C22 rudder removal

[shunt1]

Not wanting to waste six months of a good winter, I have:

1) Removed the mast so that LED lights can be installed. Since the party barge snagged my mooring buoy this year, I want this sailboat to light up like a Christmas tree!

2) Replace all standing rigging, since none of the OEM turnbuckles work. Rather dangerous, when you can press the backstay almost four inches and there is nothing that you can do to fix it.

3) Install solar panels to keep a charge in the battery.

4) Locate the leaks and fix them.


Now, my rudder is in rather bad shape. Sitting in the lake for only two months, the hull is spotless. However, the rudder was covered with algae. With the dings and nicks over the years, that rudder is looking rather sad.

QUESTION:

I assume that I only have to remove the center bolt on the rudder to remove it?

Are there any tricks that I should know before I remove the rudder from the sailboat?

[Gus]

Ok, a couple of things:

First: If your center ring its the original made out of aluminum, its probably sized in place. I had to cut mine out with a dremel tool. After that I took it to to machine shop and got it duplicated in SS.

Second: To get the rudder out you need to get the tongue of the trailer as down as you can since the rudder shaft its kinda long.

Gus

[DenaP]

Removing the rudder is easy - just remove the center bolt and disconnect the lines attached to it. The more challenging task is removing the rudder shaft which is attached to the rudder cheeks. When I removed mine in Jan/Feb, the collar screw had seized (just like Gus mentioned), and I had to drill it out.

[Paul the Denverite]

While you have your rudder out I would appreciate an outline of the top and bottom profile. I have the basic plans off the lizzard web site but am not sure of the width as the profile moves down the rudder.

Here's what I'm thinking. I did part of a composit aircraft and still have the wire saw and veriac to make it work. I also have a whole spool of carbon fiber and bolts of 6 & 10 oz woven and uni glass as well as several gallons of vinylester resin. If I could get the profiles for the two ends we could easily have a source for new rudders for those who need them... in glass or carbon fiber.

[DenaP]

While you have your rudder out I would appreciate an outline of the top and bottom profile. I have the basic plans off the lizzard web site but am not sure of the width as the profile moves down the rudder.

Here's what I'm thinking. I did part of a composit aircraft and still have the wire saw and veriac to make it work. I also have a whole spool of carbon fiber and bolts of 6 & 10 oz woven and uni glass as well as several gallons of vinylester resin. If I could get the profiles for the two ends we could easily have a source for new rudders for those who need them... in glass or carbon fiber.

There are detailed drawing of the rudder somewhere on line. I will look for them when I get home this evening and post the link.

[DenaP]

While you have your rudder out I would appreciate an outline of the top and bottom profile. I have the basic plans off the lizzard web site but am not sure of the width as the profile moves down the rudder.

Here's what I'm thinking. I did part of a composit aircraft and still have the wire saw and veriac to make it work. I also have a whole spool of carbon fiber and bolts of 6 & 10 oz woven and uni glass as well as several gallons of vinylester resin. If I could get the profiles for the two ends we could easily have a source for new rudders for those who need them... in glass or carbon fiber.

This link has really great information, and has detailed drawing of the rudder under the "How-To Repair Your Rudder Assembly" link.
http://chryslersailing.lizards.net/sail_howto.html

Cheers,