H23 rudder flutter
Say that 3 times...FAST! I've noticed the same thing with our 23. I agree, it is definitely flutter. I wouldn't think it's a bad thing considering you're only doing 6 knots when it shows up (BTW, it makes a good speed indicator!). To take this a bit further... I've always noticed that the lightweight H23 has a very heavy feel to the rudder, compared to my buddy's HEAVY Morgan 28 (also tiller-steering). It turns out that the Morgan has a "balanced" rudder(part of it extends forward of the pivot), but the H23 rudder has ALL of it's area well aft (approx 2-3") of the pivot! Using my knowledge of aeronautics, I reason that since balanced flight controls (aileron, rudder, elevator) are the norm for almost all aircraft in order to lessen flight loads, this will certainly work for a rudder in water as well. To prove this, I'm going to add a "counterbalance" to the lower end of my rudder for next season and see how much improvement I can get. Anyone who has sailed a H23 downwind in 20+ knots is sure to understand why the tiller arm on this boat is so huge. It's great for building up your arms, too! Oops! I almost forgot...this discussion was about 'flutter'! High-performance aircraft control surfaces MUST be balanced ( and slop-free!) or else they could be literally blown off by flutter! More to come next spring... Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett III
