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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 0:17:35 GMT
We was in Stanilands Dry Dock for a fortnight in June for anti-fouling and black gloss painting the hull. If we got those two jobs done i had promised myself that I would do something to improve the functionality of the rudder. Ever since I had taken delivery of the shell i had thought that the rudder was a bit small and that enlarging it would improve the steering and slow speed maneuvering particularly on confined waters such as canals. When discussing the rudder with the boat builder and naval architect i had insisted that the rudder should not protrude beyond the profile of the stern, so maybe I was responsible. Due to my pathetic attempts and failures in posting multiples of photos you will have to bear with me and my multiple posts. In a previous dry-docking i had put some horizontal plates on the top and bottom of the rudder to help reduce upward wash, and installed a sort of cowl over the propeller, as pictured.
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 0:45:50 GMT
The newly modified and painted rudder, completed just before float-out. You can just make out the the original shape of the rudder.
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 0:50:35 GMT
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 0:58:46 GMT
Having finished the rudder and about to flood the dry dock i started looking at the "balance" section. Time had run out this time but I will probably add a few inches to the leading edge next time we're in dry dock.
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 1:09:29 GMT
The finished article. Having done sea trials, it seems that it was worth the effort. There is noticeably more effort required on the wheel when manoeuvering and power is full on. However the boat handling is much better at slow speeds in confined spaces. Less use of the bow thruster has got to be good.
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 1:47:38 GMT
A frontal. The last time in this dock i made a fairing forward of the bow thruster tube. I've also made and fitted a stainless steel plate for the anchor to sit against.
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Post by patty on Sept 28, 2019 6:20:48 GMT
A frontal. The last time in this dock i made a fairing forward of the bow thruster tube. I've also made and fitted a stainless steel plate for the anchor to sit against. She's such a beautiful boat.....
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Post by NigelMoore on Sept 28, 2019 9:01:22 GMT
I always fancied an articulating rudder myself; built a working model, but it is a project for the future.
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Post by peterboat on Sept 28, 2019 9:59:54 GMT
Its definitely a boaty boat stunning
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 14:19:40 GMT
Ahh, your last picture comes up as 'image not found or removed' and is now just a blue box.. I've still got the 6 photos still present that I posted on this thread tomos. 😊
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Post by bargemast on Sept 28, 2019 15:10:51 GMT
A frontal. The last time in this dock i made a fairing forward of the bow thruster tube. I've also made and fitted a stainless steel plate for the anchor to sit against. These sure are nice photo's of a very nice boat Joe, a vessel to be proud of, I have no doubt you are, and rightfully so. The work you did to your rudder will help at least a bit for easier manoeuvring, but I see a few things that I would have done slightly different if it was my boat. I tell you what I would have done, 1/ make that half tunnel above the prop slope slightly downwards to help the thrust being pushed down instead of up and over the rudder, 2/ weld a horizontal flat plate on each side of the rudder maybe about 1 inch above this half tunnel sloping downwards too, this would probably not be an easy thing to do as is, as there are some rudder fittings in the way, the top flat plate as it is now looks on your photo to be about 3 to 4 inches below the half tunnel. That would surely make quite a difference in rudder efficiency and also less loss of valuable thrust. If you have the time (money and will) you could make a different rudder of the most efficient type that's used nowadays, the well known "Fishtail-rudder". On all the barges and boats that I've owned, I've never had a bow-thruster, but my rudders were well adapted, now I have an hydraulic bow-thruster on my twin engined trawler yacht that I bought in 2004, and I've never used the thing even once. It's going to cost me money next time I'm out off the water, as the seals have dried out or they've got glued to the bow-thruster shaft because of never using them, a couple of months ago some friends asked me if the BT was a helpful gadget, and if it pushed the boat hard enough, and when I tried it, after 15 years of not using it made a terrible noice, I think that the bearings have a rust problem now, which will be something else I'll have to do before I can offer the boat for sale, as a future buyer may want and/or need the BT. My boat, like yours, looks as good on the dry as in the water (at least that's what I tell myself ) Peter.
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Post by JohnV on Sept 28, 2019 15:11:36 GMT
me too Joe ....... the others are great photos though
Cygnus is a really stunning boat
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Post by JohnV on Sept 28, 2019 15:13:39 GMT
just seen Peter's shots of Joy out of the water ..... another beautiful (as Peterboat would put it) boaty boat
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Post by bargemast on Sept 28, 2019 15:25:06 GMT
just seen Peter's shots of Joy out of the water ..... another beautiful (as Peterboat would put it) boaty boat Here a photo of "JOY" in the water, a bit of a misty day, but you can still see the boat. Peter.
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Post by cygnus on Sept 28, 2019 16:06:28 GMT
A frontal. The last time in this dock i made a fairing forward of the bow thruster tube. I've also made and fitted a stainless steel plate for the anchor to sit against. These sure are nice photo's of a very nice boat Joe, a vessel to be proud of, I have no doubt you are, and rightfully so. The work you did to your rudder will help at least a bit for easier manoeuvring, but I see a few things that I would have done slightly different if it was my boat. I tell you what I would have done, 1/ make that half tunnel above the prop slope slightly downwards to help the thrust being pushed down instead of up and over the rudder, 2/ weld a horizontal flat plate on each side of the rudder maybe about 1 inch above this half tunnel sloping downwards too, this would probably not be an easy thing to do as is, as there are some rudder fittings in the way, the top flat plate as it is now looks on your photo to be about 3 to 4 inches below the half tunnel. That would surely make quite a difference in rudder efficiency and also less loss of valuable thrust. If you have the time (money and will) you could make a different rudder of the most efficient type that's used nowadays, the well known "Fishtail-rudder". On all the barges and boats that I've owned, I've never had a bow-thruster, but my rudders were well adapted, now I have an hydraulic bow-thruster on my twin engined trawler yacht that I bought in 2004, and I've never used the thing even once. It's going to cost me money next time I'm out off the water, as the seals have dried out or they've got glued to the bow-thruster shaft because of never using them, a couple of months ago some friends asked me if the BT was a helpful gadget, and if it pushed the boat hard enough, and when I tried it, after 15 years of not using it made a terrible noice, I think that the bearings have a rust problem now, which will be something else I'll have to do before I can offer the boat for sale, as a future buyer may want and/or need the BT. My boat, like yours, looks as good on the dry as in the water (at least that's what I tell myself ) Peter. That certainly is a beautiful boat. Some good ideas, thank you for the input. If I had twin engines and a bow thruster though, I wouldn't bother with altering the rudder at all. They really do make handling a boat in tight areas a doddle. As it is i have a single, vintage, slow revving Gardner, driving a boat that is 50 tons, 60' x 14', and moored in a marina full of GRP boats. Just to get into my mooring i have to do a full 360° spin within the marina. I have considered reversing through the tight gap into the marina from the canal but we have some strong currents at times and they can really embarrassed you. I could sell tickets just for the entertainment some days. 😀 Joe
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