I broke the rudder on my 2002 Hunter 270, shearing it off just below the rudder bracket after it kicked up in heavy weather. I replaced it with a 52 inch long. 2 inch thick Rudder Craft rudder for $700 plus shipping. Very nice new rudder delivered very quickly.
However I could have and should have reinforced the original rudder with additional fiberglass during a "renewal" of the rudder 2 seasons ago after I bought the boat. I fixed a couple of significant "wounds" (the worst of which was obviously caused by a dock line rubbing against the rudder) and filled in dings then finished with 6 layers of barrier coat. It would have been easy to lay up extra glass cloth. especially on the upper area subject to significant stress ..... and where it broke.
I reinforced both the rudder and the swing keel of my Macgregor 26 after receiving reports of failure in heavy weather conditions. The Macgregor swing keel was reinforced with 16 ounce unidirectional cloth and epoxy resin. I had leftover 16 ounce unidirectional cloth that I could have used to reinforce the Hunter 270 rudder. It would have been much less expensive.
I have developed a "hybrid" system to hold down the new rudder that should prevent it from rising to the surface and becoming subject to the shearing forces that broke the old rudder. I hope it works.
However I could have and should have reinforced the original rudder with additional fiberglass during a "renewal" of the rudder 2 seasons ago after I bought the boat. I fixed a couple of significant "wounds" (the worst of which was obviously caused by a dock line rubbing against the rudder) and filled in dings then finished with 6 layers of barrier coat. It would have been easy to lay up extra glass cloth. especially on the upper area subject to significant stress ..... and where it broke.
I reinforced both the rudder and the swing keel of my Macgregor 26 after receiving reports of failure in heavy weather conditions. The Macgregor swing keel was reinforced with 16 ounce unidirectional cloth and epoxy resin. I had leftover 16 ounce unidirectional cloth that I could have used to reinforce the Hunter 270 rudder. It would have been much less expensive.
I have developed a "hybrid" system to hold down the new rudder that should prevent it from rising to the surface and becoming subject to the shearing forces that broke the old rudder. I hope it works.