My ideal setup might combine this with Robert's last comment:
drum-mounted foil rudders with speer cross sections that will work in
either direction. If mounted outside the hull, this would allow the
following:
- Kick-up in either direction if you mount the whole assembly
properly.
- Nearly-balanced helm (the speer sections would be less balanced
than a directional rudder)
- Variable foil depth without changing helm balance.
- The ability to use a whipstaff or tiller with a simple system.
It would require stronger foils than an in-hull design, but that's
not an impossible task.
You could also go with directional foils and a single wheel, which
could rotate 360 degrees if desired.
I'd probably combine this with a mini tandem keel, partly to take
stress off the rudders, but mostly to provide some protection for the
rudders when they are at minimum depth in skinny water.
The downside would be the bearings, which would be more complex than
either the current hull-mounted or beam-mounted rudders.
- Mike
oceanplodder2003 wrote:
Apart from Rob's entirely rational dislike of holes in hulls, could this be of interest
http://www.socasailboats.com/ VARA_System/ body_vara_ system.html