I'm surprised the Sunfish class has lasted from the 50's with all the weatherhelm caused by the incorrect angle of the rudder.
If the class is going to make a change to the rudder shape and position why not just use a laser rudder. This would allow LP to keep the cost down ($161.39) and would allow the Sunfish to have the more vertical rudder that the users are looking for. I look at the propsosed rudder shape and this looks like a throw back to the orginal Sunfish rudder from the 50's. Using the laser rudder would allow sailors to get used to this shape as they progress from Sunfish to Lasers.
Wow, i think you guys need to get your heads out of the sand and look at the bigger picture . Is the new proposed rudder aimed (a)solely for the benefit of current owners or (b) is the hope that it will also stimulate interest in the class from sailors outside the class. If the answer is "a" then good luck; from the response on this forum and the general apathy amongst current members i dont think it will make a blind bit of difference whichever way the vote goes.The class will remain insular, newcomers will be put off and numbers will continue to diminish.
If on the other hand the answer is "a" and "b" then for god sake do things properly. Have a decent rudder which is vertical not some compromised version of the existing monstrosity. Furthermore the existing mainsheet system and sail controls should be modified in a similar fashion to the Laser
We live in the 21st century, with numerous designs competeing for marketshare if the boat is to continue its appeal it should be marketed to reflect this not some nostalgic dinosaur.
And for those people who bemoan the cost, look upon it as a cheap opportunity to enhance your beloved boat without the expense of buying a new one. As for those citing the one design nature of the class ;well so mis the Laser and it certainly didnt do that class any harm.
Two of lasers biggest sellers in Europe over the last 30 years have been the Laser standard and the Dart Catamaran. The former introduced new sail controls in the face of increased competition back in 2001 and immediately opened up a whole new market to woman and youths. There was no increase in performance but it just became more manageable and a whole nicer sailing experience.. The boat continues to sell in huge numbers.
On the other hand the members of the Dart association continually disregarded calls for change. The boat clearly needed improved rudders ,mainsheet and sail controls to ward off competition from newer more efficient classes. They were never approved and Europes largest Catamaran class (which once boasted over 300 boats at a world championship) is now all but dead , no longer built by Laser and only attracting a few old regulars. How different this story may have been if the class had been more open to evoloution as was the Laser
I think there is a great opportunity to breathe new life into the class; i only hope its not wasted !!!
Example - Using the same size blade area, one rudder in the old position, one rudder in the new position.
The new rudder position will have less weather helm as the pivot point has been moved closer to the center pressure on the boat.
The new rudder position will have to be turned more than the old rudder position for the same amount of turn, as the pivot point has been moved closer to the center pressure on the boat. which will cause more drag.
In this example the new rudder position will have more drag than the old rudder position for the same size blade. More drag will slow the boat down. If the new blade has more area than the current blade, this will cause even more drag and slow the boat even more.
Since, one design races are won with slight speed differences; I will stick with my old rudder position and put up with some weather helm to be faster.
Example - Using the same size blade area, one rudder in the old position, one rudder in the new position.
The new rudder position will have less weather helm as the pivot point has been moved closer to the center pressure on the boat.
The new rudder position will have to be turned more than the old rudder position for the same amount of turn, as the pivot point has been moved closer to the center pressure on the boat. which will cause more drag.
In this example the new rudder position will have more drag than the old rudder position for the same size blade. More drag will slow the boat down. If the new blade has more area than the current blade, this will cause even more drag and slow the boat even more.
Since, one design races are won with slight speed differences; I will stick with my old rudder position and put up with some weather helm to be faster.