Outboard Rudder, Gudgeon Bolt Holes Repair

[endoftheroad]

Hello,

My gudgeon bolt holes in my outboard rudder and very sloppy.
I have the rudder off and inside a rented space.

Can I fill with West System and then re-drill new holes?

The holes are 2.5 inches deep.

Thanks

[boatman61]

Yes... but I'd add colidial silica to the mix to strenghten it more.... also I'd suggest a S/S plate/plates inside and out to spread loads and reduce wear where the bolts go through the hull...

[Benz]

There might be some confusion here. Are the holes in the rudder sloppy, or are the holes for the gudgeons in your boat's hull sloppy. If the former, then by all means fill and drill. If the latter, then Boatman61 is right. Normally the bits of hardware on the rudder are designated 'pintles', to distinguish from the 'gudgeons' on the hull.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Benz

There might be some confusion here. Are the holes in the rudder sloppy, or are the holes for the gudgeons in your boat's hull sloppy. If the former, then by all means fill and drill. If the latter, then Boatman61 is right. Normally the bits of hardware on the rudder are designated 'pintles', to distinguish from the 'gudgeons' on the hull.

Think I'd still fit a plate under the fittings... if they've opened up once they'll do it again.... the vice-like effect will stop/slow a repitition

[endoftheroad]

I am such a looser, I apologive to both of you.

I meant pintles and not gudgeons.

The gudgeons on my hull are in great shape.

My problem is where the pintle's bolts go through my rudder, the holes in the fiberglass are worn and sloppy from 33 years.

Thanks

[capngeo]

I'd explore some bronze "sockets" to bush the rudder/pintle joint.. Easy enough to do. I think I saw some bronze tubing at Key West Marine Hdwe.... If not I'm sure KW Welding on Simonton would be able to turn you out some from solid stock. Overdrill the rudder and bed in the bronze with West Sys... Make sure the core of the rudder is ABSOLUTELY dry or the West won't adhere!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by endoftheroad

I am such a looser, I apologive to both of you.

I meant pintles and not gudgeons.

The gudgeons on my hull are in great shape.

My problem is where the pintle's bolts go through my rudder, the holes in the fiberglass are worn and sloppy from 33 years.

Thanks

IMO, if the original setup was simply holes drilled through the rudder and they worked for 33 years, then filling with epoxy/high density filler mush and redrilling should be a completely adequate fix. Don't over-engineer a simple job!

Cheers,

Jim

[PAR]

You should log onto the West System site and read up on "hardware bonding". In your application you'll want more then just straight a silica mix. Alone silica is very dense and tends to be brittle. The addition of milled fibers or cotton flock (West 403 is cotton) will greatly improve adhesion and elongation strength, both quite desirable here. A 50/50 mix is good.

It's important you have a dry rudder, so check the holes for moisture, which ideally should be below 15% moisture content. If it's wet, acetone baths can wick out a lot of it, as can a carefully used heat gun.

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by PAR

You should log onto the West System site and read up on "hardware bonding". In your application you'll want more then just straight a silica mix. Alone silica is very dense and tends to be brittle. The addition of milled fibers or cotton flock (West 403 is cotton) will greatly improve adhesion and elongation strength, both quite desirable here. A 50/50 mix is good.

It's important you have a dry rudder, so check the holes for moisture, which ideally should be below 15% moisture content. If it's wet, acetone baths can wick out a lot of it, as can a carefully used heat gun.

I have it sitting in the sun and it has been drying out quite well.
Very much help here, it's appreciated.
Thanks