Going through HD looking for something else, came across a section of azek sheets, 24xc24 I think. They had 1/2″ thk in stock, the label showed 1/4 and 3/4 available, also different sizes. Got to thinking … my little sailboat needs a new rudder … wonder if i could make it out of 3/4″ azek sheet? This stuff had a different brand name, bit it looked the same.
“Put your creed in your deed.” Emerson
“When asked if you can do something, tell’em “Why certainly I can”, then get busy and find a way to do it.” T. Roosevelt
Replies
Sure. I used to work in a shop that fabricated all sorts of gear for use in marine environment. We used a ton of PVC sheet and extruded goods. It machines well and is impervious to water. Over time, UV will degrade it, but I think it would outlast plywood with far less maintenance. I say go for it.
Ok Red, looks like everyone else disagrees wuith you, although you say you used sheet pvc, not azek, so that might be the difference."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I have used a lot of azek cellular PVC, and it will snap but it takes quite a bit of force. Ironically, the thinner it is, the less likely it is to snap.
For a rudder, I'd shop for Lexan. Mcmaster-Carr.
I'd think twice about that. AZEK is cellular PVC and will snap where regular sheet PVC in much more flexible.
Cellular PVC isn't really all that strong.
I think hard aport might lead to hard apart.
the stuff is fragile...
maybe if you used it as a core for a glass lay up it would work...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I can't imagine it would last very long, if it worked at all. I doubt it is stiff enough to handle the stresses. I have snapped at least three hobie-cat rudders and while they are some type of plastic, I believe it is stronger stuff than azek.
Wassup with the rudder you have now?
I wouldn't go with the azek either, just wonderring what's wrong with your rudder.
Just dings and gronks, or major structural?
Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
When i picked up the boat from the seller, there was a almost new rudder on the transom, nice varnished plywood rudder with a piece of 2x2 pt pine for the tiller extension. When we went for the pre-sale test float, I noticed that the top of the tiller was several inches above the transom and interfered with the ropes that hold the boom thing ... whatever it's called. As we're loading up the boat to drive away, he hand me what looks like the original rudder and metal bracket. The rudder is in pretty bad shape, especially the part under water, but the metal is still very good. . I compared the two metal parts, and found that the new one is about 6 inches too tall, hence the problem with the ropes.
The new one has a rope devices that raises and lowers the rudder and locks it into place. the old one has a slot in the rudder that clears a bolts with a large wing nut, I guess friction keeps the rudder down. The old rudder is good ebnough to use for a pattern to make a new one, but I hesitate to modify the new one to fit the old bracket .. it works so why take a chance on screwing it up? So i think I will make a new rudder for the old bracket. Thought if I used sheet pvc I wouldn't have to worry about sealing the wood.
I'll post a picture later."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Coll, I'll wait for the pic, easier than the 1000 word thing...Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
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"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
That doesn't look too bad from the pic.
That second rudder looks alot like a pic of a rudder off of a '76 16 that came up when I googled your boat. Maybe they changed the mounting later also.
With a new boat I think I'd just go ahead and sand down the old rudder back to good wood and hit it with two coats of West systems epoxy.
'Specially this time of year. It'll get you through the first summer, this winter you will have a lot better feel for what the boat needs.
I'm thinkin' there was a shock cord or something that assisted the rudder to stay in the down position...
FWIW - is there a positive mount for the rudder to the boat? If not, you may want to put a "leash" on the rudder - alot of them don't float...
The holders have a tension "clip" that holds them in - until the boat goes over - bye bye rudder...Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
fasteddie,
What a weird design. They must have had to put a lot of thought into it to make it appear strong while it is really cut almost in two.
I would also do what JHole said, and strengthen the old rudder, but try to thin it down enough to add a layer of glass cloth to each side. The rudder wouldn't need to be thinned below the pivot mount, but should be faired.
Concerning the tether he mentioned, there might be a hole drilled through one of those pintles which would accept a SS cotter pin once the rudder is mounted.
I have a very similar boat, a 16' swing-keel daysailer. I find it to be in that uncomfortable size range where it isn't quite big enough to actually go anywhere in, but isn't light enough to plane, which would be a lot of fun. I also have a project boat sitting in the yard which, if I ever get it finished, will be able to plane.
Ron
What's the project boat?Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
JHole
I have two.
The one I meant was a 14' Paceship P14. Very nice little boat. The sails are in perfect condition. The hull......needs work. A hurricane came through here a few years ago and dropped a tree on the hull. There are four or five significant breaks. The mast looks like it was tied in a knot and then untied, but I can make a mast out of wood. The fiberglass work on the hull intimidates me.
http://www.paceship.org/model_boat.asp?model_ID=6
The other project is a 14' Chestnut canoe. The man who gave it to said it was 56 years old, the same age as me. It need a few ribs, some planking, both stems, gunwhales and thwarts, seats, canvas. Easy stuff - it doesn't need fiberglass.
Ron
The old rudder is actually tapered on the front and back edges. Not rounded over, but tapered about 4-5 inches. the new one is just rounded over. As far as I can tell, there is no lock to keep the rudder in place.
I took it out yesterday for the first time, and it was about what I expected. The wind was light, which was good. I wanted the boat to be a cruiser, not a performance sailer, and that's what it is. I wish it was an 18. I really want a 22, but that is a whole nuther size. I'll probably keep this 2-3 years and then trade up."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
FastEddie,
You've only just got it wet and you've already got two-footitis. Must be a record.
Ron
Actually, I wanted a 22 ft when I was looking for this one, but I realized my experience level is very low, and I wanted to be able to easily trailer the boat."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Going through HD looking for something else<<<
Home Depot carries Azek ? wow ... who'd a thought?
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
>>This stuff had a different brand name, bit it looked the same<<
Maybe, maybe not.
HD near my last jobsite carried both Azec and the cheaper knock off brand. They had Azec in the standard 3/4 board width sizes. The other stuff they had thinner pieces and also had a limited selection of trim profiles. Vic