The original Sunmaid rudder box was fabricated from a marine ply laminated core and marine ply side cheeks. Chromium plated bronze pintle assemblies were secured to the timber by stainless steel screws and a fabricated stainless steel rudder cap served as a tiller mounting. Some rudders had a cast aluminium rod clamp as a blade control device and on others this clamp was fabricated from stainless steel sheet. The rudders were a very serviceable unit and, if the varnish was in good condition, they looked quite attractive. Unfortunately, many of them have not survived the ravages of time, weather exposure and rough handling by helmsmen and have failed completely, or simply split in such a way as to appear that failure is imminent.

If the rudder blade is allowed to swing back just a few degrees in heavy weather, such that the effort at the tiller is increased (two hands on the tiller and two feet braced against the other side of the cockpit) then splitting of the cheek plates from the core is almost guaranteed.

During a routine replacement of the centreplate cable on Sunmaid 102, it was found that the loop welded to the top of the plate was corroded and worn to the point where failure was imminent.

Issue No 46 of Sunlog (June 1989) carried an article on the removal, repair and replacement of a centreplate by one of our Queensland members. The article also detailed the dimensions of his particular plate and it was considered that a new plate could be fabricated to this drawing as a “slip-in” replacement. However, after learning of a late model Sunmaid’s centreplate dimensional differences to the drawing, it was decided to err on the side of caution and remove No 102’s plate prior to any manufacture.

Fortunately, having the facility of a five tonne crane and a fork lift truck available, we avoided having to dig a trench and drag the boat from the trailer, as was done in Issue No 46. Using webbing slings, the boat was lifted clear, the trailer removed and it was observed we had an airship - an awesome sight! 650 mm from ground to skeg will provide enough clearance for working.