Repair of kirby 25 rudder

[Mad Multi]

Our little Racer Demolition Kirby (Kirby 25) tipped back on her trailer and her rudder was damaged.

Nothing serious, the shaft is fine we were lucky it was on soft grass but it did push the rudder cap? up into the bottom of the rudder splitting the edges to a depth on 1 or 2 cm.

I can pull the cap out but I'm wondering what the best repair method is.

i was thinking just get the cap set pump it full of marine epoxy resin and clamp it?

or should I grind out the fragmented edges and glass it?

frankly, I'm sure I could just drop it in and race but I don't want the added inefficiency of a slightly damaged rudder :-(

[jimbojonesbos]

I would split it and do a proper repair. What you describe sounds like a recipe for a waterlogged rudder.

Also FYI there is a mirage/Kirby group that is great for boat specific stuff.
Groups.io/g/miragekirby

[Mad Multi]

Whatis the proper repair?

[jimbojonesbos]

Generally a rudder is built of foam and glass sandwiching the rudder shaft and associated metal structure. If I am reading your post correctly, it sounds like the shell of the rudder has been forced up toward the hull relative to the post and frame it is built around?


Pics would help to diagnose.

If so then it needs to be cut open , the core repaired, and reglassed back together.

Something like this

https://youtu.be/MRXNnFx7DBQ


Rudder rebuilds that just involve glass and core are not terrible to DIY, just cutting glassing and grinding.

Once a rudder is not watertight, it will.get heavy and also risk corrosion and failure of the metal structure/shaft.

Hope that helps!