Wet closed foam rudder

[Sailawehe]

I know this is a late entry to your thread, but what did you end up doing with your rudder and we’re you able to determine if the frame welds were compromised?

Betsy

[malbert73]

This thread is back from the dead!
So, timely given my specifics this winter :
my 1987 rudder for the first time showed water ingress in the form of a tiny split on the leading edge of blade 1/2 way down emitting a tiny trickle of rusty water. That’s enough to condemn the rudder for me with offshore planned this season. Back then they used carbon steel web welded to stainless rudder stock so the rust likely indicates current or future structural compromise. (But even if a rudder has all stainless inside, water would cause crevice corrosion so I am not sure how much I would trust the “drain out water each winter” technique…

Lucky for me Tartan still has the mold for my boat’s rudder and is building me a new one with a carbon stock which can be fully bonded to the top of blade- which IMHO is how rudders should be built now. In fact it’s how Tartan builds all of their models rudders for over a decade I believe. Another reason I’m really glad I bought a used boat from a “premium” builder who is still in business and replied to my email query personally within 1 hour. I’m a Tartan fan for life…

If I were staying inshore I would perhaps stretch it, but once water gets in and causes rust that’s it unless you want to open the rudder up. My boat is trapped on the hard by several others in the yard, and I can’t remove the rudder without lifting the boat. So even if I thought rudder was salvageable I’m not willing to risk 1/2 of season by waiting given lead time on a new rudder