For a quick and easy way to build a rudder, the following is hard to 
beat, in my opinion. I built a rudder this way and it worked out well.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/howto/boards/index.htm

Here is another method which gives a better foil section, although it is 
more work.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/howto/rudder/index.htm

If you didn't want to use plywood, I think it would be pretty easy to 
substitute flat glass panels.

Check out some of the other rudder or foil articles in Duckworks. 
Although low tech, there is a lot of good, practical info.

Cheers, Paul

I was wondering what the current "best practice" idea is for 

building a

simple rudder (I need to build 2 for my plywood proa, from last 

year). I was

considering trying to make it as one panel, with no core material 

at the

leading edge and bending the fiberglass 180 degrees, but the 

practice piece

I made seemed like that was too much of a bend for the 

fiberglass. It seemed

like it wanted to delaminate, because the outer layers had to be 

longer than

the inner layers to make the curve.

My next idea was to build the rudder in two halves, using Derek 

Kelsall's

deck edge radius type scheme and glue the 2 halves together, but 

I wasn't

sure of being able to make a good bond on the inside of the curve.

Finally, I guess I could just carve foam, and layup the 

fiberglass over it

and then vacuum bag it.

What is the current thinking? I would like something pretty 

simple, and it

doesn't need to last long, but I would like to get it done soon 

so that I

can try out the proa sailing this summer.

Thanks,
- Gardner

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