The transom-hung rudders are a different discussion altogether, but I learned something recently and want to add it to the collective knowledge of the list.
The earlier of the 25 Mk1's came from the factory with laminated wood rudders, which is what my '73 hull #79 has. (Check out some of my previous posts about trying to maintain / preserve it.) I recently salvaged '74 25 hull #301. What follows is all based on the assumption that this boat had its original rudder. This later rudder configuration is probably common to the 24, later 25 Mk1 and 25 Mk2. 27 Mk5 could be the same, don't know. After the owner cut off the keel, he removed the stands, dropped the boat on its hull, and broke the rudder approximately in half. (I advised him that the used rudder was probably worth at least what he got for the lead keel, $0.60/lb, ~1800 lbs.) I was surprised to see that the salvaged fiberglass rudder is hollow. (Hollow as in you can stick a broom handle in it and freely move it back and forth.) The fiberglass is only about 1/4" thick. I guess I was expecting thicker fiberglass, or foam filled, something like that. The top half of the rudder is hollow to a point, and then the upper third or so appears to be solid. My guess is that it's a laminated wood stub, either painted or glassed over. This helps to explain this thread I came across recently about how much the 25 rudder can flex: http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=113193 Without a doubt, this rudder is lighter than my laminated wood rudder. (I've had my rudder off 3 out of 6 years I've owned my boat. I've carried it around a lot!) I also find this surprising, since you'd think the weight of a transom-hung rudder would be critical to the balance of the boat. By the way, I took the pieces of broken rudder, thinking they might be useful to someone trying to build a mold, etc. Contact me off list if you're interested. Yours for the cost of shipping, might be cheaper to ship the two pieces separately! Mark ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Brass <rickbr...@earthlink.net> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Sent: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 04:50:20 -0000 (UTC) Subject: Re: Stus-List Rudder Re-build/replacement The rudder stock on my 38 was bent during a hard grounding in a thunderstorm in 2004. Actually it was OK until TowBoat US pulled me over the shoal instead of pulling me out the way I had come in. Insurance authorized the yard to heat and straighten the rudder shaft (BIG Mistake!) and reglass the top of the rudder after the repair. Five years later, water had gotten into the top of the rudder and the shaft broke because of crevice corrosion. I lost the blade. The yard (same one that did the first bad repair) had a rudder stock off a 38LF that had lost the skins off the rudder blade. They had purchased a 38LF rudder from C&C Yachts (in the process discovering that there were two different diameter rudder stocks on the 38LFs in the 70s) Tartan C&C Yachts can build rudders for many of the older models at a cost of $3800 according to the website. Call Alex Avery. Unfortunately they have drawings for the Landfall but not the 38 mk1 & mk2. I found 3 sources that had made aftermarket C&C rudders. Competition Composites in Canada quoted CDN$2900 using the rudder stock I had purchased (+ $1600 to build a new rudder stock). Phil's Foils are in Canada and make a lot of racing foils, and quoted CDN$2250 using my rudder stock. Foss Foam in Florida was $2400 US including shipping, The first two cast foam on the rudder stock and web, CNC machine the foil, and wrap the foam in glass/Kevlar/epoxy. I think of it as building from the inside out. Foss casts two halves of the skin, sandwiches around the stock and web, and injects foam. Then the joint is reinforced with Kevlar & epoxy. I think of this as outside in. There was some discussion I found on the web that the outside in method might be less durable if water gets into the foam and freezes over the winter, or if you have a dark colored rudder in warm water and bright sun. Foss did suggest painting the rudder a light color, but told me all the things they do to prevent water intrusion and to reinforce the seam against expansion of the foam. I went with Foss because of a lower cost, less hassles, and quicker delivery. So far I'm quite happy with the new rudder. Rick Brass Washington, NC -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Alex Giannelia Sent: Friday, October 19, 2012 1:56 PM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Stus-List Rudder Re-build/replacement 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
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