When should the rudder be replaced

[Marilyn]

I own a 1987 Catalina 30. Last year we had a quarter size hole repaired on the rudder - advice from the boatyard. This year when I hauled her in Nov, the repair job seemed be holding. But a few months later I found a 3" X 4" piece of the rudder on the ground. It appears that it broke from the same spot as last year's repair - only bigger. Should the rudder be replaced?

 

[Gerry, GMJ Marine]

Rudder

Marilyn, it would help if you could post a picture. It sounds like just a repair would be needed unless a whole big chunk completely fell off. More description would help also.

 

[NickC]

Water in the Rudder?

We've had some pretty cold weather this winter on the east coast; maybe there was some water trapped in your rudder and it froze/expanded, pushing out the section that broke off. You may want to check for moisture in the rudder when things warm up.