New Rudder, But What About Those Mushrooms?
Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:52 am
Greetings!
I just got a badly-needed new rudder assembly from the folks at Ruddercraft for my 1976 C-22. The old rudder is removed from the boat and I'm ready to install the new one. In addition to problems with the old rudder -which the new rudder fixes - I've also had a long-standing pinhole leak which I suspect has its source in the mass of caulk that had been applied around the current thru-hull rudder-tube fitting. I've cleaned out all the old caulk from around the fitting and as I get ready to install the new rudder I'm wondering what's the best way to proceed to address that leak. The new rudder assembly came with two new mushroom bushings. Should I dig the old fitting/bushing out of the boat and use the new one instead? Or, since the old bushing and rudder-tube assemblies look reasonably sound (after I replace the hose clamps where the "radiator hose" tube attaches to the thru-hull fitting) should I apply a healthy construction of fiberglass around that thru-hull fitting to address the leak (instead of using caulk as had been done originally)?
Hopefully this all makes sense. I'm very much looking forward to spending this season with a sound rudder and no more water in the cabin, and appreciate any suggestions and insight.
Fair winds!
I just got a badly-needed new rudder assembly from the folks at Ruddercraft for my 1976 C-22. The old rudder is removed from the boat and I'm ready to install the new one. In addition to problems with the old rudder -which the new rudder fixes - I've also had a long-standing pinhole leak which I suspect has its source in the mass of caulk that had been applied around the current thru-hull rudder-tube fitting. I've cleaned out all the old caulk from around the fitting and as I get ready to install the new rudder I'm wondering what's the best way to proceed to address that leak. The new rudder assembly came with two new mushroom bushings. Should I dig the old fitting/bushing out of the boat and use the new one instead? Or, since the old bushing and rudder-tube assemblies look reasonably sound (after I replace the hose clamps where the "radiator hose" tube attaches to the thru-hull fitting) should I apply a healthy construction of fiberglass around that thru-hull fitting to address the leak (instead of using caulk as had been done originally)?
Hopefully this all makes sense. I'm very much looking forward to spending this season with a sound rudder and no more water in the cabin, and appreciate any suggestions and insight.
Fair winds!