SL-140 Missing Items

[starowl]

Well, I revived an old SL-140 14' sailboat last week, but made a mistake in letting a novice take it for a ride today. He tipped over and lost the metal rudder. The boat was made by Anchor Fiberglass in Traverse City, Michigan probably 40 years ago.

Traverse City is only 20 miles from here (Lake Leelanau, MI) but I'm quite sure the company has been out of business for years.

If anyone has any idea where I might find a replacement rudder, perhaps from a derelict SL-140, please advise. I have no idea how many were produced. But there is always a chance.

Thanks,

Bert

 

[Ray T]

I don't know where you might get a rudder but have you considered looking for your old one? Do you know approximately where it was lost? If you do you might try a grappling hook and drag for it or Harbor Freight has an underwater camera for $ 119. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

[starowl]

I don't know where you might get a rudder but have you considered looking for your old one? Do you know approximately where it was lost? If you do you might try a grappling hook and drag for it or Harbor Freight has an underwater camera for $ 119. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Ray, thanks. Yes, once my guest returned (towed), we set out to look for the rudder, but the water was too rough to be able to see productively. He offered to dive with goggles but the area is not exact and I thought it would be a waste of time and energy. He dove once but said it was too murky. I will return to the general area in the morning when it is glassy calm and see what may show up. I agree that desperate times call for desperate measures and will do what I can. I appreciate your response and will give the underwater camera a thought.

 

[Joe]

look for similar boats... That rudder looks pretty generic. By that I mean it's a common dinghy style rudder with an aluminum hinge/housing that allows you to swing it up. Take a look a the Laser's rudder and you'll see what I mean. The biggest issue might be cost for a new replacement laser rudder... here's an example of what I mean. http://www.westcoastsailing.net/default/boat-parts/laser/blades-tillers/85153.html

Anyway... you might peruse that site and look at some examples of other similar sized boats, trying to find a match. Unfortunately, rudders are one of a boat's more expensive parts. http://www.westcoastsailing.net

 

[starowl]

look for similar boats... That rudder looks pretty generic. By that I mean it's a common dinghy style rudder with an aluminum hinge/housing that allows you to swing it up. Take a look a the Laser's rudder and you'll see what I mean. The biggest issue might be cost for a new replacement laser rudder... here's an example of what I mean. http://www.westcoastsailing.net/default/boat-parts/laser/blades-tillers/85153.html

Anyway... you might peruse that site and look at some examples of other similar sized boats, trying to find a match. Unfortunately, rudders are one of a boat's more expensive parts. http://www.westcoastsailing.net

Joe, the thought occurred to me that there may be a rudder from a similar boat that would fit, but I didn't know where to start on that. Thanks for the suggestion and the links. The lake was/still is a bit too wavy to conduct a visual search, but I'm hopeful conditions will improve in the next day or two. According to the guest who capsized the craft, the mast hit bottom at about a 45 degree angle, so with the clarity of the water in this lake, I see a possibility, although remote, of having a sighting. Again, thanks.
Bert

 

[Joe]

Bert..... I think you have a good chance of finding the old one in the lake if you can find a drag.... that's a rake like device you can pull behind a boat. Ask around the marina...you might find a source. Law enforcement authorities use them to look for evidence. If you can't find one... tie some weights around your buddy , give him a mask and crowbar and let him be the drag..... heh, heh. good luck.

 

[Ron20324]

You did say metal, as in magnet? You probably can not lift the rudder with it, but "sounding" with a magnet on a line should be able to stick enough that you know you've found SOMETHING metal.