Brian Watford Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 I built my rudder blade out of strips of fir laminated in the same manner as the CS plans call for the center board. This leaves end grain exposed. Of course it will be epoxied but in a book I have on building canoe paddles it says to cut a grove across the end grain and glue in a filler piece with the grain crosswise. This will prevent (or at least slow0 the intrusion of water should the seal ever be compromised. Canoe paddles on a white water river are probably more apt to come into contact with rocks and be compromised but I'm thinking that this might still be a good thing to do. Anyone else have an opinion on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Jones Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 you could do that but I don't see the need. On the Princess 22, after I glassed the rudder, I took some left over Bi-axial and glassed it around the lower leading edge and back past the bottom mid point of the rudder. Used a strip about 10 inches long or so and about 3 inches wide. That gives a pretty hefty leading edge where it's apt to hit bottom. I think that should be enough. If the rudder wears enough there during use, just add another strip and repaint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Niemann Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 On my CS17, I did the same thing that Charlie did on both the centerboard and rudder. However, I used polypropylene which was recommended by Rob Macks of Laughing Loon kayak fame. Actually, I bought the polypropylene from him. I used 2" wide strips. Since I have not completed my boat, I have not had a chance to test it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dufour Posted October 9, 2004 Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 On my CS17, I epoxied a piece of 3/16" nylon rope around the edge. Thing's tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Watford Posted October 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2004 Thanks for the input. I think I"ll just glass it and reinforce the vulnerable areas. I felt like that would be the consensus sense most people don't push the boat off of rocks with the rudder like I have been known to do with a paddle.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klaus Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 What I did with the rudder blades on my NIS26 and the nester dinghy is cut a section off the lower end from the blade blank and epoxy it back on. This leaves an epoxy seam preventing water wicking up all the way on the staves should the glass I have on the blades rub through. Klaus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Nelson CS#35 Posted October 10, 2004 Report Share Posted October 10, 2004 Nice to see you chime in. I really like your NIS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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