The rudder connecting bar of my H-20 broke right where the tiller attaches to the bar. It part in two pieces. I was looking at it and it looks like a simple piece of aluminum tube. I am thinking on either sliding a smaller inner aluminum tube connecting the broken tube or just buy an alumimum tube of the same diamerter as the original bar and replace it. Do you have any experience with this; your suggestions are welcome. Thanks for your help

Splicing it or replacing it will work. The problem was probably galvanic corrosion around the SS bolt.

If you replace it, make sure outside diameter and the wall thickness is the same. Thin walled al tubing will break. If you want it black, sand it really really good and spray it with matte black krylon

If you splice it, epoxy the splice in with aluminum filled epoxy and rivet it in place

Thanks for your advise Carl; on your last sentence you mean fill the internal tube with epoxy before sliding the two broken pieces together and then rivet it ? Is this what you meant ? Thanks again for your time

Put epoxy between the inner(the short new tube) and outer (original) tube. Be sure the sand both surfaces and use an epoxy made to glue aluminum. Epoxy made to glue aluminum is usally grey or black and says something about being special for glueing metals.

If you want to be fancy (or if this splice breaks) take some 3 in wide fiberglass tape and make a fiberglass tube over the break in addition to the tube on the inside. Use a little tape to tape the end of the fiberglass tape to the aluminum. Wrap the fiberglass around aluminum, wetting it with epoxy as you wrap it. Brush just enough epoxy on the fiberglass for it to look transparent but not enough for it to drip onto the ground. Be sure to wrap it tight. The fiberglass will need to be 1/16-1/8 thick.

When you are finished, paint it white, drill and rivet through the fiberglass, orginal and splice tube. The reason for riveting is, the epoxy bond between the aluminum and the fiberglass will break.

By the way, where are you?
Good Luck

Hello, and I am sorry just read your msg. as I was out of town.

I am in Miami and race the boat at the Catamaran Association of Biscayne Bay (CABB ) events.

Thanks very much for your thorough explanation. I am trying to cut down on the expenses caused by this misshap; the bar parted while I was in the process of going out, I went to the drink and also lost the tiller extension ( $ 105 for a piece of fibeglass, a reap ripoff.

Take care and thanks again

Rafael ([email protected])

Rafael,
I have an old arriba stick that does not extend anymore, the cam action has worn out. If you want to put a screw in it it will work but it won't telescope.....Let me know if you want it and I will throw it in my truck. I work at South Miami Hospital Monday through Friday.....

Hi there Eric.
Thanks for you offer, very kind of you. I had already purchased a new FX6 Arriba stick at a great price. I will try to fix the connecting bar ( I am not sure if anyone has been succesful at it before ) so I can keep my expenses down.
Thanks very much for your advise an offer.
By the way very nice paint job on your H-20; did you paint it yourself ?

Take care / Rafael