will be interesting if jerry comments on this as from his article in the latest SCA covers the importance of good rudder shape. i can't see jerry, who loves fast boats, putting a rudder of poor shape on an Mboat. sean mulligan has photos of repairs to 's rudder. one can see that the shape was uniform on both sides - http://havasumontgomerys.piczo.com/?g=20991177&cr=1 dave scobie M15 #288 - SCRED visit Scred's www-site: http://www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred
--- On Wed, 12/3/08, Chris and Jeff Packer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Another rather odd question that borders on my own stupidity for even asking it... After launching my M23 this summer, I noticed the rudder pulled to one side quite hard while under power. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the shape of the rudder below the water line is fairly flat on one side and very concave on the other. I immediately concluded that the mahogany rudder had warped distorting the shape. Upon showing a woodworker friend of mine he said to me: "It looks like it was made that way!" I thought... no way, why would anyone make an unbalanced rudder. I have since looked at it again and it is a straight piece of mahogany above the waterline where it has not been faired. Then it looks like it has been faired into an airplane wing (almost flat on one side, very concave on the other) below the waterline. The boat was set up for racing, but it seems to me that any advantage you might gain from such a shape on one tack, would be totally negated on the other tack. Hence I have had more weather helm on one tack and at times lee helm on the other tack. So my stupid question is: Can anyone think of a valid reason that a rudder might have been built that way on purpose? Or is it just a cleverly disguised warped rudder? To get it symmetrical, I will have to do some serious planing losing inches off the trailing edge that will have to be built back up using epoxy and fiberglass. Even if there is a reason for it... I'm quite certain that it is not for me. Just curious about any thoughts/opinions. Jeff M23 Clarity _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
