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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

folding rudder

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jlguthri
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/28/2006 : 15:30:39

Has anyone here had luck with a folding rudder of some kind? If so, please comment on what works.

I notice, as often as not, my rudder hits before my swing keel (when up). This constantly gives me nightmares about rudder damage (and I don't typically carry a spare). This tends to be worse when moving as the shape of the boat sucks the stern down a slight bit.

Has anyone took a few inches off the rudder? Has anyone else had this problem? It's not a bad problem, just something I'd like to do in the future for piece of mind.

I'm afraid, simply not bumping bottom isn't an option for my location.

thanks!
-josh

----
Joshua Guthrie
www.westmouthbay.com

Edited by - on

Dick Johnson
1st Mate

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USA
40 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 17:26:54

I had a "kick-up" rudder on a 22 foot sailboat. It was a pain. Heavy weather would kick it up. I just locked it down for safety. It's really a pain to be sailing in strong winds and have the rudder not work. Kicked up it only had three inches in the water. I had to stand on it to get it back down.

Look at the new balanced rudders. I think that they are about three inches shorter.

"Langiappe" Havelock, NC

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 18:08:54

Josh,

I had a kick up rudder on my last boat and as Dick said, it was a royal pain. No matter how tight I got the rudder lines, I still had problems with it kicking up, mainly due to seaweed.

I don't know if this idea would work, but maybe you could try lowering your keel to a depth just below your rudder so that the relatively more robust keel will hit first instead of your more delicate rudder. It may give you a little more peace of mind.

Edited by - dlucier on 06/28/2006 18:09:37

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 18:24:37

... I don't know if this idea would work, but maybe you could try lowering your keel to a depth just below your rudder so that the relatively more robust keel will hit first instead of your more delicate rudder. - Don

Don might be onto something there. If I'm not mistaken, Leon Sisson has a guage on his swing keel so he always knows just how deep it is extended ... maybe Leon will see this thread and comment.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 20:18:56

>"gauge on his swing keel "

Paint marks on the cable... ?

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 20:19:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">This constantly gives me nightmares about rudder damage ... Has anyone took a few inches off the rudder?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yeah, dragging the rudder blade on the bottom isn't a good idea, especially with boats this heavy. Your concerns about rudder damage are well founded.

Dave Laux suggested cutting a few inches off the bottom of the rudder blade, and installing an endplate, similar to the wing on a keel. I designed a retractable rudder for my C-25, but haven't gotten around to building one. (My workshop to-do list is a long one. Right now, "Project Car" has muscled its way to the head of the line.) <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">If I'm not mistaken, Leon Sisson has a guage on his swing keel so he always knows just how deep it is extended <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yes, I have a swing keel position indicator on my C-25. This is the third swing keel/centerboard boat I've owned with one. It comes in very handy where I live. The controlling depth between my dock and water large enough to sail a C-25 on can be as little as 4'. And as we swing keel owners know, singlehanding in murky shallow water is no time to be ducking down into the cabin to try and estimate how many turns of cable are on the winch, or to slowly lower the keel to check the depth.

My most recent two swing keel position indicators consist of a knot or bead on a light line running from the swing keel, up the mast compression post in the cabin, and visible from the cockpit with the companion way open. When the keel is all the way up, the mark on the line is at the top of the post. And when the keel is all the way down, the mark on the line is almost down to the top of the dinette seat back cushion. The relationship between mark position within its range of travel and change in swing keel draft isn't precisely linear, but it's close enough for sailing.

-- Leon Sisson

Oops, didn't see ClamBeach's question before posting. Edited to add that last paragraph.

Edited by - Leon Sisson on 06/28/2006 20:32:44

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 20:32:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Leon Sisson
 Yes, I have a swing keel position indicator on my C-25.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

How does it work?

Nevermind...You beat me to it!

Edited by - dlucier on 06/28/2006 20:35:35

jlguthri
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Response Posted - 07/02/2006 : 22:36:27

thanks for the comments.. i will certainly look into the ballanced deal... 3 inches would be the world to me...

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2006 : 12:51:37

Look in our links for a company called idarudder(???). They make a balanced kickup rudder for our boats.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/03/2006 : 18:12:53

Catalina Direct is now offering an Idasailor kick-up rudder that uses a shear-pin to prevent "rudder blade creep" for $419--$60 more for tiller and straps. The shear-pin inserts below the lower pintle--not sure how convenient that will be from the cockpit, but it's a good idea.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 07/03/2006 18:15:04

jlguthri
1st Mate

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USA
93 Posts

Response Posted - 07/05/2006 : 16:28:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 Catalina Direct is now offering an Idasailor kick-up rudder that uses a shear-pin to prevent "rudder blade creep" for $419--$60 more for tiller and straps. The shear-pin inserts below the lower pintle--not sure how convenient that will be from the cockpit, but it's a good idea.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That is exactly what I'm looking for....

Thanks.

I now know what to save up for. There's also a bear spot on the bottom of the rudder. I figure it is a matter of time before water gets in there and does it's thing.

I almost beat the snot out of my rudder last night, by the way. I drifted into too shallow water (misjudeged my location by about 20 feet for achor at night). I had to anchor on the edge of a channel, on eihter side ther is only 2' of water. TThankfully, my coder (sp?) sheared and the rudder came free... Missed a good chance to tear a lot up... but the fire works were beautiful!!

I don't understand why the rudder wasn't two inches shorter.

Such are the perils of sailing in Core/Back Sound.

Edited by - jlguthri on 07/05/2006 16:30:48

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