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 Rudder Cracked Apart		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Veesdad
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts
Initially Posted - 10/31/2010 :  18:19:40  Show Profile
I went to take out my boat today only to find a giant crack along the back edge of my rudder. The crack runs nearly from top to bottom exactly down the middle of the back edge. You can see the fibroglass inside.
I take the rudder out of the water every time I am done with the boat. It is four years old at most. Has anyone seen or heard about this happening? Does Catalina warrant their product? Any idea why this happened? Two weeks ago it was fine. I have a feeling my wallet is about to be emptied. :( :(
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bill bosworth
Navigator

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USA
172 Posts
Response Posted - 10/31/2010 :  18:45:13  Show Profile
I have had some cracking between the pintails on my 3rd gen rudder. I sent the rudder back to Catalina, they did a repair at no cost, but the problem happened again. The next time, I ground out the crack, filled it with fiberglass reinforced resin, and finished it off with jell coat. I haven't had any further problems. I have the feeling that the rudder is molded in two halves, the halves are bonded together with jell coat, but no glass fiber. Jell coat doesn't have a lot of strength so it seems to crack under load.

Bill c250wb #134 Serendipity
on Kerr Lake, NC
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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts
Response Posted - 10/31/2010 :  19:10:22  Show Profile
If the crack is new then the rudder can probably be repaired just fine. I believe these rudders have a foam core so there would not be rot. Give Catalina a call and see what they will do. If they don't fix it then I'd be tempted to use MarineTex for a repair.

Bill, you are right about the two mold halves. I very much doubt, though, that the gelcoat is what is binding the two halves. They are probably glued together with epoxy. That back edge is quite thin and the epoxy may not have done a good enough job there.
Edited by - Nautiduck on 10/31/2010 19:13:35
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts
Response Posted - 11/01/2010 :  07:04:26  Show Profile
Is there bottom paint on the rudder? When you remove it, do you leave it exposed to sun? Sun on bottom paint can heat a rudder to the point of causing the foam core to expand and break the seam.
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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts
Response Posted - 11/01/2010 :  12:25:00  Show Profile  Visit DaveR's Homepage
That's what I was thinking Dave. Wouldn't it be trouble even if just in a very warm place?
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TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts
Response Posted - 11/01/2010 :  12:56:38  Show Profile
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by DaveR</i>
<br />That's what I was thinking Dave. Wouldn't it be trouble even if just in a very warm place?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I think he was referring to the possibility of the sun heating up (thus expanding) one side of the rudder much more than the other side. That could create huge stresses at the seam. Bottom paint could make it worse by absorbing even more heat.
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Veesdad
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts
Response Posted - 11/03/2010 :  11:09:53  Show Profile
Hi guys, thanks for the advice. I called Catalina and apparently Mr Butler will be taking care of me. The answer to an earlier post ...no, there is no bottom paint on the rudder. With very few exceptions, it remained covered.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.