DaySailer.org Forum

A (non-racing) customer's current wooden rudder assembly has 3/32 inch aluminum cheeks whose bolt and rivet holes have enlarged over the years, making the entire assemble sloppy and inefficient.

Barring the issue of extra weight at the rear of the boat, is there any other reason why replacing these cheeks with stainless would not be a reasonable idea?

rcsails (urlpro-at-aol.com)

No. In fact you could use thinner pieces of stainless and reduce the added weight. The set up on my 76 uses fiberglass cheeks.

CC

Collin Casey (gybe-it-at-houston.rr.com)

My homemade rudder head has 3/16" aluminum cheeks which are stable light enough. Not as light as glass though. If I had to, think I'd consider stailess for durability.