Hey Guys!
It's kinda weird posting my first topic here, after reading 39+ pages of topic posts. I feel like I know so many of you already! My girlfriend and I are proud new owners of a beautiful C-26 named Providence, and we've already had half a season of fun, excitement and terror (2nd time out. no registration yet, no insurance yet, and a Chesapeake summer squall, 60+kt gusts... ended up rescuing 4 people from a dismasted hobie cat and avoided all USCG questions!) It is a tale suited much more for the cockpit than forums.
So, we just had it pulled the other day and got our first look at the bottom. A good powerwash took care of most of the wildlife, but that turns out to be the least of our problems. The rudder is on a little starboard favor:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57235663@N05/5276282546/
and another without the rudder (because we're all so much visual learners): http://www.flickr.com/photos/57235663@N05/5276282606/
I think the problem is that the cheek has broken away from one of the welds. http://www.flickr.com/photos/57235663@N05/5276302566/
It may have been a previous repair, so my question is whether I should just have the cheek refabricated. I'm already having the motor-mount redone in 1/4 in. aluminum and having it powdercoated. Maybe this is foolish, but I'd certainly like any suggestions or input.
rudder cheek
Yeah, that's not good.
First off, the mushroom-shaped bearing between the rudder and the hull should be seated up in the hull, with the spacer that's above it between the rudder and the bearing. The way it is now will make the helm sloppy, and will put an enormous amount of strain on the rudder shaft and the rudder tube in the hull.
If the shaft is not bent, you might be able to get the rudder cheek remnants rewelded and reinforced so you can get another season or three out it, but it will eventually fail again, probably at a bad time. At a minimum, use it to make a pattern so you can have a decent one made for when the repairs fail.
Chryslers sail wonderfully, but the rudder is a weak point. I've cracked Windward's cheek plates, cracked the outer shaft, and cracked the welds on the reinforcements I had done on the cheek plates. Most of this resulted from high stress in rough wx and while surfing, not from hard groundings, although no idea what the boat experienced before I got her. I had fun doing that damage!
Oh, did I mention: welcome aboard!
First off, the mushroom-shaped bearing between the rudder and the hull should be seated up in the hull, with the spacer that's above it between the rudder and the bearing. The way it is now will make the helm sloppy, and will put an enormous amount of strain on the rudder shaft and the rudder tube in the hull.
If the shaft is not bent, you might be able to get the rudder cheek remnants rewelded and reinforced so you can get another season or three out it, but it will eventually fail again, probably at a bad time. At a minimum, use it to make a pattern so you can have a decent one made for when the repairs fail.
Chryslers sail wonderfully, but the rudder is a weak point. I've cracked Windward's cheek plates, cracked the outer shaft, and cracked the welds on the reinforcements I had done on the cheek plates. Most of this resulted from high stress in rough wx and while surfing, not from hard groundings, although no idea what the boat experienced before I got her. I had fun doing that damage!
Oh, did I mention: welcome aboard!
Jeff
s/v Windward
1978 C-26 #481
http://www.lizards.net
http://www.sv-windward.com
http://www.chryslersailing.com
s/v Windward
1978 C-26 #481
http://www.lizards.net
http://www.sv-windward.com
http://www.chryslersailing.com
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Tommy Monaco
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:01 pm
- Location: Annapolis, MD
Yup, that's what I was afraid of. The rudder post isn't bent yet, or it doesn't appear so: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57235663@N05/5276373854/ it looks like the weld broke on both sides and skewed the rudder somehow. I'm not interested in a temporary fix if I've got it up for 3 months and already having metal work done. It also looks like the rudder assembly has already been redone once by a PO, so I'll have to investigate that further. But in the mean time I guess I'll remove the cheek and give it to my guy for refab. Stainless is prob. best for this application.
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CaptainScott
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Welcome aboard Tommy to both of you. Since you have the rudder blade off I would try to turn it with the cheeks to forward and if the tube has a slight bend it would appear to favor port
Catch the wind and ride the wave, Have fun
Lyle
1980 C-26 #1100
S/V My Getaway
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34432376@N06/
Lyle
1980 C-26 #1100
S/V My Getaway
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34432376@N06/
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Rivercruiser
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 3:06 am
- Location: Norfolk
Like to add my welcome, too.
Looks like there have been previous repairs on that cheek. IE: the scab patch on the cheek. probably added to cover the crack where they all crack. Ours was hairline cracked on both cheeks. I just welded a bead over the cracks. If it cracks again, I am going to replace the cheeks with heavier stainless steel. You may want to do that for a more permanent fix.
