Bavaria 38 Ocean (1999)

[sailingnut43]

Purchased the vessel in St.Pete FL and halfway to Galveston TX the rudder "fell off". The rudder shaft is still in place, but everything else fiberglass etc is gone. The US Coast Guard towed us to a safe harbor along the Mississippi. 
Contacted Bavaria in Germany and was informed that they no longer have any drawings and the original rudder manufacturer is no longer in business. Contacted Jafa, but they also have no drawings.
Am I the first one to loose a rudder at sea?
Does anyone have pictures, drawings or dimensions that would help to recreate a rudder? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

[Yngmar]

Not sure which aft cockpit hull the 38 Ocean was based on, possibly the 38 Holiday. Since you still have the shaft, you can identify if either of the below plans is an exact match.

Doesn't really matter very much if you can't find an exact match, as with the shaft intact you can just take the approximate shape and size off either of the plans and make two new GRP shells from that. The balance should be similar and the hull angle, the rest isn't dramatically important.

https://jefa.com/ftp/old_boat_spare_parts/Bavaria/Bavaria38Holiday_Z/Bavaria%2038%20Rudder%20type%20Z38-2000.pdf

https://jefa.com/ftp/old_boat_spare_parts/Bavaria/Bavaria40_Ocean_P_2000-2003/Bavaria40_Ocean_type_P_2000-2003.pdf

While you're at it, check the bearing housings and bearings themselves and replace as appropriate. The Jefa roller bearings are great, very low friction and durable.

Most likely cause for this sort of rudder loss is when the GRP halves split off, usually after impact, possibly long ago, followed by water ingress. That's something a pre-purchase survey should've picked up on though. How's the state of the remaining shaft tangs, are they covered in corrosion or clean? There's also always the chance of having hit something while underway that ripped them off.

Jefa can definitely manufacture the rudder for the 40 Ocean. They also can re-use the old shaft, although shipping that back and forth across the pond probably eliminates any potential savings.

[sy_imagine]

Just uploaded the 38 Ocean manual and technical drawings. Got them from Bavaria last summer. Attached you will find the page that is really important to you - the technical drawing of the rudder bearing. Hope it helps.

[sailingnut43]

Thank you Yngmar and sy_imagine!  Awesome information, it is better than I had dared to hope for.