Re: [Paddlewise] Klepper rudder lifters (was Re: Rudders for Navigation and turning in wind)

From: Whitesavage & Lyle <nickjean_at_speakeasy.org>
Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 10:48:36 -0700
Ralph,

Some years ago, when I discovered a Klepper for sale at a low price, I
speed read your book in an evening before buying the boat.  Of course
you can rig a lift line for the rudder.  One of the reasons that I never
bothered to do so was that I felt that the Klepper rudder, which trails
behind the boat with it's long axis parrallel to the water surface, was
much less prone to slow the boat down.  The high aspect ratio modern
style rudders (with the long axis vertical) will exert a lot of drag
when  you wiggle your feet just a bit and the rudder starts to turn.  I
always felt like the klepper rudder just slid along behind, changes in
rudder angle haqving a less dramatic effect on forward motion.  Then
again the rudder drag is a much smaller percentage of the total friction
on a wide tandem.  I was very fond of the Klepper, I only sold it
because I badly needed money at the time, and I wanted a low maintenance
single.

Nick Lyle

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************
Received on Mon Sep 06 1999 - 10:38:12 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:12 PDT