Re: [Paddlewise] A Rudder Experience

John Winters wrote:
> 
> Ralph wrote;
> 
> (SNIP)
> 
> >You also may want to look into what is termed a "balanced" rudder.
> (SNIP)
> 
> I know of no reason why balancing a rudder would reduce stall. Balancing
> the rudder reduces the torque on the rudder assembly and consequently the
> load on the system hardware. If it appears the rudder functions better that
> way one might look for some other reason. For instance, changing the
> underwater shape may have altered the hydrodynamic sweep of the blade. This
> could also be achieved with an unbalanced rudder.
> 
> For a sailing boat the balanced rudder might be more important because the
> boat will make greater leeway and the rudder loading will be higher
> although given the small rigs of sailing kayaks it still does not appear to
> me as a big deal. Sailing dinghies like the Flying Dutchman, 505, Finn etc
> use conventional rudders with no balance without problems so I would wonder
> why a sailing kayak might need one.

Perhaps you are right and it acts as a placebo for those kayak sailors
using one.  But to a man, they report great results from using one. 
This goes for those with years of experience and for relatively new
kayak sailors.

When it first started getting used down in the kayak sailing
get-together in Cedar Island, North Carolina in 1992, one of these
sailors said it was like having an overdrive gear.  Again, maybe it is a
placebo.  I haven't tried making the old switcheroo to see if they feel
any different.


ALSO
Alex Ferguson wrote:
> 
> [RD]
> 
> > I know it has been used to replace the standard rudder
> > that comes with Kleppers, which are not all that deep in
> > the water and have a rather horizontal thrust to them,
> > i.e. they are big and shallow rather than being small and
> > deep.
> 
> If you are referring to the balanced rudder fitted later versus
> the original rudder fitted to a Klepper, then it is nothing to
> do with the balance. Replacing the "barn-door" of a blade
> with a long narrow blade makes an enormous difference to
> the rudder performance - I know, I've done it.

Actually, yes and no.  The results with the balanced rudder started with
guys sailing hardshell kayaks down there.  The quote about overdrive
above was from someone using both a single and double Easy Rider.

The Klepper barn door rudder switchers also reported the same.
> 
> > and runs deeper in the water than the blade in its
> > factory setup.
 
> > It was something he would hesitate to
> > tell people since he felt everything about Kleppers was pretty perfect.
> 
> For paddling in a very shallow river maybe (original
> rudder).

Very shallow water :-)

best,

ralph diaz

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"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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