Rudder Repairs
This conversation was copied from the
Deltacraft Motor Yacht Club Facebook page.
Jimmy - 20 Aug 2021
Check your rudder folks.
Electrolysis loves eating away the edges of a weld on stainless steel when immersed in salt water. It’s very hard to see, I only spotted it on the slip because the light was on it and at first I thought it was a hairline crack.
I saw it about 2 years ago on the slip and only just go around to fixing it properly. The boat was on its mooring and I removed the rudder, plugged the whole, took it to a friend who very kindly repaired it for me, then I antifouled it and refitted it to the boat.
It was rather cold in the water refitting it but I’m glad this job is done, and hopefully my rudder is good for another 40 years.
Jim Hutton This is good advice! I had the blade drop off my rudder from the electrolysis corrosion, luckily the boat was on the hard and it came off the shaft in my hand.
Jimmy Bloke Jim lucky time you found it. Good save. Mine was due to go back in the water the next day and I thought about 50% of the weld was still ok so I took a punt.
John Mcgrath Welding technology has improved a lot since our pride and joy toys were built it pays to check many metal items.
Jimmy Bloke John I’m interested as I’ve not heard of that. As I understand it, it’s the heat slightly changes the metal, or burns something out of it or flux gets in, or something else ?? so you have 2 slightly different metals together in salt water just asking to erode. I’d appreciate any info.
Jimmy Bloke It’s easy to miss the electrolysis as it’s usually covered in antifoul or barnacles.
John Mcgrath So true went and checked mine this afternoon as the anti fouling has just been stripped and the rudder needs work thanks jimmy.
Jimmy Bloke John commiserations. Have you got a welder or will you have to outsource it.
John Mcgrath Hi I have a old stick so off to the mate with a mig cut out the rot and see what’s needed.
Jimmy Bloke John that good to hear, the bloke that did mine did it for free, even though I was happy to pay. Hopefully I can repay the favour one day. Take a photo of the repaired blade so we can compare.
John Mcgrath Jimmy you are correct with the welding of stainless as it has it’s own expansion and contracts so needs a good hand no matter if it’s stick mig or tig.
Craig Butt Looks like a nice job. That’s a big effort installing the rudder in the water. All your personal bits would have had electrolysis by the end of the install. I was working on my rudder yesterday. Prop speed, gland packing etc.
Craig Butt
A photo of the repaired blade.
Jimmy Bloke Craig looking good. 4 blade prop, I’m impressed. Also I see you have a left hand prop, great for approaching a wharf on the starboard side that the driver sits. I love my left hand prop.
Craig Butt Jimmy Bloke thanks for the info about prop. I’ll have my training wheels on for a while. But I’ll practice in no wind.
Jimmy Bloke Craig approach the wharf with it on your right hand side at about 20°.
As you get close put it into astern, what a second and then give it a bit of a rev to stop the boat dead, and it will have stern walked for you and you are now perfectly along side the wharf.
A bit of practice like you say and you will have it in no time.