Rudders & TillersGet Attention

 Well actually just the starboard rudder.  I knew when I bought Knu that the rudders and tillers were suspect. 

So the Random Orbital Sander relished its task of smoothing out flaky paint.  But this was just window dressing,  there were boggy bits. All along  the top of the tiller, boggy, boggy, boggy. The offending pieces were gouged free and revealed a hollow construction,  sealed in epoxy and solid on the side and base  Just the top of the box profile needs replacing.  


 The worst of the rot. Ugly,  but I knew it was there.  

Stbd tiller with rot removed revealing a sound core. 


Unfortunately the rudder blade was looking terminal.  A mass of fiberglass had been applied 2/3 up and the head,  also containing rot, had been classed in place ... very poorly.  So at least one new blade is needed.  

Starboard rudder head showing rot and a mass of reinforcing fibreglass.

 Look at this dogs breakfast! It looks like they left the plaster on a broken legs and just got on with life.  My experience with fibreglass is,  if it looks rough,  it's probably a really weak job.  The fact that it's trapping water is just plain scary.  

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