Rudder Post leak

[DeliveryCaptain]

Hi Trawler-ites,
I have a very small leak from the square base of my rudder posts. I've applied 4 tubes of West Marine emergency epoxy which stops it for a day or so then it starts trickling out again. Splash Zone epoxy repair was recommended. Anyone have any experience with this stuff?
1981 Hershine '40

 

[rslifkin]

If it's leaking where the rudder log mounts to the hull, the only fix is to haul the boat, drop the rudder and re-bed the rudder log.

 

[Comodave]

Or if it is the fiberglass to fiberglass then you should grind it out some and lay in a couple of layers of structural glass. Just putting some epoxy on the outside won’t work, it is like caulking the outside of a window frame. The way to fix it will be more work than laying some on the outside.

 

[DeliveryCaptain]

I think that may be the fix. but its in a hard to get at place.

 

[Comodave]

I think that may be the fix. but its in a hard to get at place.

Well, that is pretty much the situation in working on boats. Just have to figure out what is the best way to get it done.

 

[kthoennes]

Oh heck I still have a bruise across the bottom of my rib cage from hanging over the edge of an access hatch for half an hour to replace a shower sump box in the aft bilge.

 

[Comodave]

Yes, I am having more and more problems doing some of the work required on our boat. So far I have been able to get it done but where I used to be able to work 10+ hours in a day now it is more like 2 or 3. So everything takes longer. Good news is that I have most of the heavy lifting done.