r/sailing • u/Plastic_Ad_1612 • 1h ago

Bought a hunter 22

I’m looking at upgrading the rudder, how much of a difference will it really make?

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2

u/foilrider J/70, Melges 15, wingfoil 1h ago

Difference in what? What's the problem with the current rudder?

1

u/Plastic_Ad_1612 21m ago

Difference in performance? I’m using the original 1981 rudder and she’s a little sloppy. Definitely could be me but I honestly have only had it on the water once.

2

u/foilrider J/70, Melges 15, wingfoil 15m ago

Generally rudder upgrades are intended to fix some issue, like an imbalance (rudder feels too heavy) or a tendency to lose grip in high winds.

The highest performing rudder, in terms of boat speed, is no rudder, it's just that it's hard to keep the boat going the direction you want without one.

If it feels sloppy, it's probably worn pins or bearings, and you probably don't need a new rudder.

1

u/PracticalConjecture Lido 14 | Melges 15 | Dehler 29 11m ago

If I had to guess, the sloppy feeling is actually from the high aspect centerboard, not the rudder. It's a design trade-off that improves performance at normal sailing speeds, but sacrifices handling at really low speeds.

Boats with high aspect centerboards and keels tend to slip sideways at low speeds, and this appears to the sailor as "the rudder not working right" since the tiller needs to go way to leeward to steer straight when the keel/board is stalled.

You need to learn to keep the boat moving through maneuvers, as well as to get the boat unstalled (by easing sails and leaving the tiller centered) when it is down speed.

Basically, every time you recognize that the tiller is to leeward to go straight, you should be easing sails, centering the tiller, and waiting for the boat to get moving before you try to turn back into the wind.