[quote=smackdaddy]Okay - time for another installment on the rehab of this old slag.
The last significant job I had on the pre-splash list were the rudders. If you recall, the originals were complete crap...
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/e22194de.jpg[/IMG]
The raise/lock/lower rigging was all gone, the rudders themselves were painted wood, and one of them had serious rot around the pivot bolt. I'm no CharlieCobra - so rebuilding those was out.
They were a Prindle type rudder and casting - so I started looking around online for used rudders and parts. There were a couple of choices of rudders only for $80+ each, and a couple of rudder/casting assemblies for quite a bit more. But nothing "rehab cheap".
So, I looked for Hobie options, thinking I could just use a different set up. Same thing. $200+ any way you go.
Finally, I started watching Craigslist. And some dude in Pensacola put up a steal. Full Solcat rudder assembly, rudders - AND 2 extra Hobie rudders...all for $50. The shipping was another $56...but $106 was a GREAT deal...especially since I can sell the two Hobie rudders, making a few bucks back on the transaction.
All the pieces were there, but they were in pretty rough shape. The dude had Bondo'd one of them...very poorly. So I sanded them down, faired them, then painted them and the castings, then figured out how to mount them on the Prindle style gudgeons...
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-33.jpg[/IMG]
You'll notice the creative use of PVC pipe as spacers...
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-1-1.jpg[/IMG]
The lockdown cables were in good shape, but I had to rig the raising lines. For this I used cheap 1/4" braided line. The trick was rigging it so I could lock the rudders in the upright position. So, back to the PVC.
I drilled a hole for the handle and knotted the line with about a 6" tail. This way I can roll the extra line around the handle when the rudder is up, then tie off the tail with a couple of half-hitches. Works perfectly.
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-2-1.jpg[/IMG]
Next came the cross-bar. This is painted metal conduit, with PVC cap fittings hammered in to finish the edge.
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-6-1.jpg[/IMG]
I used nylon washers between the tillers and crossbar to handle the back-and-forth, then added the tiller-extension connection in the center using a cheap conduit mount with nylon washers again.
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-3-1.jpg[/IMG]
The tiller extension is also conduit to which I'll add a handle of some sort.
Finally came the mast rest. It ain't pretty, but it works great...
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-4-1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/smackdaddy_photo/Cat_Progress/file-5-1.jpg[/IMG]
If the weather holds, it's time to sail this slag this weekend! I'll let you know how the maiden voyage goes!
As for time and cost, here you go:
Costs $/Unit Sub-Total
Boat
Initial Purchase Price 1 $200 $200
Epoxy Resin/Hardner 1 $60 $60
Spray Paint 23 $4 $92
Fiberglass Cloth 2 $7 $14
Pinking Shears 1 $22 $22
West 407 Filler 1 $11 $11
Bolts/Toggles 2 $2 $4
Tramp Repair 1 $60 $60
Used Rudders (+shpg) 1 $106 $106
Paint (Brightside Qt + Shpg) 5 $36 $180
5/16" Line 4 $5 $20
1/4" Line 1 $5 $5
Rollers 4 $9 $36
Brushes 32 $1 $32
Acetone 2 $8 $16
Sander discs 1 $8 $8
Conduit 2 $2 $4
Sand paper 1 $4 $4
Jib Blocks 2 $13 $26
Trailer
U-Bolts 2 $1 $2
Hose 1 $6 $6
Wheel for Trailer 1 $38 $38
Lights for Trailer 1 $30 $30
Hitch for Trailer 1 $34 $34
Lug nut 0 $0 $0
Stand 1 $34 $34
TOTAL $1,044
Hours
Disassemble/Clean 6
Hull Repair/Prep 35
Hull Paint 37
Mast Paint 6
Rudders 12
Assemble 5
TOTAL 101[/quote]
