mounting a rudder shoe

[iainbeag]

I had been pretty confident about mounting the s/s rudder shoe to the skeg with s/s bolts. . .the skeg is to be drilled and sleeved with s/s tube embedded in epoxy . . and through bolted,the rudder is also s/s, now, I'm not so sure! I'd appreciate any comments, incidently my boat is an 26'Eventide marine ply on oak

[Stu Fyfe]

What is it you're unsure of? FWIW I have a SS plate on the bottom of my Doug Fir keel and mahogany rudder for grounding out at low tide. They've been there for 23 years with the only problem being the plate on the rudder pulling away from the bottom. I rebuit it six years ago using epoxy bedded SS screws. By the way, lovely area you live in. Got any picture from the Isles?

[iainbeag]

Hi Stu,
probably reading too many horror stories, regarding crevice corrosion, I've already dropped the keel and replaced the s/s 7/8 bolts with galvanized . . its a cast steel keel. You seem pretty confident,I'm looking at the rudder, rudder shoe, and thinking , have to keep the metals on the same galvanic scale . . .but then,a little voice whispers 'what about crevice corrosion?
My intention is to oversize the holes in the skeg to 25mm [inch)and insert s/s sleeve's o/d 14mm to accept a number (7) of 10mm bolts (3/8)to mount the shoe, the sleeves are to be embedded in epoxy...sad little bugger that I am. . I just worry!
Stuart I presume) Fyfe. .that sounds very Scottish
! you must have porridge and whiskey in your blood!. . thanks for responding Stu

[Stu Fyfe]

Aye, my grandfather came over from Scotland. I think you are on the right track to keep similar metals. SS is not the best underwater metal, but if you make periodic checks (pull a fastener) you should be OK. Been to the Western Isle, but not Lewis. Wife (a Matheson) and I plan to go back next year.

[iainbeag]

Hi Stu,
That's probably the best compromise, the sailing season over here is generally May-Sept, so she wouldn't be in all year anyway. . .
quite incredible how many scots descendants ar spread across the globe. . .my regards to your lady, the Matheson's from the Gaelic, Macmathan, pronounce it with the T silent.. mac mahan, "son of the bear". . .notoriously war like from the Lochalsh area, their castle was Eilean Donan castle, in Loch Duich. .but i'm sure she is a pussycat. . . :D

[Stu Fyfe]

We spent some time in Lochalsh. Wife's Great Grandfather Captain William Matheson, left there, and settled in Provincetown here on Cape Cod and had a fleet of seven coastal schooners in the 1860's to 1890's. Lots of scots here in New England. Very proud of our heritage and trying to keep the arts going, ie., highland dance, celtic music, pipes and clans. Picked up a Harris Tweed jacket three years ago. It's my favorite.