SC 20' rudder came off - ideas to fix it?
Posted: August 14th, 2006, 7:08 am
Hi,
My starboard rudder lower casting came off during a sail yesterday after I had fixed it this spring. Last fall I ran into some lower ground and disloged the lower casting. In the spring I used some West Expoxy and thickened it some, filled the hole and bolt prior to setting the rudder casting back on. Didn't work well - about 15 outings.
Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions? I've come up with three so far:
1. Use some heli coil and fasten it with lock tite
2. Use a brass fitting and fasten it with lock tite
3. Cut the hull in the stern and insert a porthole to give me access to the affected internal area; fix it with some fibreglass; and put a plate with welded nuts on the inside to reinforce the whole area.
Option 3 with the port hole gives me the visibility to check the internal damage. I'm worried about the integrity of the foam sandwich. However, do I create another issue with inserting a porthole?
Finally, the last consideration is I'd like to get it back in the water ASAP to enjoy the end of this New England summer.
My starboard rudder lower casting came off during a sail yesterday after I had fixed it this spring. Last fall I ran into some lower ground and disloged the lower casting. In the spring I used some West Expoxy and thickened it some, filled the hole and bolt prior to setting the rudder casting back on. Didn't work well - about 15 outings.
Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions? I've come up with three so far:
1. Use some heli coil and fasten it with lock tite
2. Use a brass fitting and fasten it with lock tite
3. Cut the hull in the stern and insert a porthole to give me access to the affected internal area; fix it with some fibreglass; and put a plate with welded nuts on the inside to reinforce the whole area.
Option 3 with the port hole gives me the visibility to check the internal damage. I'm worried about the integrity of the foam sandwich. However, do I create another issue with inserting a porthole?
Finally, the last consideration is I'd like to get it back in the water ASAP to enjoy the end of this New England summer.