This Forum is supported by C&C 27 owners like you whose membership in the C&C 27 Association makes possible this Forum and the accompanying site. Thank you, members, for your continuing commitment.
You are not logged in.
There are lots of opinions I've heard on this:
Drill a 1/4" hole laterally up from the bottom of the rudder (parallel to the post) about an inch astern of the rudder post using a 12" long bit
Drill three or more holes laterally thru the rudder at diffirent depths behind the rudder post, using magic drill through every wood/foam filled chamber
etc, etc etc
The problem is water could settle into any filled chamber of the rudder along the rudder post. The chambers are adjacent to one another along the depth (length) of the rudder.
If you do a search on rudder water freezing you might find the RCAF had a real problem with planes and rudder leaks and freezing flying at high altitudes. They did research drillingg holes and found in airplanes (fibreglass filled aluminum) & they took 90 days to drain dry! It can be done in one day applying a vacumn to the lowest hole. Positive pressure on a higher hole does not work according to their research. So haul out 90 days before freeze, or store indoors, or drill a few holes, or buy a replacement rudder every 30++ years (still in stock in C&C in the states for $2k) .... Myself I took my rudder home last winter .. drilled a few holes and got a litre of water out (leaning it against the water heater), took a Dremel to the area around the rudder post, backfilled with SIKAFLEX, took off the A/F paint,, sealed with Interprotect, and wonder. I will drill a few drain holes at haul-out this year and if water comes out, leave the holes.... if not brag a lot and seal the holes back up. I don't think I'll be bragging this winter.
A guru at our club (there a many, many) has about 6 holes placed where he guesses the chambers are and they leak gallons at haul out every year and no new rudder yet, on his 15 year old Serius 28.
If anyone has the plans or pictures showing the foam/wood fill chambers on the marks that would answer it for you and me... maybe, I'm sure?John Dallas
Weather or Not (aka: "WON")
<A href="mailto:jedlls@sympatico.ca">jedlls@sympatico.ca</A>