If you view your boat from astern, and observe the profile of rudder/rudder cavity you will see that there is a slight increase in the chord of the rudder as you move from top to bottom (vertically)
This has been faired evenly so that the rudder's leading edge (which is inside the rudder cavity of the keel) no longer has this very slight change. Now the rudder's leading edge will be symetrical from top to bottom. This will make it easier for rudders to be fitted to the hull, which means it will be easier for guys to assemble their own boats without having the hassle of trying to match the rudder to the boat.
Sorry.... no windshift radar here. That costs extra. For a nominal fee we will install a rabbits foot, 4 leaf clover, or lucky penny under the mast step.
As to old and new molds... if your boat was built in '98 then you should be under the '95 standard which is the same as all the boats built from that time to present. Pre `95 some of the older hulls tended to be more narrow in the keel which caused two different things to happen. The boats were more tender because they were not able to get as much lead as deep, but they were also able to be ballasted out lighter at the same waterline which made them better light air, but at a disadvantage in anything else.
The problems being caused by different mfg's making their own molds and subsequent hulls has been ended by the new standard. Don't lose sight of the fact that the differences were all very slight, and the proof would be that there was never a demand for one particular hull over another based on obvious performance issues.
Is there a difference in the new mold? No, it is just that instead of different guys making their own molds, we will all now use the same plug to make all the molds used from now on, and they will be made in the same way from the same one shop so that they are as close as they can be made. You the owner will still have the chance to decide on your own rudder type, deck type, and method of ballast, as well as sails and method of rig (within the framework of the class rules) Then when you get all that you have to make it go.
Remember, you can tune a boat, but you can't tuna fish.
[:o)]
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www.LudwigRCYachts.com