Thread: BETH - rudder's hardware details

Howdy Robert,

This is in America, but something like this for the back of the boat ... I just bent them wider for the ones on the back of the boat. Same for the rudder too and a pin that goes through all of them.

http://www.marine.com/ronstan-rudder...ch-p-4834.html

There are a few different manufacturers that use similar designs ... one is shown in your attachment above.

Just trim the pin off so it is shorter than the length to the bottom of the boat.

Oh ... and only the stainless steel fittings can be bent. Don't bend the aluminium ones!!!!!

MIK

Thank you Michael!
It is helpful for me.
One question else:
How thickness of steel? - 2 mm will be enough IMHO for this small boat (???)

Certainly - aluminium is not good for this pourpose

The store-bought fittings in MIK's link are probably made of SS that is about 1mm thick, plus or minus. 2mm would be overkill unless you are going to do your own fabrication to include welds.

Originally Posted by MiddleAgesMan

The store-bought fittings in MIK's link are probably made of SS that is about 1mm thick, plus or minus. 2mm would be overkill unless you are going to do your own fabrication to include welds.

Thanks MiddleAgesMan,
I think, you are right - 1 - 1.5 mm will be enough

Hi again

I've just drawn CAD sketch of this hardware - it will be available as PDF for you soon (if anybody interested in )

See JPG attachements

Mik-

The cheap and simple setup looks beautiful, but do you ever have any concern about damaging the hull? I remember once splitting an unreinforced transom by running aground on the rudder. The rudder on Beth is a bit out-of-the-way to raise by hand, but have you given any thought to a fail-safe detachable system?

-Peter Belenky

Howdy Peter,

Good point. I think it works because there is no transom and the rudder blade is so shallow. Much more likely to hit the 3ft deep centreboard. I doubt that anyone will be planning to go really fast in 300mm deep water or will get into it without noticing with the centreboard up higher than the rudder.

The water I spent most of the time sailing in ... the lower Murray River and lakes ... there are limestone lines that go across the river and across the lakes. When you hit one .. you really know it! Sailed there many years and had to repair the back edge of my centreboard maybe 3 times (over 10 years)

Best wishes

MIK

MIK

What are you thinking about kicking up pivoting rudder for Beth? It would be possible to use longer/deepper rudder's blade (shown on plans as an option is deepper one but not pivoting) for shallow waters...

Howdy Robert,

I think swinging blades are the work of the devil. They are so bad in almost every conceivable circumstance that it is amazing that we have persevered so long with the foolish things.

I don't think Beth needs a deeper rudder blade - and if it touches and you have to jump out, the water will be lower than your knees.

If you are trying to sail in such shallow water with a swinging blade it will be so far back it will be hopeless at steering.

If anyone does want to put a longer swinging blade on, they are welcome of course. My advice is
1/ No weights in the rudder blade to make it sink
2/ Use a positive pull down of spectra. 50% of the problems with swinging rudders is because the rope used to pull them down stretches.

The other 50% of the problem is because swinging blades are dumb. Unless you can't get to the rudder to push a dagger/OZ type down (remember the OZ type is not my invention and may even come from NZ originally. If you cannot reach the rudder, you just have to put up with the general crappy performance of swinging blades.

Hehe

MIK

Thank you MIK for reply,

This is a "dagger/OZ type rudder" from your FLICKR :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/...cdfabd81_o.jpg

For Beth I need to remove tiller and mount rudder's yoke there ...it's so simple

Hi Robert,

I would suggest choosing the designed fixed rudder in preference to anything else.

MIK

Originally Posted by Boatmik

I would suggest choosing the designed fixed rudder in preference to anything else.

Hi MIK,
I think you are right - fixed rudder as designed only circa 30 cm under boat's bottom plunged is . This one is simpler and lighter a lot