Rudder Construction

February 5, 2017

The rudder is built with two separate skins which are separated by a front spar and united in the rear with a wedge.  There is only a bottom and top rib so the rigidity of the rudder depends on a series of stiffeners back riveted to each skin.  The stiffeners have to be trimmed, dimpled and the back riveted to the skins.

February 7, 2017

Once this has been completed the skins are assembled with the spars, ribs and the aluminum wedge.

February 8, 2017

I used an aluminum angle screwed to the workbench to provide a straight line for the rear of the rudder.  The skins and wedge were drilled through into the angle.  Then proseal glue was applied to the wedge and to the skins and the assembly clecoed to the wedge.  This was allowed to cure for a couple of days.  The result was a perfectly straight rudder.

Time:  15 hours