How can I redesign the rudder system

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I am not sure but this is about a 40 year old boat. The transom is a reverse transom; thus hanging a standard rudder there is not practical. The boat was built by American Fiberglass but later molds, parts, tooling, etc. sold to General Fiberglass in CT. but they went bankrupt in the late 70's with everything disposed of or bulldozed under. There is not much if anything on this particular boat. American Fiberglas use to make the Aqua Cat and Aqua Fin but was sold off to Dave Stanton who started American Sail, Inc. in Charleston, SC which is still in operation today. However, I spoke with Dave and he left American Fiberglass before the 21 was built and knew nothing about that boat.

Per Armyaviation which I concur, he has what appears to be the original rudder with long rudder post and the top of the rudder itself is sloped upward from front to rear as it would appear to the hull shape. The photo itself shows the boat or transom with for lack of words a molded cut in the middle of the transom so the rudder post can go straight down. The original post shows in that cutout of the transom what appears to be a discolored place where the current owner reported the PO tried to fiberglass.

Here is what appears to be how the rudder was attached. The rudder post went down to a bracket that was secured to the cutout in the molded cut on both sides of the cutout with the rudder post coming up straight just aft of what should have been a rub rail but cut away.

My question, is there any kind of bracket that was with that boat? If so, a photo please.
The original rudder was designed for the boat and I would use that rudder. If attaching to the transom rear will require a different rudder and modifications for an attachment with a long tiller. I am not sure what to suggest beyond this . Any thoughts here.

 

[Armyaviation]

Thanks for the call Dave. I have the rudder bracket.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

How about a photo of that. I hope it is not the thing that was aftermarket by the previous owner that is hinged attached to the transom as that is not the origingal bracket.

However, if it is that bracket I saw in the photo, best advice would be to bolt it in place to the transom with a series of bolts so it will not come loose making sure you have large spacers or backing plates. This is the best I can suggest unless you want a machine shop make you such a bracket that would work but would be expensive

 

[Armyaviation]

The bracket that I put a picture of in the beginning of the post is the same bracket as the other American 21 that I saw so yes it is original. The only variance is the way the bracket is locked down so it will not swing up

 

[Daveinet]

I assume the biggest thing you are fighting is the hinge mount at the top. What I would do is purchase two T-Hinges. Remove the pins. Mount both of the long parts of the hinge upside down on the transom, on either side of the slot. The mount the top of the tee on the rudder bracket. Purchase a long pin that will go through both hinges with the swinging rudder bracket in the middle.

This will allow you to reinforce the transom behind the hinges, so it will stay attached, and not flex and leak.

If the rudder is heavy, it may stay down on its own. If you decide to pin it, I would use a small pvc pipe, or some other piece of plastic to hold it down. This way if you do hit something, the plastic just breaks, rather than ripping brackets out of your transom.

 

[Armyaviation]

The hinge is back on with a backer plate and works fine. I wanted to find out how it originally holds the rudder down.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Armyaviation;

I did see a photo of another boat without that bracket attached to a bracket inbetween the molded cut in area. The bracket you have is not the original from what I saw. It may have been an aftermarket but I will never know as I do not have any original brochures nor any physical information other than other pictures I looked at. Sorry I cannot advise further but would suggest using the rudder you have which appears to be original and that bracket. Good luck.

 

[Armyaviation]

Can you find that picture

 

[mfree25]

I just bought the same boat. There is a removable bracket bar installed on the outside of the tiller transom just as Daveinet described. I put it in the water last night. After tuning and rigging we gave it a try last night. After being blown downwind for awhile we realized we forgot to lower the vertically retractable keel. I winched the cable all the way down and we heard the keel knocking back and forth with the waves. I'm not sure if this is normal or if something is wrong. My wife was quite nervous and we motored back to the dock. I am going to take a swim and look at it today. It didn't seem like there was any kind of locking mechanism. Am I missing something or is this the way these boats are supposed to be?