Rudder:
Elliptical vs. Original
Date
Modified: 30 Jan 2007
Due
to some challenges of steering the boat downwind
in a blow, some Olson 30's were fitted with elliptical
rudders to improve handling. The elliptical rudder
is an approved alternative rudder by the National
Olson 30 Association.
-
Original rudder: Shown in light grey in diagram.
Weight: approx 26 lb
- Elliptical
rudder: Shown in dark grey in diagram. Weight:
36 lb, 10 oz
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Olson
sailor comments about the rudder:
We
sailed Foreigner for 18 months with the elliptical rudder.
The chord was not good, very flat, but the rumors are
true, it does give much better control downwind and even
with the asymmetrical spinnaker up. Saves many a wipeout.
We now sail Perfect Balance with the normal rudder and
although the shape is much better and it is a little faster
downwind in light air, it is not a patch on the elliptical.
A stainless post is a must, the stresses are too large
for a glass post.
When
she starts to wipe out though, you can give an almighty
heave on the tiller and she will dip down wind. I had
to be brutal at times, but, unlike the standard rudder,
large alterations of rudder angle actually made a difference.
-
Richard Sharpe
I
used to have both types available.
The downwind control was better of course as many have
noted....but I even found that I had much better upwind
tacking control when winds were over 23-25+kts with the
ellipitcal. I didnt notice much difference between stock
and elliptical upwind in wind less than 20 kts.
Just my opinion
Lorenzo Rota
Spirit #119
I'm
new to driving O-30's, but here are a few personal observations
that agree with most everything that others have shared
with me. We have both the original and the elliptical,
and I'm still in the process learning them.
General: The original rudder is less balanced than the
elliptical - as the rudder loads up, the tiller loads
up more with the original than with the elliptical.
Upwind: The original has more "feel". The elliptical
likes less tiller movement. The elliptical seems to reduce
weather helm (larger area?).
Power reaching: The original works fine if the trimmers
do their part to help the driver. The elliptical provides
more control for the same crew effort.
For the short-handed crowd: Tim Knowles suggested that
the elliptical should work better with an auto pilot than
the original.
Sam X McFadden
It
is felt that they are a little slower in light air conditions
as they have more wetted surface area and have a little
less "feel" than the standard rudders. I've
owned and sailed with both. The elliptical rudder does
shine when reaching or running in a situation where you
are sailing on the edge. The better crews can survive
quite well without it.
Bill Vosteen
We've
had our Olson for 15 years now; started with the original
rudder, went to the elliptical soon after, went back to
the original about 3 years later.
I
still have the elliptical in the garage, I wouldn't use
anything other than the eilliptical for an ocean race
with big waves and big winds, or a distance race likely
to have lots of power reaching.
In
my case (although my crew contends I have an "Iron
butt"), the original rudder gives me much better
feel going to weather around the buoys, and with mostly
windward/leeward courses these days, the elliptical just
wouldn't save many crashes going fairly square downwind.
The original rudder also has considerably less wetted
surface, for lower drag.
That
having been said, I've been passed to weather by really
"great" drivers with the elliptical rudder (I
guess you have to "use the force").
As
far as someone's comment regarding the fact that you "have
to have a stainless post" poppycock!!! The early
ellipticals had stainless posts, with very little "memory"
and a lot of strength. Once the post yields, it retains
it's bent status, making the rudder unusable (ask Dave
Carrel of "Speedy Gonzales", who lost an elliptical
half way to Honolulu from SF, or Dave Oliver from "Zephyros"
from many years ago). The unistrand post is the ONLY way
to go, they're indestructible, repairable when worn, and
plenty strong in our typical 25 knot SF winds. A stainless
post will only cause folks much grief.
anyway,
my two cents... Andy Macfie, HOOT
