Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: dfloeter on April 26, 2019, 02:05:32 PM

Title: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: dfloeter on April 26, 2019, 02:05:32 PM
Leaning on the collective wisdom again.
I dropped the rudder to pull the shaft and found a crack on the forward side of the rudder, at the top and above the step. It looks like it's been there a while and is well painted over. Due to it's position the crack was not visible before.
I am thinking I need to grind the area back, V grind the crack, fill with epoxy and put on a few layers of cloth as strapping to hold it all together. 
Is this overkill? How much stress do we have up there?
Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: Stu Jackson on April 26, 2019, 03:35:20 PM
Dietrich,

Good you found that.  The most pressure is closer to the top and near the shaft.  Regardless, your "cure" sounds very appropriate.

There are a number of rudder articles in the Tech Notes Online.  I find the Knowledgebase helpful in finding them.  Many have to deal with "leaky rudders" which comes from the type of issue you describe.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: Ken Juul on April 27, 2019, 06:22:08 AM
When I upgraded to the new eliptical rudder I disected my old one.  took about 2 hours of banging and sawing, they are made very strong.  I would start with the grinding to see how deep the crack is.  May only be on the top layer.  If deeper I would call Catalina and ask, they are very helpful in situations like this.
Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: dfloeter on April 27, 2019, 06:59:41 AM
Thanks Ken, I just ground out the crack and it went all the way through to the post. The FG skin was cracked all the way down to the step.  There is also a crack on top.  At this point I'm going to grind the main crack on a good taper and reglass it.  I think that is what Catalina would likely recommend.  Onward with the belt sander!
Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: Rick Roberts on April 27, 2019, 08:31:16 AM
If you ever consider switching to a elliptical rudder. I have one for sale  8) PM is you're interested.
Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: dfloeter on April 27, 2019, 01:41:30 PM
Thanks but I think mine may already be elliptical, and now much stronger.   5 layers of cloth including 2 of roving and it laid up nicely.  Thanks all.
Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: Ron Hill on April 27, 2019, 01:53:26 PM
Detrich : Look in the Mainsheet tech notes and I recommended gouging out the area where the stainless column goes into the rudder layup and fill it with 5200 as well as the your vertical crack.

A few thoughts

Title: Re: Cracked rudder advice?
Post by: dfloeter on April 27, 2019, 02:41:51 PM
Thanks Ron and I think I can still do just that and I have a tube of 5200 that still seems usable.