if it is an old school rudder i would take a rounding over bit on a router and do every edge. then sand it to get it allitle bit more like the original. of course this wont work if your planing to race but for a day on the lake should be fine.
First, make sure that your new maple rudder blank is the same thickness as the
original (so the rudder fittings - pintles, and the tiller fittings will fit on it.) Then scribe a line about 1.5 inches in from the leading and trailing edges. Then take a nice, sharp plane and do a little rudder sculpture. The leading edge should be rounded over but still tapered a little into your scribed line. The trailing edge should end up sharper and less rounded. If your finished product looks a little like the cross section of a brown trout with flat sides in the middle, you have nailed it and will have a fairly good hydrofoil with fairly low drag and good steering characteristics. Enjoy - it's a fun project.
Alan, Joe -
Thanks for your input. I have been hassling with this for a while. I got the edges down by using the circular saw on a 45 degree angle. Next comes the sander. We'll see how it works. I guess I should have checked the thickness first though, eh?
if its not the right thickness if you have one you can put it through a planer. if you dont have one and have any buddies in wood working they should have one.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.