Catalina 14.2 rudder spade

[Captain Bligh]

Hi All, I just purchased a Catalina Capri 14.2. Its older but in pretty good shape. But i noticed the rudder has an odd horizontal crack in it on the leading edge and I want to replace it. The tiller, hing, pintle, everything is in great shape, so I am hoping you can give me a place that will source just the rudder and not the entire assembly
Thanks
scott

[DeepFrz]

This thread has a number of recommendations.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ea-114018.html

[Captain Bligh]

Thanks DPFRZ,
But this is only a 14 ft boat, not a 40 ft yacht... I'm hoping for a simpler solution than getting one from France.

[DeepFrz]

Ah, I assumed (silly me) it was 14.2 meter. There are also US references in the thread. Read on, read on...

[Captain Bligh]

I'm actually wondering if i can just make one out of wood and glass it over.

[robwilk37]

fun little boat. easy to fab up a new rudder using the old one as a template. good marine ply works well, you can use the lam lines as you shape the leading and trailing edges to keep reasonable symmetry. then biax/epoxy. sounds like a fun weekend. if you want it finished bright and perdy, lam up some mahog and ash then a layer of 6oz finish cloth with uv stable chrystal clear surfboard resin. lots of options here...all well within the skill set of the average handyperson.

pics or it didnt happen...

[Captain Bligh]

Originally Posted by robwilk37

fun little boat. easy to fab up a new rudder using the old one as a template. good marine ply works well, you can use the lam lines as you shape the leading and trailing edges to keep reasonable symmetry. then biax/epoxy. sounds like a fun weekend. if you want it finished bright and perdy, lam up some mahog and ash then a layer of 6oz finish cloth with uv stable chrystal clear surfboard resin. lots of options here...all well within the skill set of the average handyperson.

pics or it didnt happen...

Rob, thanks for the description of work.
actually that sounds a little outside of my skillset- especially the part where it will take all weekend.

i'm back to sourcing it out.

scott

[robwilk37]

ok then. how about just scuffing the crack and wrapping it with 2" fiberglass tape and epoxy? waste marine can set you up with small quantities, or check aeromarine in san diego...

[jeepbluetj]

If you want a new one... Catalina sells em....

Catalina Direct: Kick-Up Rudder Blade for CP-14.2, C-15, and O-14

But it seems a pretty easy thing to just fix with some glass and epoxy.

[robwilk37]

well sure for $350, but then i bought my omega for $300... with the trailer! seems like an easy fix to me, maybe a pic of the area in question? also, maybe a call to minnies...

[Captain Bligh]

Originally Posted by robwilk37

ok then. how about just scuffing the crack and wrapping it with 2" fiberglass tape and epoxy? waste marine can set you up with small quantities, or check aeromarine in san diego...

Yeah, I thought about that, but the crack is horizontal halfway through the rudder and starts at the leading edge. As I'll be sailing in the ocean, I just dont want to take the chance... that and combined with the time is money issue.
I ended up ordering the entire assembly from catalina ... $500 including tiller and all hardware.
I guess I have a used one for sale now.

[bauer965]

Something tells me you're not really going to be sailing this in the ocean, right? Monterey Bay maybe, when conditions are near flat?
I used to have one of these and sailed it on a river off of the Chesapeake Bay...anything more than 6" chop and/or the occasional boat wakes was very unpleasent. Fun nonetheless. Good boat, you'll be happy. I repaired some transom gouges with Evercoat products from West Marine, after the boat got blown off a boat lift during a storm...not professionally faired, but probably what you could have done with that rudder. On the topic of the rudder, it was missing after that episode. 2 days later I had a hunch and decided to intrude into some of my neighbors property to get to the adjacent shorelines...there from about 100 feet away I saw something bobbing in the water that looked unnatural. After a little bushwacking to get to this little cove on the adjacent neighbors property, there is was, the rudder. All together, just a little dirty, and the hardware not quite as nice as before. Glad to know I saved myself $500. Never did get a chance to paint it before I sold it to the next owner. Hopefully, he has had the chance to tell similar stories.

[Captain Bligh]

Yes it will make it out to the bay, but only betwwen sc harbor and the wharf. Nothing outside the entrance bouy. I am having some reec points installed in the main so we wont be overpowered.
When you say uncomfortable, do you mean you get wet or the motion of the vessel?