I like your idea of adding blocks for leverage. It would make the extra weight easer to handle, and take strain off my "screw-attached" cam-cleats.
The up haul ones are pretty easy. I just tied one end of the pulling line to the life line attachment point on the stern, run it through a pulley tied to the rudder line, then up to the cleat.
The down haul one is a little more work. I drilled another hole near the hole where the down haul line comes out. I run the new line down this hole and put a stopper knot in the end. Then on the inside of the boat I run it through a pulley tied to the old shortened rudder line and back up the original hole.
Make sure to have twice as much line as before because of the pulley.
Post some photos of your rudders if you get a chance Richard.
I talked to Joel and he sugested attaching the downhaul line to the same hole as the uphaul line. This may be a bit awkward but should eliminate the rudders trailing. I'll try it tomorrow. Another solution is pinning them to the brackets which works for sure. I already prepared this setup. I'm just not thrilled about hanging off the back of the transom to plug in and remove pins. He told me to absolutely not drill aft of the current attachment points because this is a high load area and may compromise the rudder, making prone to break.
Daniel,
Yes, mine are more customised; 9 inches longer and 2 inches wider than stock and his improved M blades. 25 lbs each. Joel won't just make them for people looking for some added perfomance but if you have some experience with your boat, sail in heavy air and have roundup problems and ask him really nice and maybe mention Leon, he may build you a pair. The cost is only $100 more. No, Joel doesn't pay me a commission
Yes, mine are more customised; 9 inches longer and 2 inches wider than stock and his improved M blades.
Delevi,
The 2 conditions I've wanted bigger rudders are very light winds and strong winds. I get lee helm and lack of control in winds less than 4 knots or so and of course the evil weather helm in strong winds. Can you comment on how well your rudders help those 2 conditions? Same question for Richard.
delevi reminds me of what I was trying to do 20 - 30 years ago.
Now, I'm more into relaxing; just letting the wind blow me around.
If I want to go faster I hoist the iron sail.
OK. More test results are in and I think all of you considering rudder upgrades will be pleased with this. The Admiral and I went for a day sail yesterday and one couldnt ask for better conditions to put these babies to the test. We left the dock at approx 12 p.m., deciding to sail South on SF Bay since the city looked quite overcast and there was sunshine in So. San Francisco and on South. The wind was blowing around 18-20 knts. We were sailing a broad reach, later changing to a run with sails winged. There were considerable waves and chop on the aft quarter, a condition which typically cause an unstable helm due to the Macs small rudders. I managed to sail a straight course without many helm adjustments, something that wouldnt have been possible with stock rudders. The winds built up to 25, bigger waves, still no problem.
As we approached the San Mateo Bridge, the Admiral requested we turn back and make our return trip to the marina, since she didnt want to come home too late. I complied, putting us on a close-hauled course. At this time I realized the wind was really ripping, I mean really ripping! My mainsail was already reefed on the deep reef. There were huge rolling waves with breaking crests, lots of chop, whitecaps everywhere; nasty stuff. I pulled the wind gage out of my pocket and put it up there. 35 knts! Time to furl in half the jib, which I did. Put the wind gage back out. Steady 30s and a gust hits; 45 knts on the wind gage. The boat heeled to 45 degrees (inclinometer goes to 50) Weather helm started to build and the boat started to head up. I remembered something I read on Quantum Sails web site about not fighting weather helm. I held her steady and let the boat head up a few degrees, then turned the wheel to leeward about a quarter turn and held it there. Rudders dug in and she stopped heading up, then slowly started to bear off to leeward as I straightened out the helm. I was amazed. With my stock setup, I would have spun around and been in irons before I could do anything. I didnt even spill the main! With the jib trimmed in fairly tight and the reefed main trimmed just a bit looser than perfect (slight occasional luffing) I was able to keep Rusalka just on the edge of close hauled and pinch, heeling about 35 degrees on average. With the wind blazing, trying to overpower me and the waves crashing over the bow, getting me soaking wet, she kept chugging along at a steady 5.5-6 mph. I did not round up at all. I then noticed that for some reason, my teeth were feeling cold. Then I realized what was happening. It was the grin on my face from ear to ear. By the way, with this degree of heel, the windward rudder (stock) would be fully out of the water. With the longer IDA rudders, the windward rudder was still partially in the water working, though granted the leeward rudder was doing most of the work.
I already mentioned the improved pointing in a previous post. I should also mention that when docking, with db & rudders down, the boat is like on rails.
As for lee helm, this is something I have only experienced when sailing with only the jib, trying to sail closer than a beam reach. I tried it in those extreme conditions, and the boat would not point. There is a limit to everything.
Now for the trailing rudders issue. I took Joels advice and attached the downhaul line to the same hole as the uphaul line (aft portion of the rudder) Problem solved. They stayed in place without trailing. The only problem I noticed is a squeak I heard when the boat was heeled over hard. It was the windward rudder, which was still in the water but mostly out and it was wiggling a bit side to side. The stop screw was rubbing against the steel stopper. I think with the way I setup the downhaul, there is a bit of a sideways pull along with the downward pull, Ill have to mess with the setup. Im sure it will be easy to correct. Im no longer concerned about line running along the side of the rudder forward. I put my hand down there while at the dock and it is only about an inch below the water line, so any drag issue from the line should be negligible.
Ill take some photos as soon I get a chance to get back out to the boat. Sorry I havent done so as of yet.
Ill conclude by saying that this is by far the best mod I made to Rusalka, even better than the more expensive weighted keel. The jury is still out on that however, since Im sure my boat is heeling a lot more than it should from the blown out sails. Ill have a better assessment once I receive my new Quantum Sails in October.
Very cool Leon! Thanks for the detailed update. Now the decision is whether to go with your supersized rudders (if IDA will make them), or go with the standard IDA upgrade. Guess I'll wait to here more from Richard.
It took me this long to get good wind, and the opportunity to evaluate my new Ida sailor rudders. Yes , they are the best performance mod I've added. They make it easy to hold a tack without rounding up in substantial wind, and pointing was increaseed substantially. I lost the race possibly, because I was single handed, and pinched my tacks, including hooking onto the orange race flag buoy with my new rudder.
Last edited by Richard O'Brien on Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
After sailing Richard's 26M with the IDA Sailor rudders last weekend I concluded that they are noticably better than the stock ones. Strong gusts still required easing the main but not as much as on my boat with the stock rudders. They are also clearly stronger.
