly the right idea. A tiny drill hole at the base and maybe a tiny hole slanted upward from the mid-section will be a fair sampling. Seal them up tight if you're lucky enough to be dry. And dry or not, it can't hurt to slather some epoxy at the place where the upper seam meets the post. That's a place that the manufacturers didn't put a lot of effort into sealing and is the automatic weak link.
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