[bmwdude]

OK,

Though I'm definitely a "if it works, don't fix it" kind of guy, I have to wonder about the barn-door style rudder on my Allied Princess, and if it wouldn't be more effective to round off the trailing edge as opposed to having the full-length-bottom-90-degree corner original design. Any arm-chair (or, real!) naval engineers want to comment? I feel having the 90 degree corner swung hard over creates way too much turbulence to be effective (experienced at 40+ knots), plus having the bottom edge at the same depth as the keel invites getting it bogged down or, worse, damaged/pinned in a grounding. Many full keel models have this type of rudder, and just as many have a more-rounded profile trailing edge instead.

What do you think? Did Mr. Edmunds make a blunder on the size/shape of the rudder, or was he right on target?

Cary Stotland
C-Lover
Princess #128