26X High Performance Rudders

A forum for discussion of how to rig and tune your boat or kicker to achieve the best sailing performance.
waltpm
Chief Steward
Posts: 68
Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 2:11 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY

rudders

Post by waltpm »

Tim, where did you get the bushings? Are they a two piece unit .if not how do you get flanges on each side.
hamshog

Post by hamshog »

I broke one of my rudders on my 26M but it was due to stupidity. I asked Joel at Ida Sailor to make me a set which he did. Best move I have made. They are made from a solid peice of polyboard, they are solid not water filled and perform MUCH better that the cheap resin Macgregor rudders. If you want better performance and not have to worry about your rudder cracking call Joel. www.idasailor.com. Money well spent.

Lynn Massingham
26M
hamshog

Post by hamshog »

I broke one of my rudders on my 26M but it was due to stupidity. I asked Joel at Ida Sailor to make me a set which he did. Best move I have made. They are made from a solid peice of polyboard, they are solid not water filled and perform MUCH better that the cheap resin Macgregor rudders. If you want better performance and not have to worry about your rudder cracking call Joel. www.idasailor.com. Money well spent.

Lynn Massingham
26M
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Jeff S
First Officer
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 2:13 pm
Location: Cherry Point, NC 2000 26X Tohatsu 50

Post by Jeff S »

hamshog wrote:I broke one of my rudders on my 26M but it was due to stupidity. I asked Joel at Ida Sailor to make me a set which he did. Best move I have made. They are made from a solid peice of polyboard, they are solid not water filled and perform MUCH better that the cheap resin Macgregor rudders. If you want better performance and not have to worry about your rudder cracking call Joel. www.idasailor.com. Money well spent.

Lynn Massingham
26M
I believe they would likely be more durable than the stock rudders, however by what metric do they perform better?

Jeff S
hamshog

Post by hamshog »

I don't know what you mean by what metric they would be better. With the old rudders I had a lot of trouble turning at different times and holding the boat to weather. The new Ida rudders as all but eliminated those problems. Definetely the construction is 100 % better.
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Jeff S
First Officer
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 2:13 pm
Location: Cherry Point, NC 2000 26X Tohatsu 50

Post by Jeff S »

I simply meant what measurement of performance are you using to say the are better than the stock rudder other than the durability. You answered the question.

I read the advertisement that suggests it generates more lift and less drag so I was wondering if you meant the rudders offered a better response or you were able to go faster overall. It is difficult to make a foil that gives better lift and decreased drag. I assume by making the rudder out of more sturdy material they were able to cut down the cross section and possibly the overall length which would reduce drag significantly. Simply increasing the lift generated by the foils would increase drag, however it may be able to achieve the same lift at lower angles of attack if it were more efficient, and possibly achieve higher angles of attack overall giving it the rudder authority that you seem to be getting.

The drag coefficient effect difference between the rudders would actually be pretty small. If your rudders were getting overpowered by the boat's weather helm (which is what I assume you meant) the motion of rounding up and falling off would be a far greater speed issue than any drag and the rudders would be well worth it in that case, not to mention the durabilty. If excessive weather helm was an issue before have you adjusted your mast rake at all?

I also noticed IdaSailor's HDPE centerboard. Anyone have experience with it? It doesn't fill with water but has 8 lbs of lead in the tip- I wonder if the overall weight is the same a water filled CB? The weight distribution being lower would seem to be better with the CB fully extended.

Jeff S

Jeff S
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