: Hi Mike, I have never sailed with a balanced rudder so I hope I don't have
: too much area forward of the pivot. If I do I can change it. At the moment
: my rudder will not be 90 degree virtical but just aft a few degrees. This
: would give less ballance. Before I change this I think I will try it
: first.

: John

: Here is a link to the Water Tribe Rudder that may be of some interest.
: http://www.watertribe.com/Magazine/Y2006/M01/SteveIsaacWTRudder.aspx

Hi John,
If the blade can pivot back, not much modification would be needed. You can adjust the balance to what feels best. There were a few boats in the past I wish had that ability.
Think of a bicycle with the tyre contact point being the same point as the steering point on the ground. Great maneuvrability but no directional stability, the slightest input has a huge effect. The word 'Twitchy' was invented for this.

Thanks for the post on epoxy not hardening off. It's happened a few times to me and I could never figure it out. Dampness. Oh joy, I live in a country with "grand soft weather". Irish for wet.

I heard that in some places one can tell the direction of North by looking at the moss on trees. Don't work here, the moss grows all round the trees here. (hmm, probably explains the Irish style of direction giving)

Mike Savage
South West Cork