I need a rudder
- Thread starter Bob G
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IdeaSailor's rudder is going to be a great rudder. Probably worth twice what you paid for the entire boat. I'm guessing that if you had the inclination to spend that much on a rudder, you would not have purchased a 1971 Mac 22
I've made a rudder (and tiller). It is not hard and won't cost you that much. I've attached some pics and drawings that should give you and idea of how to do it.
Wood for the rudder stock should ideally be some decent hardwood, however even if you used a cheap piece of 2" X 12" stock pine (joist) and kept the rudder well varnished your rudder would last your 10 years or more and cost you less than $50 to make. You can get everything you need at Lowes. Your boats spends most of its life on a trailer so your rudder won't actually be in the water that much. Put a coat of varnish on each season and it will last a good long time.
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I just "bought" one from Idasailor. Haven't used it yet, since my boat is a project boat, but rudder looks well made and gets great reviews. Yes, it's a lot of money considering the boat I'm putting it on (not sure of year, but probably about the same as yours - 70-72 Venture 222), but I intend on using this boat for quite awhile. Don't know if they want me advertising this, but here it is anyway. I had gift certificates on Amazon equal to nearly the price of the rudder. You can't order this through Amazon, but they worked with me to let me order parts/supplies for their shop in exchange for the rudder. They've been great to work with so far.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking IdaSailor's stuff.
So how do you get those coupons
By the way, Idasailor as a business is gone. The new business is called Ruddercraft. I sew the tiller covers for the unifoil assy and any other custom tiller covers they need.
While we are pretty much stuck with the designers hull shape, we can choose to do something about the shape and efficiency of the wings we drag through the water. I am talking about rudders and daggerboards of course. The stock rudders on most production sailboats are a very conservative balance of cost and time. If you want the best rudder possible you will have to make it (if you have skills) or purchase it through a company like Ruddercraft.
I just purchased a top-of-the-line Ruddercraft Unifoil assy with extra long mast carrier (to allow the pop top to be put up without raising the mast) and it is a thing of beauty. I am very happy with the way it sails and stows.
While we are pretty much stuck with the designers hull shape, we can choose to do something about the shape and efficiency of the wings we drag through the water. I am talking about rudders and daggerboards of course. The stock rudders on most production sailboats are a very conservative balance of cost and time. If you want the best rudder possible you will have to make it (if you have skills) or purchase it through a company like Ruddercraft.
I just purchased a top-of-the-line Ruddercraft Unifoil assy with extra long mast carrier (to allow the pop top to be put up without raising the mast) and it is a thing of beauty. I am very happy with the way it sails and stows.
Did you fiberglass the rudder you made or did you go with just wood? Where did you sail with it? I have been told that the conditions on the Colorado Mt lake where we sail will be too much for just wood.IdeaSailor's rudder is going to be a great rudder. Probably worth twice what you paid for the entire boat. I'm guessing that if you had the inclination to spend that much on a rudder, you would not have purchased a 1971 Mac 22
I've made a rudder (and tiller). It is not hard and won't cost you that much. I've attached some pics and drawings that should give you and idea of how to do it.
Wood for the rudder stock should ideally be some decent hardwood, however even if you used a cheap piece of 2" X 12" stock pine (joist) and kept the rudder well varnished your rudder would last your 10 years or more and cost you less than $50 to make. You can get everything you need at Lowes. Your boats spends most of its life on a trailer so your rudder won't actually be in the water that much. Put a coat of varnish on each season and it will last a good long time.
I reshaped my rudder. A PO had the idea that if you just rounded the edges of a (oak?) 2x12 that was a good enough foil shape. I used the same piece of wood and a belt sander to get it to approx. 0018 foil shape. Then covered it with fiberglass mat and painted with interlux. It cracked along the back after it was in the water for all of 15 min! I think the wood swelled. Oh well, I'm not concerned as it is a temporary fix until I can have one made of aluminum. (Search rudder vs pencil)
Here is a link to a foil shape web page. Airfoil Investigation Database - Welcome
Pictures are: 1 Old rudder on boat. 2 crack in trailing edge of newly modified rudder.
Here is a link to a foil shape web page. Airfoil Investigation Database - Welcome
Pictures are: 1 Old rudder on boat. 2 crack in trailing edge of newly modified rudder.
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I made an Excel spreadsheet that will give you the dimensions of a standard symmetrical airfoil curve (00XX). You can modify the rudder "width" dimension as well as picking the strength of the airfoil. The shape is like the ones used by Ruddercraft and others (finding41 above mentioned using an 0018 airfoil shape, Ruddercraft uses an 0012 airfoil).
PM me or email me (I'm assuming my links work) and I'll email it to you.
This is not to diminish the value of equipment supplied by Ruddercraft as they are a trusted supplier of high quality accessories and equipment - everyone likes their stuff!
My spreadsheet was made so DIY's could easily determine how to make an airfoil shape on their own...some people just want to build it themselves...
PM me or email me (I'm assuming my links work) and I'll email it to you.
This is not to diminish the value of equipment supplied by Ruddercraft as they are a trusted supplier of high quality accessories and equipment - everyone likes their stuff!
My spreadsheet was made so DIY's could easily determine how to make an airfoil shape on their own...some people just want to build it themselves...
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Do you know why they went under? And will Ruddercraft honor the lifetime warranty on the idaSailor products?
Hey vizwiz can you email me a copy of that spreadsheet to m1kehubb@me.com. Looking at making my own rudder for a 26 D
Nice work!IdeaSailor's rudder is going to be a great rudder. Probably worth twice what you paid for the entire boat. I'm guessing that if you had the inclination to spend that much on a rudder, you would not have purchased a 1971 Mac 22
I've made a rudder (and tiller). It is not hard and won't cost you that much. I've attached some pics and drawings that should give you and idea of how to do it.
Wood for the rudder stock should ideally be some decent hardwood, however even if you used a cheap piece of 2" X 12" stock pine (joist) and kept the rudder well varnished your rudder would last your 10 years or more and cost you less than $50 to make. You can get everything you need at Lowes. Your boats spends most of its life on a trailer so your rudder won't actually be in the water that much. Put a coat of varnish on each season and it will last a good long time.
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