significant water ingress to the bilges - 32-3

[Prairie Schooner]

When we purchased our boat the surveyor recommended installing one. He described its value primarily as a deterrent to rope getting caught in the space between the skeg and top of the rudder, as Captain Pete describes. To that end, I'd think it should be a good deal closer to the rudder. But we haven't put one on yet. If things go to pattern, we'll probably close that gate after some cows get out.

 

[Dave G.]

Oh, it's for the rudder...doh ! I was thinking prop fouling prevention. That makes more sense now. Not sure I would penetrate the hull to install one though. Maybe epoxy something to the bottom would work ?

 

[peaman]

The way @nquigley’s is installed, I would think a snagged line would very likely end up hung on the rudder shaft anyway. A more effective solution would be to have something very close to the rudder itself: close enough that the line could not get up on top of the rudder.

Personally, I don’t really see a need for anything. But if I did, I would consider a metal (stainless or bronze) or heavy fiberglass triangle with a flange on top for bolting into (and maybe not through-bolted) the bottom of the skeg. The triangle would be placed maybe 1/4” forward of the leading edge of the rudder. Removable for rudder work. A metal one could have a sharpened leading edge with the idea of cutting through a smaller line.

 

[Christian Williams]

Here's a 32-3 rudder. Not much gap. Also, my 381 rudder. Even less gap.

Line caught there is not a problem I have had.

Since rudders typically float, even less gap when in the water.

...

True, the leading edge opens when a balanced rudder is turned, but I don't see how any preventer fitting could protect against that.

 

[Kenneth K]

If it has a hex head on the top of it (inside the hull) can you try tightening it?

 

[peaman]

True, the leading edge opens when a balanced rudder is turned, but I don't see how any preventer fitting could protect against that.

Even worse, a preventer fitting could cause a jam, whereas a line looped on the rudder shaft might not otherwise impede rotation.

 

[Bolo]

Picture of my rope stopper is attached - a little hard to make out ... hanging down just forward of the rudder.

View attachment 51570

Just catching up on the posts for this thread but now that I've looked at everything...this is the strangest thing I've seen on an Ericson hull. I can't see any purpose for it other than a water entry point which is a problem not a purpose. I think it's been written here already but I'd like to repeat, take that thing off your hull and epoxy the hole ASAP. It serves no purpose IMO. Seems to me that an errant dock line, jib sheet or crab pot line would get caught in the prop first before it ever got to your "rope stopper". Here's are shots of my E32-3 hull at the rudder that I took after last years haul out.

 

[nquigley]

I have decided that I will have to pull the boat out to fix this problem. Probably, as Peaman suggested, I will remove the thing and do a thorough job filling the hole. In preparation for hauling out, I decided to remove the Ratitan R-6 water heater, and it’s support platform, to give enough access to that area inside the boat.
It was a heck of a process, and was only possible by using tinsnips to cut away the thin metal shell from the unit and to remove the top and bottom pans. The base of the cast-iron heating unit was 12 inches in diameter, but, as we know, the cockpit locker needs to be widened a little in order to get that thing out. There was an awful lot of rusty water inside the unit, making the area look like something from a horror film after it was out.
today, I’m going to clean up the area where the leak is to make absolutely certain that it is the only contributor to my bilge water accumulation.

 

[Christian Williams]

So maybe the leak was in the heater or its connections?