Rick - The balanced rudder is a latter design rudder that reduces some of the weather helm problems the old style ones had. They moved some of the rudder forward of the pivot point which 'balances' the forces over the rudder surface. The net is it reduces the weather helm and thus the amount of pressure felt on the tiller. The new rudders are fiberglass over foam pretty much a standard practice these days) and the old ones were a fiberglass/plywood sandwich which accounts for the weight difference. Dave C25 Obi~Wind Cape Cod BTW: If you don't want the balanced rudder let me know off the forum dpbcc@mediaone.net
