Hobie 18 - two rudder repairs

Have an 1981 Hobie 18 in pretty good shape but needs two rudder repairs.

1) The rudder fins look to be fiberglass so chop out bent part of bottom and use epoxy to join pieces, sand, and hen clearcoat? Can it be any epoxy?
2) Rudder connection is broken on the other side. Drill out rivets, buy replacement piece and rivet gun, replace?

Am really just looking to fix up boat to sell for a cheap price ($100 for licensed boat with starburst sails in great shape). Don't want to push problems on anyone else but do a reasonable job on repair for immediate use by buyer.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zZ_sVgJcKo0so8z8ZjTwxlYjHUo1ldCM/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zhwHJemJv31VQs6JKKVF8A2ZybDMHD_N/view?usp=drive_link

1) Those are very old Lexan rudders. Epoxy will not stick to them reliably. The problem with those rudders (or at least, one of the problems) is that they would become weakend and brittle after years of sitting out in the sun and weather. I would just cut the bottom of the rudder off and try to smooth it out the best you can with a file. But really, those rudders need to be replaced because it is very likely that they will snap off under load while sailing.

2) The tiller arm needs to be replaced by drilling out the rivets and sliding out the broken arm. Then riveting in a new tube. The problem is that Hobie has not made that particular rudder system for about 35 years, so unless you already have a replacement tube, you’re probably not going to find one. You might be able to take the broken pieces to a fab shop to have them try to recreate the tube, but I have no idea what that would cost.

sm

[Hiya. Also in NJ but inland not far from Princeton.]

Thanks for the kind favor of the reply.

I understand your concern about the Lexan rudders. They've been mostly shielded from the sun but eventually should be replaced.

Right now though, I'm just trying to put together a serviceable repair so that the next owner can get some use out of it, and decide for themselves. Considering the cutoff as you suggest but would a 2 part epoxy patch (with drilled/glued metal/aluminum dowels between the pieces) also provide a decent semblance of "serviceable" for the near term? It would look better.

Just looking to sell the whole thing for $100-$500 with NJ title (and starburst sails that are in great shape) and decent trailer to get it out of my driveway but don't want to burden the new owner with immediate thoughts of repair. [Basically, I've failed as an owner but am trying to get it into shape for the next owner to enjoy on the cheap.]

You got some good advice from srm. No way a repair is gonna make that rudder tip "serviceable." It may look better, but only until it touches the bottom once. Then it'll be even worse with the drilling you did.

You're selling the boat cheap enough. Just shape the bottom of the rudder as best you can and disclose such to the buyer.

_________________
Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16