Dwight: I don't think that C&C made bad rudders...........but most of our boats are old and age does have an effect on them. The most common problem is having the rudder collect water inside as the result of cracks or most likely the top where the shaft goes in and it is not permanently sealed (if there is such a thing as a permanent seal).
My 1977 C&C 38MKIIC had such a problem..........it would drip for days when we took it out in the winter and I put up with it for several years. This year, I decided it was time to fix it and I had a new rudder fabricated using the old rudder skeleton. When the shop took the skin off the rudder, the inside was a black gunky mess of stuff (nautical term) The stainless skeleton inside my rudder is comprised of a 2"+diameter solid stainless shaft with a 3/8" plate stainless panel welded to it from about half way down and braced with several 2" wide straps of 3/8" stainless on each side. The consensus is that water constantly leaked in from the top at the shaft. Eventually weakening the sides and dripping out of the bottom via cracks in the fiberglass covering. I had Composite Solutions, Inc. of Weymouth MA do the work and they stripped the skeleton to the bone and then made two half molds on a CNC machine for the new rudder. They used gel coat and cloth to make the skin and a foam core that was cut out to accommodate the skeleton. All slathered up with adhesive, each half was mated and glued up via vacuum bagging technique. It was an impressive project, but the end result is a new solid rudder that my boat seems to like very nicely. Compared to the previous quote, mine cost $4000 to strip and fabricate and about a half day each way to disassemble and reassemble on the boat. Composite Solutions, Inc. is a well known designer and fabricator of high performance carbon fiber boat structures, e.g. America's Cup rudder bearings, booms, masts, and the new Navtec carbon fiber composite rigging ends for Dyneema rigging. They used Fiberglass for my rudder because carbon fiber would have impacted the PHRF rating. I don't know how prevalent the problem is, or whether C&C's are the only ones......I think it's an age dependant and climate related issue for almost any sailboat. Be Watchful ............... Best, Ron Casciato Impromptu C&C 38MKIIC....'77 -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of dwight veinot Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 4:30 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Rudder Re-build/replacement I don't get it...did C&C make bad rudders or what??? Seems it costs a lot to get a new one made...I haven't had such a problem yet on any C&C I have owned and I hope it stays that way...but the rudder on my 1974 C&C 35 is nearly ready to apply for the pension...no obvious problems yet as far as I can tell...the boat steers just fine and feels great but I know guys in their late 70's who are still sailing and maintaining their own C&C's so maybe they would think my rudder is still a youngster. Sorry a new one cost you that much but you can't sail very well without one!!! Dwight Veinot C&C 35 MKII, Alianna Head of St. Margaret's Bay, NS -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of RAYMOND SHIBE Sent: October 19, 2012 5:17 PM To: CnC Subject: Re: Stus-List Rudder Re-build/replacement Alex, Had replace a rudder in 2010 for "Stinky Dog" a 1984 C&C 41. South Shore Yachts built one from sratch. No complaints. It was the better part of $7000.00 including brokerage fees and shipping to New Jersey. Shipping would probably be less to Toronto and no brokerage costs. Ray Shibe > > Has anyone on the list replaced or re-built their rudder? > > ALEX GIANNELIA > > CC 35-II (1974) WILL BE RENAMED > ON THE HARD SINCE NOV. 2006 > Toronto Ontario _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5341 - Release Date: 10/19/12 _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
