Rudder Repair Opinion

[Paul Allen]

I recently had some rudder work done on our '92 Sabre 30MKIII. There was a chunk missing from the top aft (see photo). I have no idea when or how this happened. I also don't know if there was water intrusion (I haven't been present when the boat is hauled to check for any dripping).

I received a quote to "sand off and grind bottom paint; grind out wet and contaminated surface; drain; re-fiberglass surface; re-seal rudder with epoxy; apply four coats barrier coat on rudder; and apply bottom paint to rudder."

I have two questions:
1) Can (or would) this work be completed without dropping the rudder?

2) Could this work be completed in 3 or 4 days?

I am asking because the rudder was not removed and they did the work in 3-4 days. I'm quite suspicious.

[Statistical]

Doing it in 3-4 days seems plausible. Doing it without dropping the rudder does not. I mean you could kinda get to that aft corner piece although not easily. However the entire top edge may have wet wood which needs to be ground out. It doesn't seem like you could do a good job without dropping the rudder.

Honestly that kind of crap is why I do my own work.

[S/V Illusion]

Without knowing if or how much water penetrated into the inside of the rudder and possibly trapped there to rust the structural webbing, it’s impossible to know. Certainly sounds like all they did was a cosmetic repair.

[Cheechako]

Assuming it was not build completely solid inside: It's undoubtedly water logged and will not last. Remove, saw open the side, remove all mush and debris, dry out extensively, reglass and fill or fill and reglass.
It can be done without removing the rudder, but 'patch and paste' is not proper.

[DirtPete]

From the picture that looks like fairing compound. If thats the case it's entirely possible that the rudder itself isn't wet. Instead the old compound needed to be removed and then replaced with epoxy and glass.

Also plenty of ways to dry out a rudder hanging on a boat.

[boatman61]

They would not have to remove the rudder, just lower it to sit on a block while they did the work.
Have done a similar thing sitting in the slings for a couple of hours while replacing the top bearings on a boat.
Just lowered the rudder to sit on a block while I climbed back up to the cockpit to do the work.
By the time the TL operator came back from lunch the rudder was back up in place.
Being on stands it can sit down there till the jobs done.

[rognvald]

Hi, Paul,
It looks like a previous, poorly-constructed repair that failed. If no void is seen from above, the inside is probably fine but if it were mine, I'd pull the rudder and do a complete inspection. There's no limit to the unconscionable abuses of boatyard repairmen or a Mickey Mouse previous owner.
Rognvald