[Rhodes22-list] Stan, if you are lurking

[Peter Nyberg]

My rudder cheeks are made of some sort of plastic.  While I’m not sure exactly what it is, it’s definitely not Starboard.  As Alex said, Starboard feels kind of soft, and this material is harder. Personally, I wouldn’t be comfortable using Starboard in this application, but that’s just a gut reaction.

Alex didn’t mention which online vendor he used, but McMaster-Carr is a source I’ve used not only for Starboard, but all kinds of hardware and materials for the boat.

If you want to consider using aluminum, you can get that from McMaster as well.  Aluminum can be cut with wood blades.  Carbide blades are generally recommended, but non-carbide blades will work (but probably dull much more quickly than when used with wood).

Apparently everything causes cancer in California.

Peter Nyberg
Coventry, CT
s/v Silverheels (1988/2016)

> On Oct 6, 2019, at 3:15 PM, S/V Lark <Colealexander at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> For those stuck finding or making unique parts for our boats:
> 
> The soft black plastic used by GB for many things is a marine grade HDPE
> called “Starboard”.   It is not great in sheer, but easy to work with
> standard wood tools and requires no finishing.    The material arrived
> Thursday from an online vendor, I went sailing last night after work.    
> 
> I believe my rudderhead may have been stressed by the outboard, while trying
> to keep the Lark from drifting into its dock neighbor singlehanding in
> strong crosswinds.    I will raise the rudder in these circumstances, since
> speed is low.
> 
> An Australian I know online suggested G10 would be a stronger material.   I
> understand why Stan didn’t use it.   It is more expensive.   The dust causes
> cancer in California.    It requires tile saws or other specialized cutting
> tools.   It must be painted for UV protection, but automotive plastic bumper
> paint is supposed to work well.   I’m told 1/4” sheets are at least as
> strong as similar thickness 6061 aluminum.   No plasma cutter is needed.   
> That is my winter layup project.   The stock “starboard” cheeks weigh about
> 5.5 pounds each, I will compare when done.   This is the material computer
> motherboards are made out of, only thicker.   If you ever tried to break a
> circuit board, you know how strong it is.   
> 
> 
> 
> -----
> Alex Cole
> S/V Lark
> --
> Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/