Mutineer 15

Class Association

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Buy an Old Boat for the Rudder Assembly


The Chrysler Buccaneer, Mutineer and Pirateer all have the same exact rudder assemblies (excluding the early Mutineer mahogany rudder heads).  It is not unusual to find one of these boats with a rudder assembly for under $300.  You can buy the boat for the rudder assembly and then sell off the remainder for parts.  Or refurbish it for a second sailboat!

A good place to start looking is Craigs List.  Use SearchTempest, http://www.searchtempest.com/, to search multiple cities at once.

Once you find a Chrysler rudder assembly, it will probably need some work. 

Inspect the rudder head for stress cracks around high stress areas.  Since the rudder heads were made from cast aluminum they cannot be welded.  JB Weld can be used to fill stress cracks and reinforce high stress areas. 

Vince Bobrosky created a great How To entitled “How to Beef Up Your Stock Chrysler Rudder Head”.  All Chrysler Mutineer owners (Buccaneer and Pirateer too) would do well to follow the upgrades in this great guide.

 

 

This is a Pirateer rudder assembly that has been refurbished.  It will fit on a Chrysler Buccaneer, Mutineer or Pirateer.  The tiller would need to be longer for use on a Buccaneer.

First the rudder was removed and the dings were filled with 3M Marine Filler and sanded smooth.  This rudder had extensive dinging on both the leading and trailing edges.  But all were small enough that 3M could be used.  If the dings are quite large, thickend West System epoxy is the way to go.

After all the dings were filled and sanded smooth, the rudder was spray painted with white appliance epoxy .  After allowing the paint to dry for several days, wet sand with 600 grit sandpaper.

The pivot bolt was replaced with a 5/16th inch stainless steel bolt.  The pivot hole in the rudder was expaned to 1/2″.  A 1/2″ OD nylon spacer, 5/16″ ID, was cut to fit the width of the pivot hole.  Two 1 1/2″ OD stainless steel 5/16″ washers were bent to conform to the rudder head.  Silicone was applied to the inside of the washer that comes in contact with the rudder head to prevent corrosion.  A nylock, stainless steel nut secures the bolt.

The tillers often need to be replaced.  An easy replacement is a 28″ oak table leg (48″ for a Bucc) from Lowes which will run you about $4.80.  Seal the “tiller” with several coats of Spar Varnish.  The rudder assembly end of the table leg must be sanded a little to fit into the rudderhead.  Add a Forspar 30″ tiller extention from Jamestown Distributors for about $35.  And a 5/8″ tiller extention clip from APS to lock down the tiller extension when not in use.  Add a clam cleat and eyestrap also from APS for the uphaul and downhaul lines, about $5.00.  Viola!  A race ready rudder assembly.