Hey all, i've had a hobbie 16 for about a year now and had an amazing summer sailing it and putting it through its paces. Now though it winter and time for modifications! one the things i want to do is repair the rudders as there are several small chips and the rudders themselves are all scratched and worn, just wondering if anyone had found anything good for repairing the chips, or other good products for rudder reapir! Thanks
Oldest boats ('70s) have PVC rudders. Older boats ('80s) have Lexan rudders. Some '80s boats have EPO (black epoxy fiberglass) rudders. Newer boats could have either fiberglass (racer) or plastic rudders.
Somewhere along the line, someone could have replaced the rudders with something completely different, like wood.
Some of these rudders can be fixed, some can't. Some aren't worth fixing.
Start off with how old the boat is, what color are the rudders (have they yellowed in the sun?) and whether you can flex them with your hands (or by kneeling on them).
Start off with how old the boat is, what color are the rudders (have they yellowed in the sun?) and whether you can flex them with your hands (or by kneeling on them).
What's the best advice for whitening yellow rudders? Mine are in good shape, but if I could get them whiter they'd look brand new.
My old 16 came with a set of Florida Super Catamaran Rudders. They were tough, super rigid, and almost half the weight of the boat. I roughed up the gelcoat with 120g and a air sander. I just painted them with Krylon for plastic. They looked really good for about a season and a half. My 14 has the white plastic rudders. They are best used as wall ornamants, or to fill that unwanted space in the garbage can. They flex, they twist, and eventually they break. I used 220g sand paper, and a DA and wetsanded them trying to take off a layer of "dead" yellowed plastic and found it takes a long time to get results.
