[Jeff_H]

The way that a servo blade rudder works on an outboard rudder is that there is a small counterbalanced rudder on the trailing edge of the steering rudder. This small rudder is often mounted several inches aft of the main rudder on sturdy stainless steel gudgeons. The rudder post of the counterbalanced rudder extends above the rudder head by several inches and is well supported. At the top of the counterbalanced rudderpost is a small sheave (we used to make that out of a small trailer roller). A line runs around that sheave several times and is secured so that it rotates the counterbalanced rudder shaft. The line is then run thru blocks on eitherside of the main rudder near the pivot axis of the main rudder and then to the deck below the mounting point of the wind vane. The wind vanes were typically horizontal or diagonal axis vanes and the line would then run around the sheave of the vane shaft. When the vane knocked over it would rotate the counterbalanced trim rudder which would in turn push the main rudder to one side or another. Ingrids could develop wicked weather helm so it was important to begin to balance the helm before setting the vane.

Jeff