new rudder on a columbia 24?

tbeagley · #1 (**permalink**) 11-20-2008

I am new to this websight. I am currently looking at a columbia 24 for short money right now. Its an abandon vessel at a closing boat yard. Its not in bad shape other than some minor damage on the end of the keel, an its missing the rudder. I know I can handle the glass work on the keel, but I was hoping that some one might know how big a deal it is to put on a new rudder?

tbeagley · #2 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009

Update: I got one off another columbia challanger. Resoration is going well.

ssneade · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2009

good luck, all of us are cheering you on. your first?

tbeagley · #4 (**permalink**) 01-19-2009

Yeah this is my first. The weather is holding me up on alot of projects that I want to start on the boat. Mainly glass work. I removed all the brightwork and interior wood (teak and not in bad condition) and have striped all the varnish and sanded it down. I just need some warmer weather to start to stain and varnish it. I have removed all the bottom paint off as well. Im planning to paint the hull navy blue with the interlux two part fiberglass paint. I am building three new exterior hatches (forward, stern, and companionway) out of oak and staining them to match the teak exterior brightwork. I have alot of work ahead of me, but I'm motivated and enjoying seeing her come along. I have a main, genoa, and working jib, all in fair shape. a mast, engin, and brand new running line. Standing gear is good as well. That and the boat was free is what I have going for me. Thanks for the words of encourragment. I know I will be looking for advise along the way.

ssneade · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2009

hey, got the lowboy version of your boat. picked her up for five hundred bucks. not as cheap as you made out, but a bargain nevertheless. worked my butt off on her in my spare time for six weeks, and got her looking pretty good. used west brand bottom and topside (one part epoxy). on the deck, i used rustoleum topside urethane. came out looking pretty good, i think. here's some before and after pics. still got below decks and teak to do, but all in good time. please let me know how your hatches work out as i need to replace companionway and lazarette hatches........

tbeagley · #6 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009

Man, that looks sharp! Yeah I'm really getting in model, The lines of the boat did not blow me away at first, but they grew on me. I've had allot of fun finding literature on the boat as well. The boat sounds like it can handle weather for its size. I guess that some knuckle-head circumnavigated the earth in one. I'm on the south shore of Mass and I hope to take her to the islands, maybe main. I will let you know how the hatches come out. I'm a carpenter so I kind of know what I'm doing. I'm starting with the forward hatch. I'm making it out of marine grade half inch plywood and adhering quarter inch mahogany plywood on top of it and mitering 3/4 mahogany around it at a 15 degree bevel so it will have a smooth profile. If it works out then I am going to make the rear and companionway hatches the same way. If they dont look good I might just make them flat from mahogany by scratch I'm going to stain them to match the exterior bright work and finish them with a clear glossy finish. The hatches and grinding the million multicolor layers of bottom paint are my current projects while the weather is cold.

ssneade · #7 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009

i'm a machinist/mechanic by trade. wood terrifies me, unless i'm refinishing it, then we are friends. tip, on bottom when removing old paint, use a variable speed feathering sander. it will not gouge, and will leave her smooth as a baby's bottom. our boats are not the fastest out there, but for their size, there's not much that is more able. for example, some nut sailed an islander 24 (sister ship) from the west coast to hawaii. don't think i'd try that with an eggshell catalina of the same size.........

tbeagley · #8 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009

Thanks for the tip! I was going to try and take some of it off with a power washer, any thoughts on that? Also, you know the "shoe" or bracket that the bottom of the rudder fits in to on the bottom of the keel? I need to find/ make one. I have seen them made of copper or stainless steel. Thought being a machinist you might steer me in the right direction.

ssneade · #9 (**permalink**) 01-22-2009

the keel gods are smiling on you! i believe i can get you a rudder shoe. i'm going to see the former owner of my boat this weekend, i'm almost positive he has one. he did have a rudder also at one time, but he sold his other contender and i don't know if he let it go with it. but this guy has a boner for columbia sailboats, so if he don't have one, he can find one.
a pressure washer will probably take off the loose stuff. use a fine fan tip, i think white? careful around your damaged area though as you may cause some delamination. are you familiar with blisters? these old gals sometime come up with a few. if you find any (they look like what they are) grind it off and patch fill affected area with a little cloth or mat then sand smooth......

tbeagley · #10 (**permalink**) 01-25-2009

That's great news about the shoe. Let me know what he says. I'm still in the shop making my new hatches. The forward hatch is coming out good. The temp has been in the teens around Boston I haven't even thought about the bottom scraping project. I have looked her over for blisters and haven't found any above the water line yet. The former owner painted several layers on the hull witch may have helped protect it. (and now I have to strip it off for the two part epoxy) Let me know about the shoe, thanks again