Blue Crab 2,451 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I've got a spot that has likely let water in. I'm not going to fix things til I have to. Q: should I drill a hole to let the water, if any, out? It will still be wet inside. Thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zonker 5,244 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 I'd say 2/3 - 3/4 of all sailboat foam core rudders are wet on the inside. Just a WAG I think "soggy" is better than "saturated" so I would drill and let excess water out and then seal the hole. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue Crab 2,451 Posted January 7 Author Share Posted January 7 Thanks Cap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crash 1,007 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 I’d guess Zonk is being conservative with his guess, but his advice is spot on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue Crab 2,451 Posted January 8 Author Share Posted January 8 Kind of the way I saw it too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
allweather 70 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 15 hours ago, Zonker said: 3/4 of all sailboat foam core rudders are wet on the inside How would I be able to tell that though? Asking since I have my rudder off right now and fighting to get the barrier coat off before fixing some minor osmosis bubbles. And would like to know if there is more to it while I am doing the work anyway... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MiddayGun 353 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 1 hour ago, allweather said: How would I be able to tell that though? Asking since I have my rudder off right now and fighting to get the barrier coat off before fixing some minor osmosis bubbles. And would like to know if there is more to it while I am doing the work anyway... Drill a hole in the bottom & see if any water comes out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PeterSailor 75 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Some boat yard up north systematically drill holes in all sailboat rudder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bristol-Cruiser 1,374 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 19 hours ago, Zonker said: I'd say 2/3 - 3/4 of all sailboat foam core rudders are wet on the inside. Just a WAG I think "soggy" is better than "saturated" so I would drill and let excess water out and then seal the hole. The surveyor for my last purchase said that virtually all such rudders are wet. I rebuilt my Niagara 35 rudder a number of years ago because I had rusty water oozing out at the top every winter. Turns out the rudder was built with a stainless shaft but carbon steel web (for strength?) inside. Had the web replaced with stainless and filled the core with thickened epoxy. New 5200 around the gap between shaft and glass. Seemed to work pretty well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DDW 1,072 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 22 hours ago, Zonker said: I'd say 2/3 - 3/4 100% of all sailboat foam core rudders with a SS post are wet on the inside or will be. Just a WAG FIFY. A SS post penetrating the envelope will eventually let water in no matter what you do. With a carbon post and good construction you have a pretty good chance of keeping it out. Imagine boring a 3" hole in the bottom of the boat, sticking a SS tube in the hole, and sealing around it with something. Now head offshore, giving the tube some firm twists and yanks every minute or so. You can tell the rudder is wet with a moisture meter (unless it is carbon skinned). I've walked through boatyards doing this and it is a rare exception that isn't wet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
slug zitski 576 Posted January 8 Share Posted January 8 Every two or so years , when you drop your rudder for inspection , bearing maintenance , it’s important to re caulk the rudder stock to blade joint 5200… Sika … these keeps water out of the blade Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishmael 10,596 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 How can we trust someone who can't spell SIKA correctly? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zonker 5,244 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 That's a good idea. Sika or other is flexible which MAY seal the joint better than just glass/resin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
European Bloke 861 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 On 1/8/2022 at 12:45 PM, PeterSailor said: Some boat yard up north systematically drill holes in all sailboat rudder. Bastards. No wonder so many are full of water. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DDW 1,072 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Actually, though this has been the subject of a cover up for years, water draining from rudders in the cause of ocean level rise, not global warming as some would have you think. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ishmael 10,596 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 12 minutes ago, Fleetwood said: No, water is heavier than rudders so it will sink! So if you drill the holes while the rudder is in the water, all the water will drain out? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phill_nz 869 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 27 minutes ago, Ishmael said: So if you drill the holes while the rudder is in the water, all the water will drain out? yes .. all the water that was in there will eventually drain out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DDW 1,072 Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 As long as it drains out of the environment, it causes no harm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blue Crab 2,451 Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 18 hours ago, Ishmael said: So if you drill the holes while the rudder is in the water, all the water will drain out? Only if using a corded drill. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
py26129 177 Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 ...or if it's full of Heavy Water Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bull City 2,592 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 I was concerned about a soggy rudder (that's rutter on Mocking CraigsList thread), and asked the yard to do the hole test. They said nothing dripped. 40-year-old boat. Is that possible? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DDW 1,072 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Possible but improbable. More possible if you haul after a short season. A well wielded moisture meter would tell the story.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
allweather 70 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 Hey Bull, just chatted with the association's technical representative on my own repair work and he wouldn't expect them to be dry, but said it can be possible. One option he recommended to me is to drill a small hole(2mm) in the top and apply some air pressure to check if there is water inside. But if its dry, why worry and drill holes? Well, I look to open up mine tomorrow one way or the other. If its dry too, that points towards being lucky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
allweather 70 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Very dry as far as I can see, also cut off a piece since I needed access and the foam is bone dry as well. Will see if a local yard can measure (a piece of) the laminate and see what those readings say before I start faring and painting in a month. Forty year old and still looks nice... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Will1073 102 Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Moisture meter and hammer first, drill hole(s) second. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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