Progress pics.

[Robert Cox]

Well, here's the latest on Star Chaser.

It may look like a simple piece but I spent two days making the rear cockpit coaming. The back has been routed so that it has a step of a 1/4 inch over the deck.

Here it is with the wheel in place.

This is a shot of the rudder and rudder box mounted. As you can see in the picture the rudder's leading edge is now 3 inches in front of the hinge. This was done to make it a "Balanced" rudder.

This shot shows the rudder in the kicked up position. The added benefit of the wider rudder is when it's kicked up there is still alot of rudder in the water.

I've still got the rigging inside the lazzarett to finish but everything else for the steering is installed.

I think the taffrail will be next. It will be laminated out of teak.

Bob

[Guest]

NIce work. I like the idea of the rudder rig. Will it be ready for the Columbus day regatta? I presume it is still held, with all of the sights and sounds of those oraments from the booms. :wink:

[Robert Cox]

Hi Oyster,

I really can't take much credit for the rudder system. Other than the size of the rudder, it's all stock by the plans. A few people have complained about the weather helm being so bad that there is a lot of pressure on the tiller or wheel. I just did what I thought would eliminate or reduce the pressure at the wheel.

Yes the Columbas day regatta is still held. The problem is the rich kids in their stinkpotters throwing such a party that the regatta is getting a bad name. The people causing the problem have nothing to do with it. The regatta just gives them an excuse to party.

Bob

[Guest]

Thats too bad. It use to be a funtime, back a while ago, but like everything else, seems to change over the period of years. Wel, what a great week of enjoyment. But my son leaves on Monday morning and returns to his main duty station. For me its back to work to finish up the shop trimming and wiring to it, from the main panel. Later.

[Barry Pyeatt]

Bob,

On the Weekender the taper side of the rudder is supposed to be forward, I don't have the drawings for the Vacationeer with me, but I thought the taper on that rudder was forward as well. Makes a huge difference in handling on the Weekender, I would think it would on the Vacationeer as well.

Just an observation, because I think a balanced rudder design could work well on these boats. My marine architect buddy was mentioning the attack angle on the rudder has a potential for stalling along the leading edge.

[Frank Hagan]

Hi Oyster' date='

I really can't take much credit for the rudder system. Other than the size of the rudder, it's all stock by the plans. A few people have complained about the weather helm being so bad that there is a lot of pressure on the tiller or wheel. I just did what I thought would eliminate or reduce the pressure at the wheel.

[/quote']

Looks great, Robert! Let us know how it sails .... I have a pretty dinged up rudder, so I might try the balanced design to see how it works.

I don't have much weatherhelm on my Weekender, and from what I've read, it could also be a function of how far back the mast is raked. There's quite a bit of building variation among those of us who built the boat, so there could be a few different reasons why some get excessive weatherhelm (all sloops have some, of course, which is good ... let go of the tiller and she rounds up into the wind and into irons. Kinda like the sailing equivalent of a parking brake!)

[Robert Cox]

Barry, the Vacationer plans show the same rudder profile. There is a basic aerodynamic reason for the shape of my rudder. When I first posted pics of the rudder I caught a lot of flack (another aeronautical refrence ) for it. I figure the worst case is it doesn't work and I make another. If it works I have a nice lite helm that takes very little pressure to counter any weather helm.

Frank, the Rudder has been a much discussed topic of late. Some are going to a barndoor rudder. Others are changing the angle that the rudder hangs. All in an attempt to make it better. The biggest complaint has been the rudder being too deep and having to kick-up or excessave weather helm. I hope to have solved both. Maybe. :?

If you don't have any problem with weatherhelm or kicking up I don't see any reason to change.

Bob