Rudder wear

The wear is typical of saltwater corrosion, it could be concentrated in that one spot simply because it was a current beween the engine (connected through the shaft to the prop) and rudder that facilitated it or because the mechanical interaction of the prop wash at that point was good at removing oxidation and leaving a new layer behind to oxidize. if you had a zinc on your shaft it would be an egg shaped bulge. Zincs that are on the rudder are usually rounded disks that are bolted through the rudder about where your corrosion is the worst. Nibral or not in salt water with no zincs that kind of corrosion is imminent with zincs its still inevitable but slower. In fairly neutral freshwater zincs don't hurt but are rarely needed.

Phil, I had to reread the thread!! I didn't pick up anyone saying you really need to put a new rudder on it and I will agree. As long as you maintain control of the boat you're ok.

One thing you should consider if you haven't done anything is to recondition the swim platform. Get the varnish or poly off it. Nether will stick to teak as you can see in your picture. Clean it up and put a good synthetic teak oil on it.

Edit: I just got the mail and the spring flier from West Marine came. They are having a sale on gel repair kits, buffing compounds and waxes!! Red is a tough color to keep from fading!

cool. you guys are great. thanks for re-reading this long ass thread. i think i'll use it again this year then. as far as the swim deck. i actually did refinish it. i sanded it down by hand (that took a long time) and then applied teak oil. it came out really good. i also used rubbing compound on the transom and the deck and it came out pretty good. i still need to put some elbow grease into her though... tough work.


let me pose another question. i'm planning on doing a tune up this spring that includes,

-new plugs
-new wires
-new raw water impeller
-new rotor and cap

who is in the milwaukee area, who wants to drink beer and get fed all day while they help me set timing? i've never set timing nor do i have the tools to do it. i'm in slinger, just north west of milwaukee.