Rudder Inspection

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Skip,

Frankly, I don't think that Ultrasound is the proper means of checking for cracking/corrosion in a rudder stock. Radiography, however, should provide reasonable detail, and can be done in-situ while the boat is on the hard for survey. BUT, it ain't gonna be cheap! As others have mentioned, NDT firms do all sorts of inspections in the field and would find no problems with your rudderstock. A phone call to one in your area should give you some idea of the cost. I recommend being seated when you make the call...

Cheers and good luck.

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Manly Qld Oz

[hellosailor]

Gord-
"GE’s Vscan ultrasoubnd is currently priced at $7,900 per unit."
About the same thing that a PC or Mac with a laser printer ($4000 alone) cost circa 1985, in 1985 dollars.
And what would you be willing to pay the man who could bring one around to check your rudder, if you were....in an offshore race? Or island hopping? Or maybe just checking up while commissioning?
$8000/50 weeks, a paltry $400 per week for one year and the thing is paid for. (Paltry, yeah.<G>) Being the only surveyor or shop in town that has one...Priceless?

I wonder if the local hospital would notice if one of their clunky old GE portable xray wagons was taken out for cleaning every night, as long as it came back nice and shiny in the morning? <VBG>

"Housekeeping! Coming through!"