This is an American fiberglass 21 foot sailboat. I am redoing the whole back end of the boat and before I put the rudder back on I want to figure out how it originally came from the factory. It has a swing up rudder that attaches at the top of the transom. The transom has a cut out for the rudder to lay down flat in. I believe someone along the line modified the way the rudder works. Inside the cut out there are holes on either side that were patched badly. I cleaned it up with fiberglass. Now that I'm putting the rudder back on I see that they were probably from the factory. Somebody installed brackets on the transom that would either hold the rudder down when in use or up to take the rudder off . I think the holes enabled a pin to go through the cutout to hold the rudder down. First question is do I even need something to hold the rudder down when in use. If I bottom out the rudder can swing up but if it's held down, it will impact and destroy something. Second question, I believe there was a pin that went through the holes in the cut out to hold the rudder down. I can redrill those holes but the metal pin would be going through fiberglass and wouldn't have any support to keep it from Ovaling out the holes . Last question, my rudder is huge and hangs down below the bottom of the boat and weighs a ton. I was thinking of getting two rudders from maybe a Hobie cat and doing a dual rudder set up. Most of the other sailboats my size appear to have thinner and smaller rudders than mine .
How can I redesign the rudder system
- Thread starter Armyaviation
- Start date
I can't upload more than one pic for some reason. The rudder bracket tilted up. The original pics show the bracket that you can put something across to hold it up. Not original to the boat though. Someone cut the bumper rail and moved the rudder bracket up higher I guess to go through a wood support under the transom. The rest of the transom is just fiberglass
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Stationed at Ft. Rucker. My dad last duty station was Ft. Eustis in charge of the transportation school and Felker airfield until his death in 1961. Lived in Dothan as an Army brat. I am a former dealer and will try to help. Send me a photo with the rudder on with motor so I can see what the heck you had. In addition, can you take a photo or two of the inside where the indentation comes in and I am specifically looking for anything in the wall section to see if there was ever a bolt of some sorts going thru at one time or another. email is davecondon@mindspring.com
This site for your boat will help you as well with stats on the original American 21 with photos as well:
http://americanmarinerboats.home.comcast.net/~americanmarinerboats/american_21.html
This site for your boat will help you as well with stats on the original American 21 with photos as well:
http://americanmarinerboats.home.comcast.net/~americanmarinerboats/american_21.html
Are you sure you have the American 21 built in Costa Mesa, CA? Why I ask that the photo of the boat shown is a reverse transom, not straight down and then there is the cabin bulkhead which appears to forward slope and then again bent in the middle further forward where the American appears to be one solid wall.
Please recheck your documentation and better yet send me the hull number so I can try to make sure if this is an American 21
Please recheck your documentation and better yet send me the hull number so I can try to make sure if this is an American 21
I have not been able to find a lot of information on American fiberglass. The hull identification number shows it's an American fiberglass corporation about built in 1977 and it is 21 foot. Do you know anything about American fiberglass corporation Dave
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Dave,
Turns out there are two different boats both called American 21, one by American Fiberglas which is the one he is looking for and American Meridian, that you posted. I made the same mistake on the other forum.
http://forum.trailersailor.com/post.php?id=1414068
Turns out there are two different boats both called American 21, one by American Fiberglas which is the one he is looking for and American Meridian, that you posted. I made the same mistake on the other forum.
http://forum.trailersailor.com/post.php?id=1414068
Armyaviation.
Email me at davecondon@mindspring.com with phone number. Sorry about that as I have forgotten about that over time. I am afflicted with CRAFT which is Cannot Remember A Fiddlesticks Thing.
I now know who to go to as the gentleman was part of that company but he is off flying this week. It is a small world.
There is a small memorial for my father at Ft. Rucker.
Dave Condon
Email me at davecondon@mindspring.com with phone number. Sorry about that as I have forgotten about that over time. I am afflicted with CRAFT which is Cannot Remember A Fiddlesticks Thing.
I now know who to go to as the gentleman was part of that company but he is off flying this week. It is a small world.
There is a small memorial for my father at Ft. Rucker.
Dave Condon
Nada blue book calls it a dominator 21 for 1977, the picture of the black and white 1973 model calls it an American 21
I believe there must be a way to restrict the kick-up of the rudder. Lock it in place, add a push down spring (complicated), or use a tightened friction type of pin at the hinge. The more the boat heels, the more easily the rudder could move due to water flow if the tip up movement is not restricted.
I spoke with Armyaviation and told him I would go to a source who was affiliated with the company but is on vacation this week. I hope to go to the source.
Found some pics online. This guys rudders seems a lot smaller and thinner and probably weighs a lot less. Found some rudders on eBay that are almost 4 ft tall that look close to his. Might try to fabricate it to fit mine. Does the thicker rudder have an advantage over the thin ones
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hold your horses but that may be the original rudder. Is your keel a swing keel or fixed keel. Let me have time to get up with the fellow who worked at American fiberglass.
No problem. It is a centerboard. It cranks up and down vertically up into the cabin. The pics of the other guys boat shows the same rudder bracket as mine so at least I know that is original