Overhaul... damaged fiberglass around bass of tiller

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 11:50 am

I have seen pics of this type of damage on c26's on this forum before and the repair would look to be fairly straight forward, but its the cause of the damage that I'm most interested in. Is this a tell-tell sign that the rudder system has too much play, or that the bolts used at the tiller's bass are to long. Perhaps a combination of the two or have I missed it altogether?

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980
Pandora (for now)

amayotte · Post by **amayotte** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 4:26 pm

I have the same on my c26 and it's due to both. The bolts are too long and the previous owner allowed the rudder to swing too far to either side.

It's almost like he left the rudder free when at anchor or something like that, which I do not.

I have had the boat for a couple of years and because I always lash the tiller when not at the helm I have never had an issue with my rudder smacking into the corners.

Hoped this helped,
Adam

hp18carr · Post by **hp18carr** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:31 pm

Thanks, once I get the boat high enough off the trailer too pull the rest of the rudder system, new rudder bearings will be installed along with changing out the s.s. bolts.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980
Pandora (for now)

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:50 pm

Same Damage here."but not so bad" How do you lash your tiller?

Dave

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:10 pm

Terrance, EE's damage in that area is similar, mostly the spider cracks where the rounded area around the post meets the flat part, but I have some damage from the tiller getting loose.

EE's tiller was lashed with two shock or bungee cords. One end of one was hooked at the port toe rail, wrapped around the tilller a few times then brought back to the port toerail. I tried to get enough tension to let me pull the tiller starboard to about midship, then I repeated the process on the starboard toerail. Done right the tiller can swing just a bit to eitther side before the opposite tension slows it to a stop.

Banshi · Post by **Banshi** » Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:23 am

This is a common theme on glass boats in these types of areas. The cloth was either to heavy or not properly pushed into these tight corners leaving a small air space between the gel coat and the structural glass behind it. A few years of sun the gel coat begins to weaken and it does not take much for it to crack like an eggshell. Definitely needs attention because if water accumulates in the exposed glass cloth it will deteriorate and weaken this area. It is pretty clear I think that the tiller probably "cracked the egg". I would dry it out good clean it up and use some good marine two part "bondo type filler" or fiberglass epoxy with micro balloons added to it to fill it in and seal it up. Then paint or gel coat to make it perty.