Re: [Cal_Boats] Rudder leaking on my Cal 39, but can't really order a new rud...

I am with Chris Campbell on this, having gone through it, albeit on a 9.2. I would not dare trust a rudder which has been leaking for any length of time. Replace the rudder! Even if you were to take the rudder apart, had it expertly surveyed then expertly put back together, it may work fine for years to come, or not, and would probably have cost you as much as a new rudder. I would always have the gnawing doubt in the back of my mind. Like having your dog lash out and bite you a good one, would you ever trust it around your infant? Dan Casey In a message dated 6/23/2017 7:29:06 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com writes: On 6/21/2017 11:41 PM, Bart van Halteren _b… [at] outlook.com_ (mailto:b_… [at] outlook.com) [Cal_Boats] wrote: Dear all, Inspection showed the rudder of my Cal 39 MKII is leaking, probably from a small crack at the bottom (on the back side, so maybe not caused by hitting a log?) of the rudder. The surveyor said there might be some delamination inside. Now, some people on the Cal FB page suggested to ‘just order a new rudder’ , but the boat is based in Malaysia, so ordering a rudder from CA or FL is not really an option. Taking it apart and rebuilding it is also not really an option, I think, as I don’t really trust they have the expertise here. Also, I was told that taking the rudder off is a major undertaking? Is it an option to just glass over the crack, after letting it dry thoroughly? A few years back there was much discussion on this list about the effects of crevice corrosion on stainless steel, which forms the metallic structure under most rudder skins. Stainless steel apparently corrodes when it's not protected by oxidation, and it won't oxidize in an inaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, and that's basically what you have inside a rudder that contains water that has leaked in. There's no real circulation of the water and no oxygen. The subject came up because rudders were failing. The stock would break free of the welded-on structure inside the rudder. It's the same process that can cause stainless chainplates to fail were they are covered by sealant. The solution was "new rudder," or at least take the old one apart, check the inside, re-foam it, re-skin it, and start anew. We haven't had much discussion about rudder failures lately. The whole topic made me grateful that my Cal 20 has a mahogany outboard rudder, and that my other boat has a rudder with bronze metal structure. Chris Campbell For the rest the boat is in great condition; no blisters, osmosis etc. Hope to hear. Thanks! Bart Bart van Halteren | Regional Director Southeast Asia | MDF Asia | Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 379, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia | _www.mdf.nl_ (http://www.mdf.nl/) | P: +62 (0)361 287020 | F: +62 (0)361 270826 | id.linkedin.com/in/bvanhalteren | Skype: b_vanhalteren MDF Asia Training & Consultancy Management solutions for a better world. More info: _www.mdf.nl_ (http://www.mdf.nl/)

sailing with out a rudder is not easy. I sailed almost a 1000 miles without one. -------- Original message --------From: "ai… [at] aol.com [Cal_Boats]" <Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com> Date: 6/23/17 10:06 AM (GMT-08:00) To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Rudder leaking on my Cal 39, but can't really order a new rud... I am with Chris Campbell on this, having gone through it, albeit on a 9.2. I would not dare trust a rudder which has been leaking for any length of time. Replace the rudder! Even if you were to take the rudder apart, had it expertly surveyed then expertly put back together, it may work fine for years to come, or not, and would probably have cost you as much as a new rudder. I would always have the gnawing doubt in the back of my mind. Like having your dog lash out and bite you a good one, would you ever trust it around your infant? Dan Casey In a message dated 6/23/2017 7:29:06 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com writes: On 6/21/2017 11:41 PM, Bart van Halteren b_… [at] outlook.com [Cal_Boats] wrote: Dear all, Inspection showed the rudder of my Cal 39 MKII is leaking, probably from a small crack at the bottom (on the back side, so maybe not caused by hitting a log?) of the rudder. The surveyor said there might be some delamination inside. Now, some people on the Cal FB page suggested to ‘just order a new rudder’, but the boat is based in Malaysia, so ordering a rudder from CA or FL is not really an option. Taking it apart and rebuilding it is also not really an option, I think, as I don’t really trust they have the expertise here. Also, I was told that taking the rudder off is a major undertaking? Is it an option to just glass over the crack, after letting it dry thoroughly? A few years back there was much discussion on this list about the effects of crevice corrosion on stainless steel, which forms the metallic structure under most rudder skins. Stainless steel apparently corrodes when it's not protected by oxidation, and it won't oxidize in an inaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, and that's basically what you have inside a rudder that contains water that has leaked in. There's no real circulation of the water and no oxygen. The subject came up because rudders were failing. The stock would break free of the welded-on structure inside the rudder. It's the same process that can cause stainless chainplates to fail were they are covered by sealant. The solution was "new rudder," or at least take the old one apart, check the inside, re-foam it, re-skin it, and start anew. We haven't had much discussion about rudder failures lately. The whole topic made me grateful that my Cal 20 has a mahogany outboard rudder, and that my other boat has a rudder with bronze metal structure. Chris Campbell For the rest the boat is in great condition; no blisters, osmosis etc. Hope to hear. Thanks! Bart Bart van Halteren | Regional Director Southeast Asia | MDF Asia | Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 379, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia | www.mdf.nl | P: +62 (0)361 287020 | F: +62 (0)361 270826 | id.linkedin.com/in/bvanhalteren | Skype: b_vanhalteren MDF Asia Training & Consultancy Management solutions for a better world. More info: www.mdf.nl