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From: Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. <mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu>
subject: [Paddlewise] When is rudder too big?
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 02:08:07 -0700
OK so some Paddlewisers never use rudders.  This is for the rest of us.
Problem: how to sail a Feathercraft K1 with a small Balogh Batwing
sail.  The Klepper standard rudder on my Aerius I worked well with the
same sail.   Now I'm trying to make the K1 into a practical sailor.  The
standard Feathercraft K1 rudder is much smaller and less powerful than
the Klepper Aerius I setup.  What would be the consequences of using a
blade from the Feathercraft K2 rudder on the K1, perhaps shortened to
approximately the same length as the K1 item?

More generally, what is "wrong" with a larger rudder and how might these
problems be dealt with?  As an aside I always felt comfortable in busy
seas with the Aerius I and its big rudder.  The Feathercraft does not
(yet?) provide that sense of control.  Any ideas why?

Thanks for the collective good advice.


Richard G. Mitchell, Jr.
Corvallis, Oregon


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