Separation in Rudder

[smundy]

I have a 27ft Mirage 1980.
I am a novice sailor. Learning to sail.
Boat is kept in fresh water - Lake Ontario 6 months season.

Rudder has a slight crack/separation in it. About 20" in length. Back side edge. Near bottom.

Should I sand it down and fill it with some epoxy?
I'm not worried about it but I figured I might take some precautionary measures.

What action do you suggest I take?

Thank you!

[Cheechako]

Likely joined at that edge and separating. You can grind and layer it with glass, then grind smooth. If a real fine crack y maybe just fill it, maybe even just with 5200 sealant.
It's possible the rudder has water in it and froze, expanding and cracking. Hard to say what to do without pics.

[Mirage35]

No additional advice, just welcome to the forum from another Mirage owner.

[smundy]

I thought I had attached photos. Give this a try again!


Thank Anglais! Looking forward to learning more about my boat and sailing.

[smundy]

I know the previous owner had drilled holes in the bottom (as seen in pics) to drain water so it wouldn't crack in winter. If the rudder is dry do you suggest plugging these up before the boat goes back in water then reopening at end of season?

[Cheechako]

Run a small drill into that crack and see if the (wood? foam?) debris on the bit is wet. If it's dry fill the crack and holes with some kind of epoxy/filler. I would sand the whole thing and laminate/wrap a couple layers of "boat cloth" (really thin fiberglass cloth) around the rudder with laminating resin or epoxy resin. Sand smooth and be done with it. Dont reopen , you should have it sealed that way.
Is it an outboard rudder? If not you may be getting water intrusion around the stainless steel shaft. Not uncommon at all.

For a long term fix, It would be nice to drop the rudder out and try to seal that interface where the shaft disappears into the rudder. But a lot of boats have wet rudder interiors.

For a more permanent fix some people cut a rectangular window in the rudder side, (skil saw) remove that panel, dig out all the set foam debris, make sure it's dry, reglass in the panel and fill the rudder from the top with a solid epoxy slurry or other product to avoid recurrence.

[Pete7]

I would do as Cheechoko says, but during the lift out before next winter have the rudder removed and then spend the winter splitting the rudder and rebuilding it as its likely full of wood / foam wet mush.

Pete