Rudder Repair

[Time2Go]

Hi Friends
I'm looking for suggestions on how to refinish
my Oday Mariner rudder. Pictures attached.
The previous owner did a good job restoring most of the boat
a few years ago but the rudder has been neglected and needs a
complete go over.
What's the best way to strip off the old paint?
Chemicals? Elbow crease and an orbital sander? A combo of both?
I plan on fixing the chunk missing from the trailing edge by cutting out
a rectangular piece then expoxy in a new piece and then shaping
by hand plane. I would like to keep the finish natural wood so what would
be the best way to do this?

Also the top half seems to be aluminum, so how do I strip and refinish?
The bolts holding on the lower pintle seem to be locked on
maybe with locktight so unscrewing them and taking the whole thing apart
might be an isue.
Thanx in advance
Neil

[Khagan1227]

Originally Posted by Time2Go

Hi Friends
I'm looking for suggestions on how to refinish
my Oday Mariner rudder. Pictures attached.
The previous owner did a good job restoring most of the boat
a few years ago but the rudder has been neglected and needs a
complete go over.
What's the best way to strip off the old paint?
Chemicals? Elbow crease and an orbital sander? A combo of both?
I plan on fixing the chunk missing from the trailing edge by cutting out
a rectangular piece then expoxy in a new piece and then shaping
by hand plane. I would like to keep the finish natural wood so what would
be the best way to do this?

Also the top half seems to be aluminum, so how do I strip and refinish?
The bolts holding on the lower pintle seem to be locked on
maybe with locktight so unscrewing them and taking the whole thing apart
might be an isue.
Thanx in advance
Neil

I'd go with the orbital sander and elbow grease. I've tried a few chemicals, but unless you know what it was painted with it could be a time waster.

Once you get to bare wood, I'd encapsulate the wood with epoxy, then cover with 4 or 6 oz cloth, three (minimum) coats of epoxy over that.

As for the screws, unless they break free with a minimum amount of effort, I'd go with a drill and an easy-out.

[Nicholson58]

Looks like it was allowed to stay wet. As as trailer-sailor, or even left at the dock, this rudder should be pulled or otherwise kept dry.

I would DA coarse sand to get to solid base material. You may need to re-fair some of the edge. Use epoxy & structural filler. I sometimes use Marine-Tex on items this size. If you can be sure it stays dry most of the time you could finish with Perfection - Otherwise Awl-Grip or equal two-part high end paint. If you don't care about color & gloss, finish with white Interprotect 2000E.