CD25 Worn Rudder

[Rene']

When stripping the paint from our CD25 #394"Gromet"('76), I found that the fiberglass is worn from around the rudder post. I'm concerned that the rudder might eventually pull away from the post. I'm considering re-glassing if required, but if anyone has the construction prints for the rudder it would let me know hoe its constructed. If the rudder has fins welded to the post and going into the glass, or wood, then it might not pull away.

I'm looking for any suggestions that might help, thanks!
PS:
I really enjoy this site



Rflamore@Yahoo.com

[bill willis]

When stripping the paint from our CD25 #394"Gromet"('76), I found that the fiberglass is worn from around the rudder post. I'm concerned that the rudder might eventually pull away from the post. I'm considering re-glassing if required, but if anyone has the construction prints for the rudder it would let me know hoe its constructed. If the rudder has fins welded to the post and going into the glass, or wood, then it might not pull away.

I'm looking for any suggestions that might help, thanks!
PS:
I really enjoy this site

Rene',
I noticed the same condition this winter when I painted the bottom of my '77 CD25. I don't thing it's serious...only cosmetic, but to prevent any further chipping off of fiberglas around rudder post I wrapped the post with fiberglas cloth and epoxied it. It was an easy job. When dry, I flared and sanded to a smooth consistent finish. Allowing for drying time it took only a day. Fiberglas rudders usually have (embedded) several steel 'branches' welded to the post for structural strength...I assume Cape Dories were made this way, but I haven't seen documentation on their construction. Maybe someone on the board would know?
Happy sails,
bill



wawillis@shore.intercom.net

[Mark Yashinsky]

Why is the rudder being worn or chipped away??? Is it contacting something is shouldn't being (at full lock)??? My friend's CD27 had a "build up" of glass right near teh rudder tube exit and would catch the top of the rudder at full lock (it wasn't) and flexed the rudder and push it down. Besides the chipping of the rudder and hull where they contacted, the bending of the rudder was causing cracks along the rudder. Looking at a CD28 rudder area, I relieved the area of the extra fiberglass, smoothed, epoxy barrier coatted the hull, epoxied the cracks in the rudder, bottom painted the whole area and now the rudder turns farther, w/o any accompaning banging and groaning. Dont just fix it, analyze it, so if there is a problem it can be resolved. I dont know is the CD25 has it, but the larger CD's have a frame, the shpa of teh rudder that is glassed over and shaped to form the rudder. The cracks could have caused a lot of "water in the fiberglass" problmes, but now it is fixed and so ithe underlying problem.

[Jim Umbreit]

Just finished re-glassing the rudder on my '77 CD25 to the rudder post last Sunday. Nothing to analyze here, the resin just didn't bond well to the metal post. I sanded everything clean, cut off the bad glass (three spots about 4" long)with a utility knife, and used glass tape (6") and epoxy to make the repair.



lumbreit@mcw.edu