Hunter 46 FIBERGLASS rudder post

[eherlihy]

I just finished reading about the local sailor who planned to take his 46' Hunter (don't know what year or model) to the BVI. Because the debate on Hunter build quality flares up every now and then ("Why is a Hunter not considered a bluewater boat?") I thought that I should share this with anyone concerned.

Thanks to Larry Robertie for sharing this with the Mass Bay Sailor group. I hope that he dosen't mind my sharing with a wider audience.

"These guys left PCYC on Saturday, October 13th. We were all able to track the voyage on line, as the owner had arranged with iBoat Track to carry a GPS tracker. The voyage track can still be seen at:

http://charthorizon.com/m/cz/map?ves...v_scope=recent

I was in the office one day when I noticed that "hard right" two days out of Bermuda. It looked odd and was, of course, the start of their troubles.

Turns out that the fiberglass (that's right - fiberglass) rudder shaft on the 46' Hunter snapped in heavy seas. The first hand reports started at 15 seas, some were saying 20. The guys did try to rig a temp rudder, but that just didn't work out so the captain decided it was time to leave. "

Here is a link to the news story:
http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pag...Y&pageId=3.1.1

It is incomprehensible to me that any company would make the safety compromise to use Fiberglass as the material to construct the rudder shaft.

[AjariBonten]

Is this really true? Only fiberglass? On a 46'??????

Who would think to ask if their rudder post, of all things, were made of fiberglass?

Am I right in being dubious on that point? After watching the news report, I wonder.

[Brezzin]

I think the rudder post was carbonfiber not glass. Hunter did do a few of those with tragic results. they are all SS now.

[AjariBonten]

Wow, all I can say is Wow.

I see a design committee on that decision ..........

[k1vsk]

PS has a similar problem with the quality of the SS shaft they used at one point. Catalina made a dubious decision some years ago to use wood to support the compression post. Passport had a recent problem with keel separation. Hinkleys are currently having gelcoat problems. All of it goes to show nothing except recreational boats are problemmatic.

Apparently H used carbon reinforced glass on a few contemporary models and not others for reasons I don't understand. Kind of like Catalina using plastic seacocks which seems a rather obvious cheap shortcut but lots of people still buy both brands more than any other.

[AjariBonten]

That simply reinforces the need to do extensive research when deciding on a make, model, model year, etc. etc.; as well as hiring an experienced surveyor with first hand knowledge of the type of vessel to be inspected.

[Brezzin]

I think that manufactures tend to make some changes on some models to see how they fly. What works well on paper and in the lab often has issues in the real world (see Microsoft here) They then fix/improve or toss out. But it's this real world experience that they need. Unfortunately somebody has to be the victim.

I used to own a 1972 dodge charger. It was only one of 200 with cars built with electronic ignition. It was a disaster. Now today find a new car without it.

[AjariBonten]

I've had my own experiences with middle-of-model-year product changes (Ford F-150, 1989) with similarly disastrous results. (Your disaster, not "their" disaster)

[deniseO30]

I can't help but wonder if the people with new coastal cruisers suffer from that same I'm invulnerable" attitude that some SUV drivers have? They attempt the unwise adventures knowing full well the builder did not have such things in mind.

I'm also surprised that some "manufacture" hasn't come out with a spade rudder "stabilizer" yet Gad! They'd line up for that item!! $ B O A T! $

Just picture the promo for such an item "Now available! Make your coastal cruiser into a blue water boat!" Order this rudder stability system today! Don't leave home coast without one!

not funny actually... what happens can and often does end in tragedy.