RE: catalina27-talk: Rudders

[Sneddon, Keith]

Thanks, Judy. As usual, you're answer is well thought out and comprehensive, and you have done all your research. Bijou looks great! I think I may have a little more weather helm than you because of my standard rig, so no bowsprit to pull the sail center of effort forward. That, plus the fact that we don't sail as flat as we might. My wife gets nervous when I have the kids sit out. Either the Booth or the Idasailor would pull the wet center of effort forward a little, which should balance the helm some. Below the waterline, my setup is the same as yours (Atomic 4, Indigo prop). I motor out of a tight slip, so better manners under power would be a plus.   Keith Sneddon Chief Engineer Mechanized Systems and Structures Directorate EDO Defense Systems 1500 New Horizons Blvd. North Amityville, NY 11701 Ph: 631-630-4092 Fax: 631-630-4244 Cell: 516-313-7420 [EMAIL PROTECTED]   From: Judith Blumhorst, DC [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 6:09 PM To: catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: Rudders   I replaced the OEM rudder with  a Booth rudder last year.  I'd bet the boat acttually does perform better upwind, but I really have no way of knowing whether it actually does better upwind than the OEM rudder or not.     As for weather helm (more accurately called "tiller torque or tug,"), my boat had a well balanced helm under sail even with the old OEM rudder.  I had no complaints.  The rig is well tuned, we'vve got nice sails, we reef early and often, and we sail her pretty flat.    I can tell you that the boat DEFINTELY has better manners under INBOARD power with the new rudder than the old one.  With  the OEM rudder, the boat used to yaw violently to port under power in forward.  It was hard for me to control it -- I'm a petite woman.  Now I can control the tiller with ease .     Balance area is generally a good thing under sail, decreasing tug & load on the tiller; but it likely was part of my problem powering in forward.  Balance is not your friend when the prop is pushing water at the rudder.  The Booth rudder  has less "balance area" than the OEM rudder, but it has plenty enough to reduce tiller tug under sail.    BTW, I asked Jim Antrim, N.A.,  for his advice about which rudder would solve my problem when motoring (Booth vs IdaSailor), and he recommended the Booth rudder for my inboard powered, tiller steered boat.   He said either rudder would give me better lift/drag under sail and easier backing than the OEM rudder   I've got pics of the Booth, Ida Sailor and OEM rudders at http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/catalina-27-rudders.htm.  I have a lot more pics of the Booth rudder, but I haven't put them online yet. Fair winds, Judy B 1977 Catalina-27 Tall Rig, hull #3459,BijouSailing San Francisco Bay Area Visit Bijou's website at <http://www.blumhorst.com/catalina27/catalinahomepage.htm>   Commodore Emeritus, Potter Yachters of Northern California 1985 West Wight Potter 19 #266, Redwing Danville/SF Bay, CA Potter Yachters website at <http://potter-yachters.org/> Potter Forum on the TrailerSailor website. http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/potter/index.cgi Judy B's Potter Website at  <http://www.blumhorst.com/potterpages> -----Original Message----- From: catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Sneddon, Keith Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 1:00 PM To: 'catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com' Subject: RE: catalina27-talk: Rudders Does anybody have the Booth, Idasailor, or Foss rudders on their boat? Do they live up to their claims (better upwind performance, less weather helm, etc.).   Keith Sneddon Chief Engineer Mechanized Systems and Structures Directorate EDO Defense Systems 1500 New Horizons Blvd. North Amityville, NY 11701 Ph: 631-630-4092 Fax: 631-630-4244 Cell: 516-313-7420 [EMAIL PROTECTED]   From: Sneddon, Keith [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 1:50 PM To: 'catalina27-talk@memberclicks.com' Subject: catalina27-talk:   Hello,             Anybody got any advice on rudders? Idasailor appears to have stopped production for C27. I have talked to Booth and Foss. Any other options?   Keith Sneddon Chief Engineer Mechanized Systems and Structures Directorate EDO Defense Systems 1500 New Horizons Blvd. North Amityville, NY 11701 Ph: 631-630-4092 Fax: 631-630-4244 Cell: 516-313-7420 [EMAIL PROTECTED]