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Thread: New Rudder for JouJou this Christmas

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    132

    Default New Rudder for JouJou this Christmas

    As I had some rudder issues on my 1984 Capo 30 JouJou during this year's LongPac, I decided to go ahead and preemptively replace and upgrade my rudder and rudder bearings ahead of the 2018 SH Transpac. Phase I is getting the rudder built and installed, Phase II is sea trials and feedback on differences (and hopefully improvements) in boat performance with the old vs. new rudder. This posting is about Phase I of the project - I plan to have a follow-up post in the New Year on how the boat sails with the new rudder.

    After shopping around a bit, I chose Larry Tuttle of Waterat Sailing Equipment (Watsonville, CA) to design and build the new rudder. There were cheaper options, but for such a key piece of equipment I thought that Larry's experience with similar boats (Olson 34 and 911S, Wilderness 30, etc.) and his relative physical proximity were worth the extra money. I also like to support local maritime businesses when I can. I pulled the existing rudder with the boat in the water and brought it to Larry's shop to measure and to discuss design options. He was very patient with my stupid questions and took a good hour to talk me through his proposed design and some of the trade-offs inherent in such an undertaking.

    One important consideration was whether to stick with the simple bushing-style rudder bearings of the current rudder, or to upgrade to Jefa self-aligning roller bearings as part of the project. With a higher aspect ratio rudder there is more torque and therefor more pressure exerted on the bottom bearing. But installing the Jefa bearing is a big and expensive job, so after much debate I decided to start with just replacing the current plastic bushings and, if this proves inadequate, upgrade to roller bearings later.

    I got the new rudder from Larry a couple of weeks ago and I hauled the boat out at SF Boatworks last week. See attached a few pictures to compare and contrast the old and new rudder designs. The surface areas of the two designs are essentially the same. As I understand it, the higher aspect ratio design of the new rudder will provide more lift, improving boat balance, and the deeper draft will help improve control particularly when heeled (I am sure there is much more to this). In addition to the difference in aspect ratios, the new rudder is also significantly thinner and weighs 30 lbs less.

    While the boatyard is giving her a new bottom job, my job over the Holidays is to pull the old bushings and have new bushing machined to fit the new rudder stock and JouJou's existing rudder tube. Of course on hauling the boat other problems were found, so there is going to be more time and $ required than originally estimated (isn't there always?). I hope to have her back in the water second week of Jan. in time for the TBF. I will post a follow-up note on differences (if any) in boat handling I see with my shiny new rudder and whether I am going to have to upgrade to roller bearings as well.
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Posts
    3,485

    Default

    That’s a very pretty new rudder. Does Larry know that I have been invited to sail on JouJou for the January midwinters? Should I call him? He will probably want my opinion about how the boat handles as I steer while you manage the foredeck? Looking forward to it. No pressure.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    3,688

    Default

    When Greg raced on JouJou he tossed us cookies. (He didn't "toss his cookies" - he tossed US cookies.) Philpott, are you going to toss us cookies?

    Nice rudder Tom! It looks familiar:

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Santa Rosa
    Posts
    644

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    At the expense of friendships (and other kinds of "boat/ship" relations, I must remind folks that the PHRF Committee likes to know about modifications that might enhance performance. It is the "performance" part of the ratings we all have to put up with in order to create a somewhat level sailing field. A review of the PHRF Committee's meetings and decisions can be found on the YRA website to give an idea of the kind ofd modifications that are submitted for consideration. Some seem minor, but results in rating modification.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    3,688

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    Yep, declared when installed - NCTR

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    2,095

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    Wow, that’s sweet. Carbon post and all. My efforts are primitive in comparison.
    I hope to finish in January so my 2018 PHRF cert will take the new blade into consideration.
    1968 Selmer Series 9 B-flat and A clarinets
    1962 Buesher "Aristocrat" tenor saxophone
    Piper One Design 24, Hull #35; "Alpha"

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Arnold, CA
    Posts
    586

    Default

    "When Greg raced on JouJou he tossed us cookies. (He didn't "toss his cookies" - he tossed US cookies.)"

    Actually Tom tossed his homemade cookies
    Credit where due!!

    Nice looking foil Tom. It'll be nice to hear how it performs.

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