New Rudder  
By Bob Means - Remlik, Virginia - USA

The old rudder on the derelict I am rebuilding was wasted. I thought I could save it but after some deliberation, came to the realization that I had to make a new one.

I went to a machine shop and had John make me a new rudder post out of 1" stainless with three half inch horizontal pieces pinned in.

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I made a mold from the old rudder but made it a bit wider to accomodate double head sail combination. I layed a piece of plastic to the bottom and sides of the mold so the epoxy wouldn't stick to the wood.

 
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I then laid some glass cloth top and bottom to give some added strength.

 
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I mixed up a big batch of epoxy with 407 and 410 filler and poured it in the mold over the stainless post and pins.

 
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Then I mixed another batch to top it off.

 
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After the epoxy set up I stripped from the form, it was an inch and a half thick all the way around.

 
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I took the blank out back to the grinding table and started grinding away to give it the shape I desired.

 
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Notice the derelict in the background as I grind away...

 
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... until I got the shape I wanted.

 
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Then I glassed both side for further added toughness.

 
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The next step will be to prime and paint it when I finsh the hull.

Bob Means.

Read Bob Means' Derelict Article:

More articles about foils and rudders:

SAILS

EPOXY

GEAR