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Old man winter brought a rudder crack

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ColinR
1st Mate

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Canada
28 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/15/2011 : 15:46:10

Checked out the boat today after a long winter.

Found this crack in the rudder. Structural or Cosmetic?

Seal with epoxy/fibreglass combo?

Any thoughts? we're launching on Friday. Want to seal the crack before it hits water of course.

my transom trim is pitiful!!

Thanks for the help.

1981 Catalina 25
Midland, Ontario

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2011 : 16:45:13

Hard to tell, pics didn't come through!

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2011 : 17:01:11

Theory has it that the core becomes wet over time and when it freezes - it expands and you end up with the above results. Storing it above freezing in the winter months is common for northern C25 owners.

That's the first crack I've seen that didn't follow the seam. My crack was straight down the middle so I ran it over a table saw, ~1/2" depth and then filled it with MarineTex. You can shape the MarineTex with wax paper to minimize sanding after it cures.

Perhaps with your jagged crack you could open it using something like a Rotozip or Multimaster.

Edited by - OJ on 06/15/2011 17:18:45

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2011 : 17:49:44

Hate to rain on your parade, but this is trouble. The core in the head of the original "unbalanced" rudder is wood, which as mentioned, can absorb water, freeze, and expand with enough force to do what you're looking at. The cracked fiberglass can be repaired... The problem is the core, which provides the strength to keep the rudder from breaking at the lower pintle. Moisture in there generally means rot, which means no strength, which means some day when you're in rough conditions with some heavy weather helm, and the boat is heeled and pitching (further stressing the blade), suddenly you'll have no rudder.

So you can try repairing it if you want, but.........

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tidesailer
1st Mate

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USA
53 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 08:58:04

Stinkpot is correct I gutted my rudder after seeing a crack and most of the wood inside was rotted out. I cut the rotted wood out and repaired with marine wood and epoxy fill. I cannot risk losing the rudder in heavyweather sailing. Im hoping you will not have have to go thru this, very time consuming. Most of the rotting I found was above the waterline but unfortunatly at the hardware where you need the strength. good luck...Don

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2011 : 20:11:05

I'm afraid that I would go with a new rudder. A strong and cosmetically appealing repair would cost a lot of sailing time and would result in a rudder that is always on your mind.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 08:30:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">my transom trim is pitiful!!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Colin,
You don't have any transom trim, that's why you think it's pathetic. You can buy a piece from Catalina Direct or fill those holes with MarineTex, sand it smooth and paint it.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2011 : 10:36:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 ...The problem is the core
...in rough conditions
...suddenly you'll have no rudder.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">As I have reported on the Forum before, I repaired the fiberglass all around the cracked edges and replaced the fiberglass across the central 16 inches of my original-style rudder. I ground down a beautiful bevel and all, before applying 7 layers of fiberglass cloth and resin to port and starboard sides. I was really proud of my work and used the West System. But I left the wood core as it was.

Then one day in 25 knots of wind I had no rudder.

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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.