Hey Blaise, re. rudders.

[rblevens]

I wonder what keeps the rudder from rubbing the bottom of the boat? What kind of gap is there?

 

[Jim Legere]

I wonder what keeps the rudder from rubbing the bottom of the boat? What kind of gap is there?

Good question! The rudder is supposed to be "neutral" but is often slightly bouyant. On mine there is a gap of maybe 3/16" between the top of the rudder and the hull when the rudder is centered (of course, the helm is almost never centered when sailing...) There is a very small amount of wear on the hull at this point - not even through the gel coat. Some owners have "reversed" the delrin bearing by mounting it and the aluminum collar on the rudder shaft UNDER the shelf in the lazarette. I assume they have really 'floaty' rudders. I have speculated that one could ballast the rudder to neutral or slightly negative buoyancy by adding sand or some heavy material to the inside of the hollow rudder shaft... Perhaps our rudder expert Blaise has an opinion?