Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 40 rudder tube broke away from cockpit sole - fix? (Keith)

I don't know if my boat has been strengthened at some point in its life, but here is a picture of the glass work attaching the rudder tube to the cockpit sole. Does everyone have the grease cups on their boats? The Cal 34 I used to sail does. Didn't realize how damp the back of the boat was until I took this picture. I have 3 Drierite things that I put out in the habitable areas over the winter and they keep everything dry and mildew free in that part of the boat anyway. John From: cal40kismet <ca… [at] yahoo.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 9:08:54 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 40 rudder tube broke away from cockpit sole - fix? (Keith) Morning Michael D. I liked your approach and took out my little offset grinder and put a 12:1 bevel on the cockpit sole and ruffed up the rudder tube. I then glassed the deck to the tube. Extra catalyst and a space heater got it to set up in a hour or so. This morning the joint seems very solid and shows no movement. Thanks Keith --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com, Michael D <mddfl@...> wrote: > > Keith, > > Our Cal 2-27 experienced the same thing happen to the rudder tube separating from the cockpit sole.&nbsp; A previous owner retrofitted her with an Edson wheel steering system.&nbsp; Part of the work required removing a section of the rudder tube for installation of the quadrant.&nbsp; The upper portion of the rudder tube was "somewhat" glassed to the underside of the cockpit sole.&nbsp; Over the years, the glass separated from the sole, water intrusion at the point where the tube passes through the sole failed.&nbsp; The end result was a wobbling rudder, although the lower portion of the rudder tube remained without problems. > > To repair Magic, I cleaned out the area around the rudder tube where it passes through the cockpit sole using a variety of hand tools along and a dremel with a rotozip bit.&nbsp; Following this was a session of reapplying glass/epoxy to the underside of the cockpit sole to resecure the upper portion of the rudder tube.&nbsp; A final step was done from above with thickened epoxy to fill the void between the cockpit sole and the&nbsp; rudder tube.&nbsp; It was a messy job. > > The rudder has only the "slightest" amount of lateral play now... acceptable to me.&nbsp; However, I did consider re-engineering the whole mess using rudder bearings from Tides Marine, see http://www.tidesmar ine.com/rudder- bearings. html for more information. > > Comparing a Cal 27 to a Cal 40...&nbsp; I assume there is a lot more stress/pressure on your boat.&nbsp; My fix to Magic may not be appropriate for yours.&nbsp; I'm sure others will chime in. > > Michael > s/v Magic, Cal 2-27 > Pompano Beach, FL >

John Courter wrote: > > I don't know if my boat has been strengthened at some point in its > life, but here is a picture of the glass work attaching the rudder > tube to the cockpit sole. Does everyone have the grease cups on their > boats? > So does that grease cup send grease into a bearing of some kind? It almost looks like it just runs into a fiberglass tube. > > Didn't realize how damp the back of the boat was until I took this > picture. > It is always interesting to see the effects of dead, damp air on boats. There's nothing quite so much fun as scrubbing over your head and body with Clorox water, is there, unless maybe it's sanding the bottom. Chris Campbell

No bearings. It's just a way to introduce grease between the fiberglass tube and rudder post without taking out the rudder. There is one high and one low on my Cal 40. The Cal 34 only had one near the middle IIRC. John From: Chris Campbell <cl… [at] charterinternet.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 12:40:27 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Cal 40 rudder tube broke away from cockpit sole - fix? (Keith) John Courter wrote: I don't know if my boat has been strengthened at some point in its life, but here is a picture of the glass work attaching the rudder tube to the cockpit sole. Does everyone have the grease cups on their boats? So does that grease cup send grease into a bearing of some kind? It almost looks like it just runs into a fiberglass tube. Didn't realize how damp the back of the boat was until I took this picture. It is always interesting to see the effects of dead, damp air on boats. There's nothing quite so much fun as scrubbing over your head and body with Clorox water, is there, unless maybe it's sanding the bottom. Chris Campbell