Salt & Tarvideo
Salt & Tar: Episode 93 - In-Water Rudder Repair
June 25, 2020 · 30 min · 76K views · California
What this video covers
A Morgan 30 sailboat requires an in-water rudder repair after the owner strikes a submerged tree in a river, bending the rudder shaft.10:29 To remove the damaged rudder without hauling the boat, the crew uses a heavy-duty dry bag to catch the assembly as it drops, pulling it to the dock with a line.15:51 They straighten the shaft using heat and a mallet, then fabricate new bushings from G10, a high-density glass-epoxy composite, to replace the worn originals.17:12 During reinstallation, the crew uses life jackets to provide buoyancy, allowing one person to maneuver the rudder into position underwater while others guide it from the deck.16:12 They apply AquaShield underwater grease to the shaft and bushings to prevent corrosion and ensure smooth operation.18:30 Once the rudder is secured and the tiller head reattached, the boat is successfully tested under sail.25:54 Dropping a rudder in the water is a viable alternative to a haul-out for repairs on external rudder systems.16:43
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