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Dean Gurke
11-12-2001, 07:17 PM
I need to replace the rudder on a 40 ton schooner, my problem is finding material for the rudder post, the original post is made of ironwood (or something similar) is 5 inches in diameter and 13 feet long. The vessel is copper fastened so I'm not keen on going to a metal post but I cannot find suitable wood. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions

[This message has been edited by Dean Gurke (edited 11-12-2001).]
paladin
11-12-2001, 08:29 PM
hey...that sounds like Ta'ana Mari.....exactly the same length but slightly smaller section. Mine is made frome epoxy laminated Homduras Mahogany with drift pins from 1/4 inch carbon fiber. The boards were 1 x 6 x 14 feet, trimmed to 13 feet 6 inches and epoxied with T- 88 epoxy (gerry schindlers stuff, now System 3) but now I would use CPES and Smith's resin or MAS epoxy, drift pins were 1/4 inch dia. carbon fiber with a spiral groove (actually .240) with holes drilled at 1/4 inch and filled with epoxy and the pins painted with epoxy and driven through......ain't broke yet and lot's of sea miles under her.......
paladin
11-12-2001, 08:43 PM
oops...sorry......I'm reading one thing and thinking another....my rudder is solid and outboard....I wuz thinking Kingpost.....sorry.
RGM
11-13-2001, 12:28 AM
You might consider Purpleheart, It has alot going for it, size, availability, density, price. Good luck
Nicholas Carey
11-13-2001, 04:49 PM
Originally posted by Dean Gurke:
[in essence]Help! I need a chunk, a chunk o' Big Wood!


You might call around a bit. Big wood is available -- for a price http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

The last time I was down at Crosscut Hardwoods here in Seattle, they had a beautimous chunk of purpleheart 12 in x 12 ins x 10-12 feet long. And it was good wood, that is to say it hadn't been cut in the bole. You might want to talk to the schooner people here in Seattle and the PNW -- ZODIAC, MARTHA, ADVENTURESS, PACIFIC GRACE, etc. I know MARTHA and ZODIAC have been using big hunks of Silver Bali -- it comes large, it's highly durable and it's reasonably priced [for certain definitions of 'reasonable'].