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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Gen 1 Rudder modification		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Second Wind53
1st Mate

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Canada
45 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/02/2008 :  10:47:12  Show Profile
I have what I believe is the Gen 1 rudder and it really is a bear to control the boat in anything more than 8 nts wind.

Looking at the balanced rudder shapes I was wondering if I cut back the front of the top portion of the rudder head by 2 inches and reattach the Gudgeon brackets if that would weaken the rudder too much.
I want to make up a beaching rudder eventually but I would like to improve this one if I can for the time being.

I guess you could do it the other way around too and add to the forward edge below the water line.

Any thoughts would be welcome.

thanks.

Peter

95 250WB #90
Vancouver, BC
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Russ.Johnson
Commodore

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USA
855 Posts
Response Posted - 04/02/2008 :  11:29:38  Show Profile
Peter,
Can you post pictures and measurements of your current rudder?
This topic comes up every few months and its good to have references on the different rudders available.
Russ #793
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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Response Posted - 04/02/2008 :  13:00:00  Show Profile
Hi Peter. I also have a 95 WB (hull #2 actually). My boat with the factory rudder handles just as you describe. Anything over 8knots made for a long day. Winds over 15 and the rudder came completely out of the water. I tried all the recommended cures. Adjusting mast rake. Reefing the main. Putting more weight in the bow. Retracting the keel part way. Nothing made much difference at all. I was going to add glass to the bottom of the rudder and make it longer. That was going to cost several hundred bucks and not be guaranteed to fix my problem. I finally broke down and spent the big bucks to get an IDA rudder. I'm not advertising for them, but, wow. Weather helm gone and no more rounding up in the puffs. I think I had a third generation 'balanced' rudder on my boat. About 1/3 of the rudder was in front of the pintles (balanced) and maybe 2 feet of the blade was in the water. Someone else wrote out here the other day that another company was also making aftermarket rudders for the 250. Good luck to ya.
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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts
Response Posted - 04/02/2008 :  13:28:52  Show Profile
Hi Peter, I also have a 95 water ballast and had the same rudder but kickup version for three years after purchasing boat. Same issues but I never rounded up. Two years ago I purchased an IDA rudder and had the second set of reef points installed. I also sail with the centerboard raked back about a handful. No problems since with weather helm nor rounding up. I have never healed over more than 10-15 degrees either. I still have the original rudder which I will use when launching or retrieving "Brandy". I must tell you before the mods were done I would drop the sails and motor in just from what I read about rounding up etc. Now with the IDA rudder, second reef point and the Genoa reefed its awesome. Hope this helps.
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JohnMD
Navigator

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USA
207 Posts
Response Posted - 04/02/2008 :  14:51:55  Show Profile
Hey Bear, have you noticed the new prices on the IDA rudders? I think you and I got a pretty good deal. By the way, the gas struts do an excellent job of raising and lowering the blade and holding it down.
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yjacket
Deckhand

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USA
7 Posts
Response Posted - 04/02/2008 :  16:49:42  Show Profile
Hey Peter,
If you go to my yjacket post on rudders you can see what Mary purchased for her 250 wb. No more two hands on the tiller and we sail in 15 to 20 with a main and 110 jib.
Good Luck--
Wes
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bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts
Response Posted - 04/02/2008 :  20:27:07  Show Profile
Dr.John, I got the last rudder made before the struts were introduced. They gave me a 20% reduction just because they wanted there stock purged. I have not yet pulled that blade up out of the water. I did keep the generation 1 rudder for launch and retrieval and hopefully just a spare. "Splash" hopefully in a month.
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.