Bleed screw - Rudder

[Captain Caliamari]

Recently hauled/Recently returned boat to water.
In haul in rush- forgot to replace/screw in the small bleed screw underside of rudder.
Boat is a CS 33'
Do I need to haul out/dry out and replace this?
Before next summer or later when I haul next?

Don't want a waterlogged rudder I suspect.
Not used the boat since putting it back in.
Thanks

[psk125]

We had a Soling that had a hole in the bottom of the rudder. Each time we hauled out, water came out for a while, then stopped when it had all drained. We drysailed, so this happened at least once a week during the summer. Having the rudder fill with water while sailing didn't seem to affect the feel of the rudder much, since it was operating in water to begin with. Perhaps it would have been better for the insides of the rudder to keep them dry, but we had the boat for about 20 years and never had a problem with the rudder. Having it fill with water and then freeze would have been another issue, but since it always drained, we never found out.

[Vasco]

Don't worry. Your rudder will soak up like most CS rudders and will drain when you haul. The only thing you have to worry about is where you haul in the winter and it freezes. That's when draining the rudder is important.

[Captain Caliamari]

psk125 and Vasco


Thank you both very much.
Unlikely to freeze on West coast here.
I was wondering if some kind of stasis would occur where the hole would only allow water in up to the depth of the surface level?
It's a very small bore bleed screw.
But that is about two feet deep anyway.

My first boat was a CS 27 and that often had water in the rudder.
Good to have the re-assurance.

Thanks again.


Regards,

CC

[Cadence]

I would be tempted to dive and replace it. Chances are it is airlocked since the splash. Nothing to lose if you don't drop the plug.

[Captain Caliamari]

Cadence
Thanks.
That's a good idea!
Lucky I am a diver.
Thank you !