I've started making the new rudder using 48x48mm spruce planks glued together, cut the basic shape and started to shape the foil.
To my eye the rudder look ENORMOUS in size... even though the underwater profile is not a lot bigger than the original, if you compare the size behind the axle. I've basically just added the balanced section and some 10cm of height. Does it look too big in your eyes, or is it just me?
Anyway, now I've faced a real problem.
The original rudder had a small skeg (see photo). I was planning on extending it up to the transom level. But don't seem to have any idea about the size/shape in comparison to the rudder.
Ideas, please? Size, shape - or cut most of it off?
Things to be taken account:
1) I still have no fittings for the rudder/skeg -link, which means the skeg will not add any support. I will make plywood (rudder)/steel (transom) fittings suggested by you people in the other topic, and at the moment it seems that the rudder will thus be only transom-hung.
2) the balanced part of the rudder can be cut to shape in any way needed - and even the rest can be cut a bit, if needed.
3) If needed, I could in theory make the rudder more vertical, if I'd set the upper rudder fitting on a block of some kind to make it protrude 5 or 10 cm from the transom.
4) Because of the fittings, the rudder axle will already be set some 5-8 cm away from the transom
5) In the photo the rudder is 10-15 cm lower than the planned setting. I had nobody to help keep it in the right place for the photo :)