What is missing in this picture

[guidera48]

I just pulled my Hunter 37c for a paint job and found a missing part.
Something is missing at the rear of my hull. There is a small indentation in the fiberglass just before the tiller. There are 5 stailness screws in the hull as if something was atached there. Same thing on the port side.
Does any one knows what it should be??
Thanks

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

ground strap?

 

[Steve Dion]

I believe that there were some wings in that position. I assumed that there were used to divert water from exiting the skeg and pushing on the rudder. I really don't know why Hunter did not glass these things in place, but is was probably an engineering fix.

 

[rardiH36]

Steve is right, but I can add more info.

On each side of the hull just forward of the rudder pivot point, Hunter mounted a flexible piece of plastic sheet about 1/8" thick. When the plastic was new, it pressed firmly against the rudder. I presume that the intent was to provide a smoother flow over the transition from the hull as it passed over the rudder joint. As the rudder is moved left or right, the flexible plastic bends away, then flattens again to maintain firm pressure on the rudder when centered. Over time however, the plastic can become rigid, and won't conform flat anymore against the rudder. It actually sets firm alarmingly flared out from the rudder, thus distorting the water flow much greater than if the plastic pieces are removed. This is what has happened on my 1980 H36. I will be removing these pieces the next time I pull the boat out of the water. I don't think I will try to find the correct type of plastic to replace.

It happens that a H37c was hauled out last week at a boatyard right next to my marina (Sausalito CA). I noticed it and went over to take a look. I did observe that the plastic pieces were still affixed to her hull. But unlike mine, they were still pressing pretty much flat against the rudder. This H37C looked like it had been neglected for years. But I'm sure that it will be restored nicely.

 

[sandpiper10471]

Steve and Rardi are right. There were flaps to reduce turbulent flow around the rudder. Mine were also gone. I made new ones of fiberglass - two layers of 1808 stitchmat and epoxy if I remember correctly. After installation I had to sand them down to make them more flexible.. They do tend to remove antiflouling from the rudder. Not sure I would use them in salt water as it would make it difficult to get at all the barnacles. If not used, the holes must be well sealed. Seems to me Ed S. filled this psuedo skeg with glass to stiffen this member and make it leak proof. Check the archives.

 

[Ed Schenck]

"Flaps" on the H37C.

Sandpiper remembers correctly. I did fill that void. The fiberglass is suprisingly thin back there and those screws had better be tight and well sealed. I carved some wood, a couple of 2 x 3's, to fit. Then I mixed some epoxy putty and poured down in there. A terrible place to work under the radial wheel and deep down.

In the picture you can see that I had replaced mine. These were cut from stiff rubber stair treads. I have since removed them and glassed the holes over.

 

[guidera48fabric8te]

The flap regarding the flap

Thanks all. I did go back to the storage trailer were I had stored all the boats's articles and indeed found 2 grey plastic flaps. The holes for the screws were ripped however the holes did match up the screws on the hull. I would have never guessed the use or need for this flimsy factory fix.
I too will glass over this area. I am fixing some dock rash at this time and preparing for a new paint job.
Thanks