Rudder scraping hull

[GaryG]

When I hauled my new B40, #247, this fall, I noticed small scratches in the hull which seemed to come from the top of rudder scraping the hull.  The scratches are not deep, but they did scrape thru the bottom paint.  It appears to occur only when the helm is far over.

Has anyone seen this sort of problem

[Mike Brown]

Just some thing to think about. How much of a gap is there between the top of the rudder and the hull? From what I recall there should be apx an inch of space. As barnacles like to grow in this area any chance that's what caused the scratches? Were you there when she was hauled? Did someone clean debris off before you checked? If no apparent debris is there any vertical play in the rudder?

Mike

 

[Bruce Bogdanoff]

On My Ben 40, 2011, I have experienced the top of the rudder hitting the bottom of the hill on the starboard side at the extreme angle. I believe this was caused by catching a crab track at high speed one summer day. 

I resolved the problem using two methods. One, I used a Spanish windless to pull the rudder shaft forward and then sanded the top of the rudder to get a half inch of clearance at extreme port and starboard . After the sanding I applied epoxy paint to the top of the rudder. Even new, I don't think the clearance was much  more than .5 inch.

Bruce

[Penny Blackmore]

hi

 we have just bought a 2008 40 and noticed the same problem, we thought the shaft must be bent but we discovered from this forum ( thank you chaps) all about  the rudder modification and , after some didfficulty getting intelligent answers found ours had been modified, and we think in the process raised slightly. our surveyors solution was to shave a bit off the top, alarming but it has worked and the we had it reinforced at the top whilst we were at it, as our first trip is across biscay to the med form the UK. ooer

Penny B

ps i looked at lost of others and founf the clearances on full lock, varied a little but were always less than 1cm.