Taking rudder apart

[cedricbaele]

In the continuing extensive refit of "Lyra" (V-2941), I was taking
apart the rudder shoe in order to fix some play it had with the rudder
axle. Pushing the rudder all the way in one direction revealed some
cracks with rust stains on the frontside (the side that is close to the
hull). Knowing that the rudder is a known Vega weakness, I proceeded to
dig a hole and get the rudder off the boat.
Does anyone have any advice as to how to open up the rudder? Has anyone
else done this? If so, what does the inside of the rudder look like?

Thanks a bunch to all for any input,

Cedric and Melissa
"Lyra" Vega 2941

 

[pelagicasd]

Hi Cedric, After running aground with a large and burly crew member aboard I
had the opportunity to take apart my rudder. This guy said "I'll get us off"
and proceeded to rapidly work the tiller back and forth. After his first
pull on it it moved freely. The weld on the rudder stock had snapped. After
being towed in by friends we went into the yard. I removed the rudder while
in the slings and took it apart. I did this with a chisel. The rudder is two
halfs glued together around the the rudder stock.
The stock is not one piece. The upper part has a welded rod attached to it.
The lower part is just a piece of stainless rod about 6 inches long. This
section fits in the shoe. The two halves were fairly easy to split apart
with the chisel. The inside of the rudder is filled with resin mixed with
sand. I gouged out enough of the sand to allow a more substantial piece of
metal to be welded to the upper stock. When I got the stock back from the
welder I laid it in one half of the rudder and filled the void I had gouged
with epoxy and sand. After it had set I coated it with a paste of epoxy and
cabosil and clamped the pieces back together. I used C-clamps on the the
parts where the the stock was. I had drilled 1/4" holes down the middle and
along the aft edge about 6 inches apart. I through bolted these and allowed
the epoxy to set. Next was undoing the bolts. (It's a lot easier if you wax
the bolts before you glue the rudder together.) I then ran a drill through
the holes to clean out any wax and filled them with epoxy. Put some tape on
one side and put a couple of drops in each hole. Let this set then fill them
with epoxy and cabosil. As you clamp it together you're going to have a lot
of resin coming out from between the halves. It's easier to clean it off
when its wet than when its dry. I ran a piece of fiber-glass tape down the
seam in front of the stock and glassed it over. I also drilled a 1/2" hole
on the aft edge of the rudder about 1/3 of the way down. If the repair ever
fails I'll be able to go over the side and run a pieces of 3/8 line through
the hole. Overhand knots snugged up on each side of the hole will allow me
to adjust the rudder by pulling on the lines. Have fun! Walt
S/V Lyric #120
PS When I say cabosil I'm referring to West Systems #406 Colloidal Silica as
a thickening agent. It's available through West Marine and most other
chandlerys.

 

[jvancraaikamp]

Hello Walt Judy Cedric and Melissa,

In the files department of this group, there is an article called How
to build a Vega rudder. It also contains pictures of the ruddershaft
and the inside of the rudder blade.
Mayby they can help you.

Regards Jan. V973

 

[vega2055]

Salut Cedric!
J ai eu le meme problème il y a trois ans .J ai ouvert
,j ai enlevé completement la mousse détrempée j ai
remplie de résine en plusieurs coulées.J ai refibré
le panneau que j\'avais découpé et enlevé en faisant
très attention de ne pas le briser.Résultat un safran
plein et solide .Aucun problemes depuis.Si tu as
d\'autre questions ne te gênes pas.Je suis dans la
région de Montréal .

Patrice

Vega2055

 

[vega1860]

Cedric,

Rudder repair is covered in some detail in the VORMM. Interestingly, most of the information comes from VODCA members Bill and Karen Sides who detail the rudder repair on their boat "Lyra", complete with diagrams and descriptions of the before and after repair/modifications. I don't know if this if your Lyra as they don't give the hull number.

Aloha,

Chuck

"cedricbaele" cedricbaele@... wrote:

 

[imbissfrank]

Bill and Karen Sides owned "Lyra" V-039
Frank Gallardo Jr
vega1860@... wrote:
Cedric,

Rudder repair is covered in some detail in the VORMM. Interestingly, most of the information comes from VODCA members Bill and Karen Sides who detail the rudder repair on their boat "Lyra", complete with diagrams and descriptions of the before and after repair/modifications. I don't know if this if your Lyra as they don't give the hull number.

Aloha,

Chuck

"cedricbaele" cedricbaele@... wrote: