by Gene Rosson » Thu Sep 15, 2005 3:07 pm
Scott;
Thanks for the tip. I must discipline myself to read the rules more carefully. The tip plate notion was only a question, not necessarily an intent. I suspect a narrow plate would not help much if at all. Also it would be more vulnerable.
The other guys are carrying on about rudder shafts. You can use a relatively small shaft, aluminum or otherwise, if you also use a lower bearing bracket. That is to say, a bearing plate installed near the bottom of the rudder. I have seen these and it makes a heap of sense because a 5 plus inch cantilevered load needs a fairly substantial shaft and a very secure shaft housing.
A rigid rudder installation may be more important than we have yet proven. If the rudder oscillates or quivers it is sure to set up some unwelcome drag while diminishing steering effect. Big boat sailors will be familiar with rudder quiver that sometimes reaches an amplitude that vibrates the whole boat. At the least, it makes a lot of noise. Such boats are famously slow.
Gene