Ida Sailor kickup rudder

Posted By: Craig Bryant WWP-19 Portland, OR
Date: 11/5/09 3:47p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: It sounds like that 1 piece is better than two (kickup) for handling (Eric, P-19 and Zuma, Austin,TX)

I have used the original wooden kickup rudder from IM, the one piece wooden rudder that IM used to sell (which I think is based on a design done by Judy B), and two different versions of the IdaSailor kickup rudder. My current rudder is the IdaSailor Unifoil (see http://www.idasailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34&products_id=683), and as far as I can tell, it performs every bit as well as the wooden one-piece rudder I used to use. It does not tend to kick up when I dont want it to, and it is easy to pull up when I want to. I did have IdaSailor modify the design of the foil somewhat to make it more balanced - that is, the foil extends a bit forward of the pivot point to reduce helm loads. I leave this rudder on my boat all the time, as I have a mast crutch that inserts into the post for trailering, and the rudder blade folds 180 degrees, rather than the 90 degrees of the original wooden kickup rudder (which had poor performance).