Bob, I don't know for sure what would've happened, but I suspect the lowest transom gudgeon would have been bent and/or the bolts at least stretched. The wooden rudder shattered and split with the shock, but I doubt the plastic would do that. I suppose it *might* tear at the rudder pintle mounting bolts (the plastic rudder came with pintles, so I could not raise it up at all).
As glad as I was to get a replacement rudder quickly (quick service from IdaSailor), I still have the following observations about the replacement fixed HDPE rudder: 1. It weighs considerably more. The rudder/tiller assembly weighs about 40 pounds whereas the wooden assembly is about 25 pounds. The rudder is slightly thicker, which probably accounts for no small part of the weight difference 2. It is slightly less rigid than a comparable wooden rudder, even though it is thicker. A plastic rudder the same thickness would be even more flexible. 3. While the shape is good, I don't think it is as good as my wooden one was, although to be fair (sic!) I did go over the wooden blade that I bought from the boatshop and fine-shaped it with a template and air-file for several hours until I couldn't get it any better. I should do the same with this plastic rudder. 4. The shape of the blade is very slightly different. On the wooden rudder, the leading edge runs vertically down the transom and then angles back with a slight kick. This is done by cutting a wedge off the upper forward part of the rudder. On the plastic rudder, the leading edge is straight. The result is that the rudder area is slightly closer to the pivot axis and the helm is perceptibly lighter. I consider the first item the most consequential difference, but still, it's not a bad rudder at all and the service from IdaSailor was excellent. If I were racing, I would prefer the wooden or a compo$ite rudder, but for casual use the plastic has the advantage of being a maintenance-free surface (no varnish finish to maintain). There is a good chance I'll buy a kick-up model from them, as I suspect I won't have the time to make my own. Tod -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ] On Behalf Of Becker Robert Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 9:08 PM To: For and about Montgomery Sailboats Subject: Re: M_Boats: immovable object Tod, What do you think would have happened if it had been a hdpe rather than a wood rudder? I guess the bottom line is to have a kick up rudder, no matter what it is made of. Bob M15 #208 On Sep 5, 2006, at 6:27 PM, Timtone wrote: > It is nice to know that the rudder gives first rather than the > gudgeons or bolts on the transom. I had been thinking of that > lately. Sorry you were the one to put it to the test Todd......but > thanks anyway. ~:0) > I hope to get a kick up version one day as well, my other boat has > one and it is the dogs gronicals. > > Recently back from a (thankfully trouble free) vacation cruise myself. > > Tim Diebert > M17 # 369 "Puph" > Kelowna BC > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >> Ever wonder what happens when an M17 rudder encounters an immovable >> object? Find out here: >> www.todspages.net/images/LF-ShatteredRudder2.jpg >> and >> www.todspages.net/images/LF-ShatteredRudder.jpg >> Fortunately, IdaSailor was able to overnight a replacement, saving my >> vacation trip. Unfortunately, my vacation was sufficiently short >> that I >> elected not to wait the extra day or two for a kick-up type. A >> kick up >> type IS in Busca's future, though. >> How did this happen? I was not observant enough to notice that the >> round, mooring-ball-sized float at the edge of a mooring field was in >> fact not a mooring but instead was someone's old faded round ball >> fender >> marking a shoal. At first I thought I had hit a concrete mooring >> block, >> but after thinking over the appearance of the "mooring ball" >> concluded >> that it was just a fender marking a shoal. >> I was surprised that the bolts on the transom did not pop. (Even the >> sealant covering the lowermost gudgeon was intact). When previous >> owner >> Rod Johnson smacked a log hanging out under a log boom, he didn't >> break >> the rudder, but did stretch the bolts on the transom gudgeon (which I >> replaced). >> Tod Mills >> M17 #408 >> BuscaBrisas >> _______________________________________________ >> http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats Bob and Judy Becker [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
