Jeff, On the rudder: Don't know of and can't imagine a situation where an asymmetrical rudder would really give an advantage. I can tell you that once you get your rudder back to being symmetrical, it will straighten your uneven helm problem right out. Had the same thing on our M-15. Rudder was almost flat on one side. Steering was very obviously uneven. Got a new rudder from Bob .... what a difference.
Rik Will Rogers often said, "There's nothing quite like money in the bank." He went on to say, "I'm not so concerned about the return on my money as I am about the return of my money." Chris and Jeff Packer wrote: > Does anyone have mylar sails? My 170 genoa began to delaminate on the top > panel this summer after it took a fairly good gust of wind. The mylar film > seperated from the cloth after the film gave way at a seam. The exposed > sides are quite sticky. The area is not that large and the rest of the sail > looks good. Anyone know if this can be fixed? Someone mentioned the > possibility of using an iron with some kind of tape at the seam. Its a nice > light air sail (1.9 oz material). Any suggestions? > > 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
