Rudder weight

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   Thanks Bill.  No surveyor involved.  Just me.  The rudder had blisters so I pulled and brought it home to investigate.  It has a slight split/crack on 8 inches or so of the leading edge as well.  It's wet inside, although I don't believe its soaked.  I drilled 3 holes in the bottom and have drained less than a quarter cup of water from the rudder over the last 6 days. Nothing coming out anymore.  Subsequently drilled 3 more holes in the side to check moisture.  One hole displayed moisture. Where it was wet, the foam inside appear to be typical wet, yellow, sandy looking foam to me on the end of the drill.  The skin looks like fiberglass.  
My plan...  I've built a dehumidifier chamber.  I intend to dry it out over the next month, epoxy repair the split and four minor blister spots in the glass, then epoxy the entire rudder.  I don't think I have a structural problem at all, but don't want blisters disturbing flow over the rudder or a heavy rudder. 
  Ron  

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Ron Waterson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commodore Joined: 21 October 2014 Location: Rivals, KY Status: Offline Points: 118	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ron Waterson Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Rudder weight Posted: 20 March 2019 at 11:48pm
	Thanks Bill. No surveyor involved. Just me. The rudder had blisters so I pulled and brought it home to investigate. It has a slight split/crack on 8 inches or so of the leading edge as well. It's wet inside, although I don't believe its soaked. I drilled 3 holes in the bottom and have drained less than a quarter cup of water from the rudder over the last 6 days. Nothing coming out anymore. Subsequently drilled 3 more holes in the side to check moisture. One hole displayed moisture. Where it was wet, the foam inside appear to be typical wet, yellow, sandy looking foam to me on the end of the drill. The skin looks like fiberglass. My plan... I've built a dehumidifier chamber. I intend to dry it out over the next month, epoxy repair the split and four minor blister spots in the glass, then epoxy the entire rudder. I don't think I have a structural problem at all, but don't want blisters disturbing flow over the rudder or a heavy rudder. Ron
	Hull 147 - Angel's Share

Bill Layton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commodore Joined: 15 September 2002 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 551	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bill Layton Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 March 2019 at 1:06pm
	Boat # 147 more than likely has a rudder that is 100% high density polyurethane foam only... same construction as the laser foils. Not a stitch of fiberglass in them. They do not absorb water at all but if you use a moisture meter on them they show high moisture. I've never seen one fail yet. Surveyors do not know or understand this and immediately claim they have moisture in them which leads everyone to believe there is an impending problem.

Ron Waterson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Commodore Joined: 21 October 2014 Location: Rivals, KY Status: Offline Points: 118	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ron Waterson Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20 March 2019 at 12:20pm
	Anyone have a number for our rudder weight? I'm trying to determine how soggy mine is. Ron
	Hull 147 - Angel's Share