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 Catalina 25 Specific Forum
 My rudder fell off		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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Foxy Lady
Deckhand

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Australia
1 Posts
Initially Posted - 03/07/2025 :  17:27:22  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi all,
Newbie here. I have just taken ownership of a Catalina 25 that has been in my family for 30 years, but has been left a little neglected on a constant wet mooring. At one time the rudder was lifted out of the water, but we think the rope eventually snapped and left it flapping around, until it has eventually worn through and dropped off. I am yet to slip the boat, but will shortly and will know more accurate details then.

In the meantime, what to do about the rudder? I know I can order a new one from Catalina directly, but is there any better options? Is there any 'generic' brands I could be looking at?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Julian
Foxy Lady
Melbourne
Australia

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3436 Posts
Response Posted - 03/07/2025 :  23:10:36  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Julian,

The rudder is sufficiently heavy that it should not come off the boat, at least not while the boat is in its slip. However when sailing, it is possible that the rudder could detach. In any case, I believe all the rudders should have a cotter pin installed thru a hole in the upper pintle of the rudder. That definitely prevents the rudder from coming off the transom.

If you do a search (see "Search" tab top right of this forum page) and search set for eons ago, you should find past postings regarding replacement rudders. I believe there is one that was offered not long ago on the Swap Meet section of this Forum. Based on the the year of your Catalina, you should be able to determine the appropriate rudder configuration. Not sure what year but a balance rudder design was for the latter production years. My 1989 has the balanced rudder design. Catalina Direct offers many of the applicable configurations based on the year boat was built and that may be safest option to pursue. However, there are other mfrs to consider. Foss Foam also makes Catalina rudders and they were making OEM rudders for various boat mfrs. Ruddercraft is another one to consider. You can check out their websites.

I am still using my original rudder but there are others that frequent this Forum and can offer direct experience with replacement rudders. This Forum has been a bit quiet during the USA winter season but hopefully some will respond to your inquiry.

By the way, I visited Australia and New Zealand for the first time this past Oct/Nov. Had a great time! It seemed that just when our weather was starting to cool down for the beginning of our winter, your spring/summer weather was just kicking in ! At the time we visited Sydney (late October), the weather was almost identical to the weather we were experiencing in Virginia. We mostly wore light jackets. But the Outback was a different story - Very hot! Then Cairns was very nice temperatures - short sleeves and shorts wearing weather. New Zealand - colder than Sydney and warmer jackets were needed as we traveled south.

Larry
Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html
Edited by - OLarryR on 03/07/2025 23:20:30
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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5893 Posts
Response Posted - 03/08/2025 :  11:28:21  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The original C25 rudders were plywood cored. If they fell off they sank. Most replacement rudders are foam cored, and they float. If yours is a kick-up rudder, it's a replacement and might have floated ashore somewhere. I suggest you search the shoreline for it a mile up and downstream. It might seem unlikely, but I lost a part from an antique car and discovered that it was irreplaceable, so I searched both sides of the street 6 weeks later and found it. It's worth a try.
Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore
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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
842 Posts
Response Posted - 03/08/2025 :  11:38:14  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Julian,

Welcome aboard.
As you already know, Catalina Yachts doesn't really have a presence in Australia. We do get questions from Catalina owners in Australia, so I know parts and service can be a problem.
In the USA, we can contact a Catalina dealer or the factory directly.

I have not replaced my rudder, but I know there are aftermarket companies that make them.

Here's a few ideas.
A) Shipping will be expensive, so do you want the measurements to compare what you can find in Melbourne?
B) Join a local yacht club. I'm sure the members have experience sourcing parts.
C) Contact local retailers, they know repair shops that can do the work.
D) Aftermarket retailer, perhaps local?
E) Find a used rudder (USA shipping, yuck).
F) Catalina Yachts (try them, but it's 30-years old).
G) Catalina Direct (a separate company in California that works closely with Catalina Yachts)

You can email me directly, but I don't know much about the Melbourne market.
Russ Johnson
2005 C250WB Hull 793
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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
842 Posts
Response Posted - 03/08/2025 :  11:55:01  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Julian,

I did a quick search.
Here are some random links, I cannot recommend any of these options.

Catalina Yachts
www.catalinayachts.com
https://www.catalinayachts.com/parts/

Catalina Direct
www.catalinadirect.com
https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-25/hull-deck/stern/rudders/

RudderCraft (I have no experience with this company)
https://ruddercraft.com
https://store.ruddercraft.com/index.php?route=product/product&manufacturer_id=11&product_id=813&page=3

You Tube (kinda weak, but I saw the measurements)
How to build a Sailboat Rudder for my Catalina 25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TojMELiu_k
Russ Johnson
2005 C250WB Hull 793
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4017 Posts
Response Posted - 03/08/2025 :  12:54:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
The rudder is sufficiently heavy that it should not come off the boat, at least not while the boat is in its slip

The rudder on my 87 is foam that is covered in fiberglass. When the boat is in the water the rudder wants to float up but is held from floating up and the pintles coming up and out of the gudgeons by the cotter pin or ring. In order for this to happen the rudder has to be turned on an angle. It's possible that the cotter pin broke and the rudder just came off and floated away.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound


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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5345 Posts
Response Posted - 03/09/2025 :  09:12:48  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
From the sound of Julian’s post, I’m wondering whether he means the rudder was held on my a ‘rope’ or if the boat is a swing keel model and the actual keel dropped due to the keel pivot wearing out and steel cable breaking over time. Replacing the rudder is pretty easy, just purchase Henk Ziel’s rudder from the swap meet and install new pintles and gudgeons. It’s available at a real bargain price.
If it’s the swing keel, and if it sunk, that’s another matter entirely.

Julian - can you provide a few more details about the situation? Maybe that would shed some more light on a solution.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
842 Posts
Response Posted - 03/10/2025 :  22:43:06  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Good point Bruce, I hadn’t thought about a swing keel.
A) Kick-up Rudder?
B) Swing Keel?
It would be nice to know the model year, or the hull/sail number.
Russ Johnson
2005 C250WB Hull 793
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9074 Posts
Response Posted - 03/11/2025 :  09:28:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Henk's rudder is for a C-250, so might not work without modification. The foam-cored, balanced design, an upgrade to the C-25 starting around 1987, works great on all vintages--I put one on my 1985, replacing the original plywood-cored rudder, many of which have broken off at the bottom pintle due rotting core, and being solid fiberglass below that pintle, definitely sink.

Ruddercraft has made many of the rudders Catalina Direct has sold, and still might be making most of them. I would be surprised if Catalina Yachts still has C-25 rudders. I suspect Catalina Direct has done some business with Australians, since Catalina Yachts has sold a fair number of boats there. I would ask them about shipping--they have always been responsive to me (but that was only up to about 17 years ago).

Somewhere in our forum archives or Technical Tips section there were some drawings with dimensions for the balanced rudder Catalina put on its later C-25s. I'm sure Australia has fabricators that could produce something from that. (Shipping from a US supplier might be less expensive.)
Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/12/2025 09:14:46
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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
842 Posts
Response Posted - 03/12/2025 :  21:14:20  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Julian,

There's a C250 rudder for sale in the swap meet.
Here's the link
Topic: New rudder for sale -REDUCED-
https://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32696
Russ Johnson
2005 C250WB Hull 793
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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts
Response Posted - 03/26/2025 :  13:07:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
FYI, I replaced my standard rudder with a "balanced" rudder from Ruddercraft. They are good to work with and service globally. First however the type of boat, fin keel or swing keel will be needed to be confirmed.
Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT
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