View Single Post
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 01-23-2008
Faster's Avatar
Faster Faster is offline
Just another sailor
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New Westminster, BC
Posts: 2,797
Rep Power: 5
Faster will become famous soon enoughFaster will become famous soon enough
... and today rudders are back to "rounded" elliptical shapes, I believe to minimize vortice losses off the square tip. (harking back to the Spitfire fighter's wing design) btw- strictly armchair talking here....

Rounding off the tip of your rudder will cost you effective area. It may avoid some of the cavitation you feel at extreme conditions, but the loss of maneuverability in more typical conditions may not be worth it.

You do need a real designer's take on this.
__________________
Boating in BC waters since the '60s, sailing since 1981.
Currently on our 5th boat, a 1984 Fast/Nicholson 345.
Reply With Quote