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The big gouge on the side is done ... you can see it, but not feel it.



Leading edge, corner and bottom edge came out good ... i think. Feels smooth.

So what do I do for a finish? Any suggestions?

I used anti fouling Bottom Paint on mine - This stuff works good is cheap and fairly easy to work with -
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog ... SEARCH+ALL
2 quarts should do your entire bottom its pretty tuff stuff and affordable just roll it on with a medium nap

Nice ... the reviews were all 5 star too.

Rudder is completed. Tiller attached, rudder repaired and painted and lines attached. Paint is an epoxy I had around, so when my bottom paint comes in the bottom of the rudder will be black anti-foul. Top part is getting a gloss red top coat. But for now ...

This is how the factory lines are setup for holding the rudder down. 1/4" braided line ~9' long.
(newb note: tape braided lines before cutting!!)



This is rudder in up position


Question ... this hole seems to be for a tiller stop ... maybe? There was just a bolt and nut before. Does something else belong here?

OK I cant see the entire rudder so I am just guessing - But the looks like a Lock up pin location if you put a bolt through there will it keep the rudder locked in the up position? if it does or will than thats what its for - you stick a bolt through there to lock the rudder up for trailering. or it could be a drain hole or PO attachment I am not sure. Now for some tips on Bottom Painting - To clean the bottom I Used Xylene aka Xylenol its a Strong solvent that dont hurt fiberglass or gelcoat before and as you scrape the barnacles try to get the hull as wet as possible with the stuff it will loosen up the old bottom paint so as you scrape its a lot more effective then wipe it again to leave it nice and clean for the new paint, it dont have to be perfect just get all the Loose stuff off and wear a mask and gloves the Xylene burns like hull if you get it on you - I laid down a huge cardboard box to use as a work mat and the Xylene evaporates very fast so I poured it on the rags at the job site and worked quickly - Anyway I used a ton of rags and made the Mistake of lying on one that I stopped using because it was foul LOL my back lit up like the forth July Shirt was off and hose was on faster than you could say OOPS lol anyway Xylene and Mineral Spirits for Clean up and to thin it if Needed you should have Plenty but in case you have to stop painting or anything or get the Paint on your Skin you want Mineral Spirits the Xylene just Plain Hurts to much Then of course Masking tape for your Line and roll away (after prep is done it goes fast) I actually enjoyed the actual painting part the cleaning and scraping Bites the Bag LOL

Here is different shot of the location. How would it lock the rudder?

OK Maybe that is a Replacement Rudder Handle assembly I Would bet the Original had a Staggered Bolt Pattern and the bolt hole is just that a forward attachment point they often Stagger the bolts so there is no Weak line in the Fiberglass Rudder. Understand? I think its a forward handle assembly attachement point

Ah ... makes sense. There is just the one bolt, but it would not pivot otherwise.

OK, something to look for ... thanks.

I would stick a bolt thru it and it will instantly be a Handle down Rest so you could rest your steering arm on the tiller without doubling it over the transom

You could bolt your grill to it too....that would make it a tiller griller

wow ...

Time for a new trailer winch?



Is this a common thing?

Sort of looks OK in the picture Maybe Lube it up and always use a safety chain thru the eye as well in case it fails

FYi-the previous post about the rudder pull-up line getting caught in the prop-it has happened to me in a very inopportune time. It does not take much slack in the line to get caught-just a little and the rudder being turned in the wrong direction. I have returned to the PO's design of using a boathook and a simple loop around the rudder to hold it up. Just be careful to have no slack and aware of this potential issue. Good luck.