Surfski Knowledge Base

kathleen petereit

11/22/09 #7440

Sometimes you can wear down the hull side of the rudder shaft hole after bumping it repeatedly. It's hard to tell by just looking at it. Take your rudder out and plug one side with your finger then seal your mouth around the other side and see if you can either blow or such air through. Or plug the hull side and fill the shaft with water and see if it drains into the boat. If this happens I can tell you how to fix it or email Jude (Ed. Huki Repair Instructions ) and he will give you instructions.

Kathleen

Jude Turczynski's Repair Instructions on Huki.com

Repairing leaks in thru-hull rudder shaft (tube): always wear protective goggles and gloves.

1. Make sure the inside of the canoe (or surfkski) is completely dry. Remove the rudder. If you have determined that the leak is near the bottom of the rudder shaft, the canoe will be supported right side up. If you have determined that the leak is located at the top of the rudder shaft, the canoe will be supported upside down.
2. Fill a plastic composites syringe with an ounce of catalyzed epoxy. Place your thumb over the bottom end of the rudder shaft so as not to allow any resin to drip out of the shaft. Place the syringe over the top of the shaft and pump the resin into the shaft hole.
3. Wipe off any resin that may have dripped onto the surface of the boat. Seal your mouth around the opening and plow air into the shaft hole. This will force resin through any cracks or tunnels that lead into the inside of the hull.
4. Tape off the bottom of the tube and allow the resin to harden fully.
5. Redrill the hole to size with a 5/16 inch drill bit. (Ed. match what your specific rudder shaft diameter is - the 5/16 may just be for Hukis?)
6. Retest for leaks. If leaks, repeat the repair. Note: if the inside of the canoe was not completely dry, nothing you attempt for repair will work.