Composite rudder shafts

madaz · Post by **madaz** » Sat May 05, 2007 12:09 am

If anyone is interested, I have a source for composite rudder shafts, they are made by a company called Excel Composites in Brisbane. They

make them for Perry Catamarans, mine arrived the other day if anyone is interested I can email you a picture. very nice,

northerncat · Post by **northerncat** » Sat May 05, 2007 2:09 am

i would have been interested

mySerenity · Post by **mySerenity** » Sat May 05, 2007 3:54 am

With the price of stainless steel nowdays and labour, its worth seriously considering these

madaz · Post by **madaz** » Sat May 05, 2007 4:12 am

They were about $160-170 each, so stainless would be not much different I would think

44c · Post by **44c** » Sat May 05, 2007 4:42 pm

I also got my rudder shafts and tubes from them. Very good close tolerance fit.

They also make tapered tubing of various sizes and thicknesses - we got some 750mm glass staunchions for our lifelines, immensely strong and mounted onto a solid fibreglass rod "stud" glassed into the boat, there is no chance of leaks, or screws coming loose.

At $32.55 each for the staunchions, compared to Ronstan ss ones at around $70 a pop plus $30 odd for the bases, plus screws, nuts, washers, backing plates.......

madaz · Post by **madaz** » Sun May 06, 2007 11:59 pm

you wouldnt have a photo or two you could send of those would you?

tony

swanncat · Post by **swanncat** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:39 am

having trouble finding excel composites contact detailsre rudder shafts/tubes and staunchions. you wouldnt happen to have their ph no handy?

44c · Post by **44c** » Mon May 07, 2007 4:04 am

Contact details for exel:

Steve Holdway

Exel Composites Pty Ltd

15 Ada Street, Coopers Plains, Qld., 4108

Phone: +61 7 3274 1099 Facsimile: +61 7 3274 2041

Web site: http://www.exel.net/

Tomorrow, if I remember, I will measure the staunchions for diameter top and bottom and wall thickness. If I don't post them here remind me please.....

madaz · Post by **madaz** » Mon May 07, 2007 7:36 am

For the purposes of the excercise, Perry Catamarans use a 60mm rudder tube with a 6mm wall thickness on their cats which are built to survey. Excel supplied me with the same tubes (material) but in a 50mm diameter with 6mm wall as my cat is only 31 Ft and rudders are significantly smaller.

Tony

44c · Post by **44c** » Mon May 07, 2007 9:00 pm

The staunchions we got are 780mm high, 33mm base dia, 25mm top dia and 4mm wall thickness. We also got some 25mm solid glass rod which (after a bit of grinding) fits inside the the staunchions. Cut the rod into 300mm lengths, which go through the deck 150mm and are glassed on inside the boat, the staunchion is glued on to these. It ends up extremely strong with no chance of leaking.

BTW I have the same spec rudder shafts as Perry - I guess I can sell my boat for a million bucks too when it's finished!