Rudders

One more question on repairs. Either the previous owner sanded these way too much or they are defective....Both rudders have exposed glass fibers showing on the port sides of each blade and none showing on the starboard side of each blade....?????





I am just wondering what the best (and easiest) method is to repair them?
Paint? More resin? Gel coat?


Thanks

I just came back from buying some west system epoxy and 407 fairing compound!
My rudders are the same as yours and have the same exact situation, these are the 80's EPO rudders. Apparently they were sitting in the sun for a long time and the sun just degraded the rudders exposing the fibers....

I bought my H16 about a month and a half ago...making repairs this is one that Ill do this week....Ill apply epoxy to soak fibers first, allow to cure over night, sand and apply epoxy with 407 fairing compound to restore its shape and fill. Then Ill sand, epoxy prime and paint with imron or similar two part poly...

thanks!

Any other ideas?

I will be following your advice once the boat is dry docked for the winter...
Did you finish yours? How'd they come out?

Chip

Yes I did finish mine about a month ago, cant remember, after sanding down the epoxy layer just to leave the fibers with epoxy I applied epoxy primer several times sanding in between and fairing edges etc then used a automotive catalized urethane (jet black) they came out super slick. Im sure they will redude drag as much as possible, not mentioning they look bad. Just received a pair of rudder covers from Salty Dog Marine...nice!

Still working on the starboard (right) hull , fixing front pylon that was loose inside and adding new rudder gudgeon backing plates (alum) inside the hulls tapped with new treads and glassed to inside transom.....lot of work but worth it as Im restoring all 6 original gudgeon screws and adding the 2 additional for the one piece Euro gudgeon.

Dont have a digital cam to post pics yet...have taken many with the disposable ones which Ill get cd's when the project is finished to be able to post.

Anything I can advise on let me know!!

You can mix a little graphite powder into the last few coats of epoxy then wet sand.

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