Rudder Covers

Don't know about those but Chuck and I both use the Murray's nacra rudder covers. Mine have spent more time in the box than in the sun over the last 7 years. They would not have lasted had they been in the sun. Chuck's are falling apart. Guess that's why they are not on the website anymore. I've got a set of Aquata covers that are on my spare gen 1 rudders that look great and seem well made, but have never been in the sun. Can't find Aquata equipment anymore though.

After some research and opinions from friends I pulled the trigger on a pair of rudder covers from Slo. They look well constructed and slightly larger and thicker than the Hobie or Murrays made ones. $60 was a good deal too!

To get any kind of cover to last in the sun daily is difficult.
Even the high dollar Sunbrella or Top Gun material is only guaranteed for 5 years.
And if the thread is not Tenara, even less.
Rudder covers can last 20 years in the cat box.

Sunbrella has a 10 year warranty.
https://www.sunbrella.com/en-us/warranty

Edited by jaybird1111 on Sep 06, 2016 - 07:41 PM.

i can't think of any good reason to leave rudders (or other gear) in any type of bag outdoors
the sun will kill the cover over time, and the bag (covers) will trap moisture and maybe pests

then the rudders (et al) will live in a wet environment that can promote moisture buildup inside your rudders via condensation ... that would / could weaken the glue that holds rudders together over time

plus this enviroment could promote rust on your metal parts
i would recommend you store your rudders coverd, inside (house/garage/shed/trunk/sailbox ...)

Yup....I'm a little surprised that no one is making them out of Sunbrella or similar. It has worked well at covering my tramp/hulls but not trapping moisture. I bought a set of "homemade" rudder covers (no padding) for $20 off Ebay 15+ years ago...they've been in the sun the whole time and are still intact (including the webbing and clips)....now on my daughter's H14T. Seems the readily available ones these days are more about the padding than the sun protection. I share the concern about them staying wet too much, but I sail often enough that I'm not removing the rudders except for travel. And this isn't my kind of DIY, so I'll probably try the ones from Murray's and see how it goes.

my guess is most real racers (aka the target demographic with $) with newer/ insanely expensive gear all keep their rudders, booms, blocks, etc in nice dry locations where padding and scratch resistance trumps uv and watershedding characteristics

It's been a couple of years, so I thought I'd follow up....

I ended up getting these rudder covers from Salt City Sailing, and they are superb:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nacra-5-0-5-2-5-8-5-7-Rudder-Covers-NEW-Catamaran-Rudder-Blade-Protection/320942114211?hash=item4ab9a405a3:g:ZwwAAOSwHoFXwN8t:rk:3:pf:0

Have held up beautifully inside and out after being in the elements pretty much 24/7.

They must have caught on, too, 'cause I only paid $60 for them back then!

Exactly, and especially in a beachcat mast-up storage situation.
Gelcoat is not waterproof. It slowly allows water to pass through to degrade core materials, if the material under it will allow - like the wood in rudders and centerboards.

MN3 wrote: i can't think of any good reason to leave rudders (or other gear) in any type of bag outdoors
the sun will kill the cover over time, and the bag (covers) will trap moisture and maybe pests

then the rudders (et al) will live in a wet environment that can promote moisture buildup inside your rudders via condensation ... that would / could weaken the glue that holds rudders together over time

plus this environment could promote rust on your metal parts
i would recommend you store your rudders covered, inside (house/garage/shed/trunk/sailbox ...)

seems like loose sunbrella sleeves (really, about all my sewing skills can deliver) would give the UV protection needed for mast-up storage? my usage is inland lakes in CA and mast-up trailer-sail well off the water... moisture is way less an issue than UV.

Randii wrote: seems like loose sunbrella sleeves (really, about all my sewing skills can deliver) would give the UV protection needed for mast-up storage?

Sure.
My covers are padded only because I store my rudders in the fiberglass catbox with the sails lying on them.

randii wrote: seems like loose sunbrella sleeves (really, about all my sewing skills can deliver) would give the UV protection needed for mast-up storage? my usage is inland lakes in CA and mast-up trailer-sail well off the water... moisture is way less an issue than UV.

This is exactly what I would have preferred but could not locate. Surprised no one sells 'em.

For the record, though, I've had no trouble with moisture (only UV) using padded covers for 20+ years on plastic, EPO, and fiberglass rudders (exposed mast up storage 24/7). Sure beats having the sun eat them up.