[Rhodes22-list] Winter maintenance

[ROGER PIHLAJA]

Hi Peter,

After a couple of seasons of sanding and varnishing my OEM wooden rudderhead, I finally decided wood was a poor choice of material for the application.  I purchased a block of 1-1/2" thick uv stabilized ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.  I used the old rudder head for a template and cut the new rudder head from the plastic block with a band saw.  Drill a few holes for the various fittings, a little sanding, and viola; a new no maintenance black plastic rudder head!  The 1-1/2" thickness was just perfect for the tiller, the pintels, and the two aluminum plates that serve as the pivot point for the rudder blade and keep it from wobbling.  The rudder head needs no internal structure, it just needs to be the right shape & size & rigid.   I did this project on a Saturday afternoon in 1990.  The only maintenance it's needed since then is a quick wipe down with a damp rag.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
1978  Sanford, MI



________________________________
From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of Todd Tavares <tavares0947 at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2024 8:11 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Winter maintenance

Peter, on older boats there were wooden spacers between the rudderhead
cheek plates, which were slightly thicker than the thickness of the rudder
blade itself.

Todd T



On Sun, Dec 29, 2024, 8:01 PM Peter Nyberg <peter at sunnybeeches.com> wrote:

> I usually start with a pressure washer, but that's easy for me since my
> boat is at home.  If it is Starboard, it has a surface texture that holds
> dirt really well.
>
> I have no wood anywhere in my rudder assembly.  Out of curiosity, where
> are these wooden spacers you speak of?
>
> --Peter
>
>
> [ Sent From rhodes22.net ]
>
> > On 2024-12-28, at 16:38:43 EST, peter beckerman wrote:
> >
> > Hello all, It's a partly sunny, unseasonably warm day in western
> > Pennsylvania, perfect for getting a jump on my winter "to do" list.
> > Today's task is to start on rudder maintenance. The wooden spacers look
> > like they haven't been varnished for years. In fact there was newspaper
> > stuck to the inside surface dated May 6th 2013! It's unlikely they've
> been
> > touched since then. So I figured it would be a good time to strip off
> the
> > old varnish and give it a refresh. While talking the whole assembly
> apart,
> > my eye was drawn to the plastic (starboard?) sides which are looking
> kinda dull,
> > stained and dirty. As you can see in the attached picture, the two sides
> are
> > different shades due to the dirt. My question for the list is: does
> > anyone know a good way to clean and maintain these? Thanks and happy
> > new year!
> > Peter
> >
> > <a
> > href="
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Frhodes22.org%2Fpipermail%2Frhodes22-list%2Fattachments%2F20241228%2Fb30f6f9a%2Fattachment.jpg&data=05%7C02%7C%7C41ee5c4c094c4b6799c608dd28d38b16%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638711611229384304%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=X4N3HyyWMVhD6nIeHQXOITCfrZG3TBTjv83mEuHb%2Fr4%3D&reserved=0"<http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20241228/b30f6f9a/attachment.jpg>
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> > target="_blank">IMG_20241228_140932.jpg</a>
> >
>
>
>
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