Had a good weekend and managed to get a fair bit done but I've decided to drop the rudder for a looksee.
Once asked, the question "Is my rudder OK?" cannot then be unasked I find.
One step backward
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Silkie
- Admiral of the Fleet
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One step backward
different colours made of tears
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Silkie
- Admiral of the Fleet
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Re: One step backward
Looks like I'll have to go elsewhere for some assistance with my rudder. 
I'd have thought that anyone with an interest in sailing in her in the not too distant future might have felt a need to proffer some advice.
I'd have thought that anyone with an interest in sailing in her in the not too distant future might have felt a need to proffer some advice.
different colours made of tears
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sahona
- Admiral of the White
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Re: One step backward
Go on then, show us what you found, and detail the modifications you're proposing.
http://trooncruisingclub.org/ 20' - 30' Berths available, Clyde.
Cruising, racing, maintenance facilities. Go take a look, you know you want to.
Cruising, racing, maintenance facilities. Go take a look, you know you want to.
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Pete Cooper
- Old Salt
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- Boat Type: Micro Gem 550 Super Yacht
Re: One step backward
What led you to believe that there is something wrong with the rudder?
Now that you have dropped the rudder what have you found?
Now that you have dropped the rudder what have you found?
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Silkie
- Admiral of the Fleet
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- Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2005 12:55 pm
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Re: One step backward
(Apologies for the delay but I've been a bit busy applying for my own job. Application now in and interview tomorrow morning followed by "feedback" on Thursday.)
Rudder doesn't come out 'til Friday so it's all a bit theoretical at the moment. The rudder is unsheathed ply wrapped round a ss stock and an as yet undetermined number of tangs. It looks like the ply was fairly crudely shaped and faired with plastic padding (at a guess) which has not adhered well to the ply. Over the years I have replaced virtually all of this with epoxy and my repairs seem OK but I have ignored several other potential problems.
You may just be able to see some fine cracks in the leading edge of the rudder in this pic.
The three screws which bolt the lower bracket to the partial skeg had been encased in filler on both sides of the skeg. I have chipped this off to find all three wasted to varying degrees, one to the point where the head just fell off. Depending on what I find when I can have a proper poke around in the skeg I may need to open a window in the aft edge and replace whatever core is in there.
The rudder has dropped slightly in both pics because the lower bracket has been loosened. You can see some corrosion on the big nut at the base of the rudder tube. This tube is a known weakness. A clever previous owner has fitted a grease nipple to the tube and I keep it pumped full but the not so clever owners before me didn't know about this innovation and I wonder what I will find when I can see the inside of the tube. There is nothing untoward visible from the interior of the boat.
Another possible issue is that there seems to be a small hole in the top of the rudder close to the stock but this may just be a slight depression.
Rudder doesn't come out 'til Friday so it's all a bit theoretical at the moment. The rudder is unsheathed ply wrapped round a ss stock and an as yet undetermined number of tangs. It looks like the ply was fairly crudely shaped and faired with plastic padding (at a guess) which has not adhered well to the ply. Over the years I have replaced virtually all of this with epoxy and my repairs seem OK but I have ignored several other potential problems.
You may just be able to see some fine cracks in the leading edge of the rudder in this pic.
The three screws which bolt the lower bracket to the partial skeg had been encased in filler on both sides of the skeg. I have chipped this off to find all three wasted to varying degrees, one to the point where the head just fell off. Depending on what I find when I can have a proper poke around in the skeg I may need to open a window in the aft edge and replace whatever core is in there.
The rudder has dropped slightly in both pics because the lower bracket has been loosened. You can see some corrosion on the big nut at the base of the rudder tube. This tube is a known weakness. A clever previous owner has fitted a grease nipple to the tube and I keep it pumped full but the not so clever owners before me didn't know about this innovation and I wonder what I will find when I can see the inside of the tube. There is nothing untoward visible from the interior of the boat.
Another possible issue is that there seems to be a small hole in the top of the rudder close to the stock but this may just be a slight depression.
different colours made of tears