[Sentoa] Rudder Position Indicator

[Mike Rogoza]

Hi Chuck,
How was the additional rudder material fabricated and added? Has anyone had experience with an "articulated" rudder for better low speed handling?

Mike Rogoza
Gadabout
32052
Olympia, WA
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Chuck Leavitt 
  To: South East Nordic Tugs Owners' Association (SENTOA) 
  Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 7:10 AM
  Subject: Re: [Sentoa] Rudder Position Indicator


  Good morning,
  Suggest that your rudder would work at slow speed if it were bigger. A ratio of length ahead to the rudder post to length aft of the rudder post of about 4.5:1 seems to improve low engine RPM steering. The size of the rudder depends upon the high speed  capability of your boat. A high (15+ knots) boat uses a small rudder as the larger rudder makes steering at cruising speed overly sensitive. So, if one has a high speed boat and wants control at idle engine RPM, use short bursts of higher engine RPM or a thruster. If you have a low speed boat (7 - 10 knots), use a large rudder.

  I added 2.5 inches to the length aft of the rudder post on the factory installed rudder. The boat now steers in reverse at idle engine speed. I intend to add another 1.5 inches during the '09 spring haulout to obtain improved low speed steering in windy conditions. Cruising speed is 6.5 knots. 

  Every day spent on the water adds a day to your life. Why go over 7 knots?.

  Have a great week.
  Chuck Leavitt
  SEAHORSE 26-112
  Langley, WA


  Simon Bergen-Henengouwen wrote: 
I agree with having the rudder position known but wonder about using 
the rudder when backing out of a slip.  I have found that the rudder 
does little if anything when backing up out of a slip.  I maintain 
directional control with the bow thruster when backing out.  The 
rudder is only useful when going forward as it is then in the 
slipstream of the prop, not when moving in reverse.  At least that is 
how it was explained to me by a captain who showed us how to run our 
boat.  Where it is very useful is after you have backed out of slip 
(or going into a slip) and now need to steer the boat with 
application of forward power.  Having it in the wrong position could 
lead to embarrassing results. Just adding my two cents here :)

Simon
Sinoma
NT32-217 (2002)




At 08:46 AM 2/11/2009, you wrote:
  I love ours!  Sure helps when backing out of the slip.

John & Lynn Poltere
Charisma 26-147
Channel Islands Harbor, CA & Whidbey Island, WA

In a message dated 2/11/2009 2:51:58 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
tugchilula at yahoo.com writes:
I am thinking that knowing the rudder position during docking would 
be a helpful addition to our tug? I see there is a variety of types 
and manufactures out there.  I am curious what others have to say on this.

Mike Arnold
"Chilula" 26103
3659 Sourwood Trail
Cleveland, TN 37312





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