Rudder


The original design of rudder is a vertically lifting wooden blade. The blade can be removed completely and stored in the boat when not in use.
Balance is achieved by inserting a wooden wedge in the front edge of the slot through which the blade slides when it is fully down. This has the effect of kicking the leading edge of the rudder forward. The wedge also can be used to fix the blade at any desired height.

If you need to steer the boat in very shallow water then the vertically lifting rudder is the best type.


There is also a swing up variety of rudder.
I think the balance with this type of rudder is slightly better, but is less suitable for boats that are on drying moorings.

Also, if you try to steer the boat in shallow water where the rudder cannot go completely down (or has hit the bottom and kicked up) then there is incredible weather helm on the tiller and the boat is extremely difficult to steer.

For shallow water work a vertically lifting rudder is preferable as you don't get weather helm.


Here's the problem on a drying mooring - there's a lot sticking out the back of the boat. You can see here why there is extreme weather helm with the rudder partly raised.
The owner of this Evolution has fitted skegs to protect the propeller and P Bracket when drying out - this is certainly not standard!.


This rudder isn't standard but it is quite clever.
It can lift vertically for shallow water work, and can kick up if it hits something.

by David Lincoln