Warped Rudder

[sbrogden]

I've ordered TotalBoat-403794 Clear Penetrating Epoxy Wood Sealer for the rudder.

 

[sbrogden]

I started work on the rudder today - epoxied two strip together for the leading edge of the rudder. Also a pic of the rudder in the raw - plan to epoxy it tomorrow after the leading edge has cured. Lastly a pic of the old tiller and the one I made. Will finish it in conjunction with finishing the rudder. To the right of the tiller is the daggerboard - waiting for a new one from a local supplier.

 

[sbrogden]

The rudder is laminated and curing.

 

[rgranger]

I have a power planer that I have used when shaping the rudder and tiller I made. If you don't have one yet, try looking at a pawn shop or CL for one. A project is always a good time to get a new toy. Power planers are great for this sort of job. I have this one

 

[sbrogden]

I have a power planer that I have used when shaping the rudder and tiller I made. If you don't have one yet, try looking at a pawn shop or CL for one. A project is always a good time to get a new toy. Power planers are great for this sort of job. I have this one

View attachment 211407

I found a Makita KP0810 for sale for $100. Looks to be a good one.

 

[sbrogden]

Ordered a power planer. Took the clamps off this morning, cut out the shape. When the planer arrives, will begin forming it into a foil.

 

[rgranger]

NICE! That looks like it will be strong and should resist future warping.
I traced the foil on the bottom end (edge) with a sharpie... and as I planed to the line, I would "eye" it up the plank until it "looked" right-ish and then I finished shaping it with 60 grit paper and an orbital sander. Once it looked right, I then sanded it smooth with 120 grit. That went fairly quick and took a few hours. BUT! Save yourself a lot of work...you only need to get the foil shape on the part that will be in the water. I didn't figure that out until I had shaped the entire board...

 

[sbrogden]

Thanks! I traced the foil shape on the bottom edge and have made note of the area that needs to stay flat, which fits inside the metal bracket.

 

[Hayden Watson]

One way to make shaping easier is to make a template of your profile out of a scrap of plywood and then plan several grooves across the blank to that profile along the height of the blade. Then plane the rest down to those grooves.

 

[sbrogden]

I have made a template from a plywood scrap and traced that on the bottom edge. Interesting idea re; the grooves. I will noodle on that a bit.

 

[Hayden Watson]

I have made a template from a plywood scrap and traced that on the bottom edge. Interesting idea re; the grooves. I will noodle on that a bit.

It is like "connect the dots". Your power planer does a good job of planing a straight line and the grooves give you a start and finish point.

 

[rgranger]

...which fits inside the metal bracket.

YEP!... That is when it occured to me that I had made a mistake...

 

[JBP-PA]

Very nice. Go easy on the power planer, they can remove a lot of wood fast. If you are doing the "grooves", aka kerfs, do not go down to your finished size, leave it a bit large because you will have to smooth it out some more when you get down to your kerfs. It might be simpler just to use the template.

 

[sbrogden]

Very nice. Go easy on the power planer, they can remove a lot of wood fast. If you are doing the "grooves", aka kerfs, do not go down to your finished size, leave it a bit large because you will have to smooth it out some more when you get down to your kerfs. It might be simpler just to use the template.

Thanks - I will be careful with the planer.

 

[JBP-PA]

Thanks - I will be careful with the planer.

If you've done a lot of hand planning, you are going to love the power planer, it's like shaving warm butter.

 

[sbrogden]

I sanded the flat part so it fits inside the bracket and drilled the holes for the pivot point and for the bracket that attaches to the tiller.

 

[sbrogden]

A local boat works shop makes mahogany daggerboards for this boat, very reasonable price. He told me he will get the wood next week and build one for me.

 

[sbrogden]

New rudder has been shaped and initial post planing sanding complete.

 

[rgranger]

Looking good...... You might have established a side gig..

It looks like the tip of the blade is rather sharp. I suspect that will get banged up fairly quick if (when) you kiss the bottom. But that can be sanded out later when needed.

 

[sbrogden]

Looking good...... You might have established a side gig..

It looks like the tip of the blade is rather sharp. I suspect that will get banged up fairly quick if (when) you kiss the bottom. But that can be sanded out later when needed.

It will be quoted with a penetrating epoxy sealer from Jamestown. Not too difficult to make. Lots of good advice from this forum.