It looks like the tiller post has dropped down, perhaps caused by a worn upper mushroom bushing. I had stainless steel spacer made to compensate for the wear to the top of the top bushing. It is installed under the tiller fitting. That brings the tiller post up and tightens the mushroom bushings into the hull recesses. The tiller post will then rotate in the bushings instead of the bushings rotating in the hull recesses. I think that was the way it was designed to work. If your boat has wheel steering it may be different.
Hope to see you sailing on the Bay next summer.
Looks like there have been previous repairs on that cheek. IE: the scab patch on the cheek. probably added to cover the crack where they all crack. Ours was hairline cracked on both cheeks. I just welded a bead over the cracks. If it cracks again, I am going to replace the cheeks with heavier stainless steel. You may want to do that for a more permanent fix.
It looks like the tiller post has dropped down, perhaps caused by a worn upper mushroom bushing. I had stainless steel spacer made to compensate for the wear to the top of the top bushing. It is installed under the tiller fitting. That brings the tiller post up and tightens the mushroom bushings into the hull recesses. The tiller post will then rotate in the bushings instead of the bushings rotating in the hull recesses. I think that was the way it was designed to work. If your boat has wheel steering it may be different.
Hope to see you sailing on the Bay next summer.
C-26
Hunter 29.5
Hunter 29.5
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EmergencyExit
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Same cracks here on EE - the way the cheeks just "hang off" the back of the rudder post it they seem to bear the brunt of any side forces.
If one was flying along at hull speed and threw the tiller full over (so that the rudder was suddenly broadside) I wouldn't be surprised to know that the rudder puts a lot of force on those cheeks and possibly gets pushed back a bit from the vertical..(what a tangled sentence that was, yes, we all write like Faulkner down here..
)
If one was flying along at hull speed and threw the tiller full over (so that the rudder was suddenly broadside) I wouldn't be surprised to know that the rudder puts a lot of force on those cheeks and possibly gets pushed back a bit from the vertical..(what a tangled sentence that was, yes, we all write like Faulkner down here..
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sauerleigh
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After reading about Windard's experience earlier this year and inspecting my own rudder post, I said I wasn't going to bother to repair it, but I did.
I re-welded the cracked cheeks and added 1/8" X 6" SS plate to the sides. I also added a 1/8" X 2" SS piece across the top of the cheeks to keep them from spreading. I welded the cracks in the outer rudder tube and heated the area until burgundy in color and had the welds X-Ray'd. I need to add a SS piece at the leading edge of the cheeks and that should take care of things.
The mushroom bushings are a poor design. Any loading wants to spread the assembly apart, that could be why the PO had loctited the upper collar to the tube. I think I will look into another type spherical type bushing, probably a smaller overall diameter, to get more side loading than top and bottom.
Pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/93952888@N00/
I re-welded the cracked cheeks and added 1/8" X 6" SS plate to the sides. I also added a 1/8" X 2" SS piece across the top of the cheeks to keep them from spreading. I welded the cracks in the outer rudder tube and heated the area until burgundy in color and had the welds X-Ray'd. I need to add a SS piece at the leading edge of the cheeks and that should take care of things.
The mushroom bushings are a poor design. Any loading wants to spread the assembly apart, that could be why the PO had loctited the upper collar to the tube. I think I will look into another type spherical type bushing, probably a smaller overall diameter, to get more side loading than top and bottom.
Pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/93952888@N00/
1978 Chrysler 26 "Maudie Kay"
1984 Catalina 25 "REDUX" (rebuild)
It's better late than never
1984 Catalina 25 "REDUX" (rebuild)
It's better late than never
It's a good life on the
Honu, 1976 C-22
My Chrysler Sailing Photos: http://s1297.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... ry/Sailing
Honu, 1976 C-22
My Chrysler Sailing Photos: http://s1297.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... ry/Sailing
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sauerleigh
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CaptainScott
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I can vouch for Alans issues!
I met Honu before I met Alan!
Had I known of Alans plight, I could have easily rendered assistance!
My wife, daughter and I met Honu at the Edmonds marina! Same marina I posted pictures of Destiny in the storm a couple of weeks ago! In fact, Destiny was in almost the same spot Honu was in a couple of years ago!
Just turn Destiny 90 degrees to starboard in the photos and that is where Honu was!
Scott
I met Honu before I met Alan!
Had I known of Alans plight, I could have easily rendered assistance!
My wife, daughter and I met Honu at the Edmonds marina! Same marina I posted pictures of Destiny in the storm a couple of weeks ago! In fact, Destiny was in almost the same spot Honu was in a couple of years ago!
Just turn Destiny 90 degrees to starboard in the photos and that is where Honu was!
Scott