Just went out today sailing in my redwitch from fremantle to cockburn sound and back, great sail beat to windward for first hour an half, turned around at one p.m set small kite in 16-18kts of breeze and started surfing all the way back to freo, boat speed 12kts .
on a wave starting to surf, correcting with the rudder, when it sheared off clean in two, at the bottom gudgeon.
This is the second time it's happened, in the same circumstances, the first rudder was already broken with extensive repairs. However today, the homemade rudder we were using was a temporary rudder whilst we get another made; 30mm shaped marine ply with two coats of glass, and it sheared clean in two!!!
has this happened to anyone before on a stern hung rudder on a 20-24ft boat?