Total rudder rebuild: hull #18 Fionn

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Bob McGovern
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:08 am
Location: Wyoming, USA

Total rudder rebuild: hull #18 Fionn

Post by Bob McGovern »

Our Ballad's rudder was damaged, and water intrusion led to blistering.
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I split it like an oyster and found the stock was okay, but the interior was delaminated and the foam was rotten.
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So we re-used the stock and made a new, better-shaped blade from scratch. First step was pouring two mirrored blanks from 16lb/cuft (256kg/m^3) urethane foam. Total foam use was 1 cuft kit (0.03 m^3).
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Molds were waxed melamine with wooden perimeter rails, poured interior faces against the melamine. Two blanks stacked and ready to shape:
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Bob McGovern
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:08 am
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Total rudder rebuild: hull #18 Fionn

Post by Bob McGovern »

Next the halves were rough-shaped to templates.
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The bottom extension, which is semi-sacrificial, was sawn off square to the leading edge, to be reattached later. Top and bottom plates were sawn and shaped from a 6mm slab laid up on melamine.
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The foam blanks were roughed up and relieved to accept the stock, with thickened epoxy bedding:
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Finally the halves were epoxied together (stock embedded in G*Flex to squeezeout), and the bottom section was attached using 3/8" (10mm) GRP battens (shop made).
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Bob McGovern
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:08 am
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Total rudder rebuild: hull #18 Fionn

Post by Bob McGovern »

Final shaping of the rudder to templates, followed by hand-layup of epoxy GRP:
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Schedule was 5 layers of 1805 biax with sewn mat backing, done in two sessions. Then two layers of medium woven fabric and one of veil for waterproofing. Some sanding and fairing between each session.
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Trailing edge is created by clamping together laminations with curved battens. Final laminate thickness is 1/4" (7mm), a bit more on the rudder bottom.
Bob McGovern
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:08 am
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Total rudder rebuild: hull #18 Fionn

Post by Bob McGovern »

Finally, a bit of sanding and fairing, followed by two coats of hi-build epoxy barrier coat and three coats of a waterbased antifouling copolymer.
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A bit dusty from sitting in the shop for eight months, but finally got it mounted:
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New Delrin bearings throughout, custom made by a person on eBay. This shape should be more slippery, with better bite down low and less induced drag around the bottom. Total cost was around $350 USD. Probably 100 hours of labor; someone better at composites could do it faster. :)
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