Tore Rudder right off transom 1977 '25

[pprusak]

I was recently evaluating what the weakest link of the chain was on my 1977 25' swing keel O'day. I had a feeling that it was the rudder and rudder posts.

Today I found out that I was correct, and I found out the hard way when my rudder hit rock and tore the lower mounting bracket right out the transom. The holes were about 3/8" becaue it tore the waher and nut right through the hull. Water was coming in anytime I was moving faster than idle speed. My poor date, who was steering when this happened, was quickly introduced to the joys of quick thinking when bad things happen on the water. This could have happened to anyone, and it was a shame that it happened to her on her first time on my boat! What an adventure.... it didn't end there, but that's another story for another day!

Repair job ahead. Any suggestions would be welcome. looks lke I will have to tear out the chunks of transom that broke up, leaving me with an area about 6 inchs wide by 4 inches tall and about 1/4" deep where the outer layers of the transom burst out. Not sure what to fill this in with. Also not sure if reinforcing the backing of the attachment bolts too much is really a great idea. If this happens again, and I sail on the shallow west coast of Florida so chances are good that this may not be the last time something like this happens. I only envision a future episode where (if the backing plate was reinforced too signficantly) that it could potentially tear a much greater sized hole in the back of the boat and I may not be so lucky as I was today.

I envision an improvement on design, such as a pivoting top mount and a break-away bottom mount that would disengage like a ski boot with too much force, but clip back in once deeper water is available. Anything like this exist? Any ideas or suggestions? It's prime sailing season for me here in northern florida, and this is one of those setbacks that could put me out of commission for a while.

I appreciate the help and any suggestions.

Paul

 

[pprusak]

Just a point of clarification... it was the lower GUDGEON that tore right through and caused all the trouble.

-Paul

 

[48dodge]

Kick up rudder comes immediately to mind.

 

[Joe11688]

I'm not too sure of how much room there is available to get at the gudgeons to make the repair, but I would install an 8" deck plate in the center of your inside transom. This will make life a whole lot easier. It did for me. Anyway, pintles and gudgeons for your boat are readily available at D & R Marine, Assonet Ma. You could make your repair and back the gudgeons with 1/2" plywood and you'll be back in business. As for the rudder; I have a tip-up rudder blade on my boat that came stock, but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there is one available for an O'Day 25 out there. Good luck.
Joe

 

[Shoaldrafter]

Paul,

All things in fiberglass boats can be repaired. It depends on the fixer how well it done. Do you have a trailer for your boat? This repair is best done out of the water and either on a trailer or stands.

It has already been mentioned to consider a kick up rudder. With an O'Day 25 this is an important consideration since the rudder is lower than the keel. There have been those who cut of a few inches off of the rudder, but this changes the dynamics.

In the archives you should be able to find others who have made this repair. Joe mentioned D & R as a source of original replacement parts. That is if you intend to go back to original. My boat's previous owner found the original parts not to be sturdy enough and installed heavy duty parts. They are much more substantial than original.

When they changed the parts on my boat, instead of fender washers they installed s.s. backing plates. Again makes more substantial repair. Unfortunately, I would loose the whole transom if things ripped out now.

However, during your glass repair, installing a large marine plywood backing and glass it over would make the whole transom sturdier than original and has been done on many of the 25's and 26's.

Ed K

 

[r.w.landau]

There is plenty of room going through the lazzerette to make

The repair. I am 54 years old and 230# I can get into my bilge no problem.
I would make the fiberglass repairs. I would not use plywood of any kind.
When I bought my 79 O'Day 25, (and the 78 O'Day 25) I removed all the hardware and installed backing plates. I made the heavier ones out of 1/4" aluminum plate. I made the lighter wieght ones out of 1/8" aluminum plate.
I installed an interior and exterior plate at each gungeon that was about 3"x6". The reason was that you want to spread load. Those plates that sandwich the fiberglass spread load but are not so ridged that they tear out the transom. I grounded at about 2 knots with minor damage. The kick up is the best idea if you have unknown shallows.
I also sandwitched the fiberglass behind the motor mount with interior 11x16 aluminum plate and an exterior 11x16 aluminum plate.
Plywood is still not strong enough and will flex more than the aluminum and will cause more damage that is harder to fix if it is glassed in.
Do a simple fiberglass fix, and use aluminum or stainless backing plates.
Just my opinion,
r.w.landau

 

[r.w.landau]

How is it coming?

Have you done anything yet?
r.w.landau