Posted by Carol Mitton (sailingmittens@…>)
My boat is in the boatyard and there is a lot of attention being
focused on the spot where the rudderpost enters the hull. To make a
long story short, if I can confirm that the rudder post is made out of
carbon fiber like it is on the F35, the guys in the boatyard will buy
off on my theory that everything is structuraly sound with the rudder.
There is what appears to be a small homemade semi spherical fairing
attached to the rudderpost and filling up most of the circular opening
in the hull from which the rudder post protrudes. This fairing is
partially broken and there is a fair amount of rust too. The rust is
what is getting their attention. One other observation. The grease
fitting on that side appears to be rusty. This is my first big boat, my
first sailboat, my first Freedom, and my first time for the boat out of
the water in the boatyard.
Wayne in Seattle
Posted by Alan Putnam (aputnam1@…>)
I read your post and then happened to go down to the boat. I thought
for sure the rudder post was a straight tube of stainless, but after I
figured out how to get to it, there it was - it certainly looks as
though it’s fiber - of some sort. Like you though, I’m in the dark as
to how it’s really built. The lower bearing housing bolts are starting
to rust and I’m getting some external rust dribbling from the post and
down the rudder itself, although not much. The rudder doesn’t show
much sign of slop in any direction and there’s little friction. I can
only assume that’s all good news. I don’t think I want to tackle a
bearing replace yet.
Is there supposed to be a cover at the top of the post where the
emgergency tiller mounts? Mine is open and has an defined amount of
some crud building up. Doesn’t seem like a good idea…
Alan P
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Carol Mitton”
<sailingmittens@y…> wrote:
My boat is in the boatyard and there is a lot of attention being
focused on the spot where the rudderpost enters the hull. To make a
long story short, if I can confirm that the rudder post is made out of
carbon fiber like it is on the F35, the guys in the boatyard will buy
off on my theory that everything is structuraly sound with the rudder.
There is what appears to be a small homemade semi spherical fairing
attached to the rudderpost and filling up most of the circular opening
in the hull from which the rudder post protrudes. This fairing is
partially broken and there is a fair amount of rust too. The rust is
what is getting their attention. One other observation. The grease
fitting on that side appears to be rusty. This is my first big boat, my
first sailboat, my first Freedom, and my first time for the boat out of
the water in the boatyard.
Wayne in Seattle
Posted by Dave_Benjamin (dave_benjamin@…>)
If the boat was made by TPI it’s probably a composite rudderstock
which bonds wonderfully to the rudder itself. When they built the
posts they used an inflatable bladder inside the tube to squeeze out
the resin. It’s very strong and troublefree.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Alan Putnam”
<aputnam1@m…> wrote:
I read your post and then happened to go down to the boat. I thought
for sure the rudder post was a straight tube of stainless, but
after I
figured out how to get to it, there it was - it certainly looks as
though it’s fiber - of some sort. Like you though, I’m in the dark
as
to how it’s really built. The lower bearing housing bolts are
starting
to rust and I’m getting some external rust dribbling from the post
and
down the rudder itself, although not much. The rudder doesn’t show
much sign of slop in any direction and there’s little friction. I
can
only assume that’s all good news. I don’t think I want to tackle a
bearing replace yet.
Is there supposed to be a cover at the top of the post where the
emgergency tiller mounts? Mine is open and has an defined amount of
some crud building up. Doesn’t seem like a good idea…
Alan P
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Carol Mitton”
<sailingmittens@y…> wrote:
My boat is in the boatyard and there is a lot of attention being
focused on the spot where the rudderpost enters the hull. To make
a
long story short, if I can confirm that the rudder post is made
out of
carbon fiber like it is on the F35, the guys in the boatyard will
buy
off on my theory that everything is structuraly sound with the
rudder.
There is what appears to be a small homemade semi spherical
fairing
attached to the rudderpost and filling up most of the circular
opening
in the hull from which the rudder post protrudes. This fairing is
partially broken and there is a fair amount of rust too. The rust
is
what is getting their attention. One other observation. The
grease
fitting on that side appears to be rusty. This is my first big
boat, my
first sailboat, my first Freedom, and my first time for the boat
out of
the water in the boatyard.
Wayne in Seattle
Posted by Alan Putnam (aputnam1@…>)
Yes, mine was built by TPI. Any insights on the bearings? Is that the
source of rust dribbling down the rudder?
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Dave_Benjamin”
<dave_benjamin@y…> wrote:
If the boat was made by TPI it’s probably a composite rudderstock
which bonds wonderfully to the rudder itself. When they built the
posts they used an inflatable bladder inside the tube to squeeze out
the resin. It’s very strong and troublefree.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Alan Putnam”
<aputnam1@m…> wrote:
I read your post and then happened to go down to the boat. I thought
for sure the rudder post was a straight tube of stainless, but
after I
figured out how to get to it, there it was - it certainly looks as
though it’s fiber - of some sort. Like you though, I’m in the dark
as
to how it’s really built. The lower bearing housing bolts are
starting
to rust and I’m getting some external rust dribbling from the post
and
down the rudder itself, although not much. The rudder doesn’t show
much sign of slop in any direction and there’s little friction. I
can
only assume that’s all good news. I don’t think I want to tackle a
bearing replace yet.
Is there supposed to be a cover at the top of the post where the
emgergency tiller mounts? Mine is open and has an defined amount of
some crud building up. Doesn’t seem like a good idea…
Alan P
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Carol Mitton”
<sailingmittens@y…> wrote:
My boat is in the boatyard and there is a lot of attention being
focused on the spot where the rudderpost enters the hull. To make
a
long story short, if I can confirm that the rudder post is made
out of
carbon fiber like it is on the F35, the guys in the boatyard will
buy
off on my theory that everything is structuraly sound with the
rudder.
There is what appears to be a small homemade semi spherical
fairing
attached to the rudderpost and filling up most of the circular
opening
in the hull from which the rudder post protrudes. This fairing is
partially broken and there is a fair amount of rust too. The rust
is
what is getting their attention. One other observation. The
grease
fitting on that side appears to be rusty. This is my first big
boat, my
first sailboat, my first Freedom, and my first time for the boat
out of
the water in the boatyard.
Wayne in Seattle