Rudder, breaking prevention

[Runaway]

I have read a few comments and am a little suspect about inserting rods in foam. The foam is too soft meaning the rods will just move around inside once you button it up. My preference is to grind out a layer of fiberglass cloth on each side of the pivot bolt and then down into the blade and laminate a strip - 18 inches long X 4 in wide - of carbon fiber. The stuff is rated for 12000 pounds - and there is room on each side of the pivot bolt, so you can install one or even two.

The first time I did this, I used 6 in wide carbon but that is overkill, and too much grinding. I also used some carbon fiber in between layers of new 1708 cloth to repair a crack in the hull just forward of the centerboard.

It's cheap and can be found on ebay -

Runaway #23

[LarryE-old]

I agree on the rod in the foam, given up on that idea.
Going to do the glassing as described by Runaway. The rudder, now, looks good and there is no cracking.
Going to do this as insurance and peace of mind