replacement rudder

We've just finished the first season racing our Laser 28 and while love the boat, we're not too psyched about the rudder. Our boat has the short rudder and we've been losing it, mostly going upwind in heavy air. I understand that a lot of this is our fault, not enough weight, not dumping the main quickly enough, etc. The other Laser 28 in my area has the longer rudder and this has never been an issue.

Can any of you who have replaced your rudder comment on who designed/built it and how you like the results? Are there any stock "long" rudders still kicking around anywhere that I might be able to buy?

thanks, Andy

Bill, how would I know which rudder I have? What is the length of the long or short rudder?

Cayuga, in my opinion if you are "loosing it" upwind a longer rudder may help you keep control longer but you'll still be dog slow. To win, you simply can't sail the boat with that much weather helm.

We have raced the past year and a half if winds averaging between 20-25 with the standard rudder and never had a problem. It is a given that this boat needs weight on the rail at all times. If the boat is kept upright where it sails best, the rudder is no problem. I think weight on the rail and proper sail selection, sail adjustments, and an active main sail trimmer are more the answer than a longer rudder.

I've not seen the longer rudder, but I got a sketch of it with drawings I received from Farr, and I would not use it owing to the increased wetted surface. It looks to be effectively the same rudder, extended at the bottom and at the trailing edge. Too bad the alternate was not much less wide and higher in it's aspect ratio, but it was designed a long time ago.

With a deep set of callipers you can plot the offsets of the rudder and then use them to make a pattern. Trace the current rudder and then make a few patters with balsa wood and sandwich them between blocks of a high density foam, say 7lbs/ft3. Then use a hot wire and bow hooked to a 12V battery and let the wire ride on the balsa ribs and cut out the new rudder shape.

Alternatively, do a surgery on y our existing blade. On one side only, cut down from the top along the stainless steel post using a sabre saw with a short blade and cut alongside the SS post. When you get to a fin, cut around that until you have cut all around the ss part staying very close to them. Dig out the foam on top of the SS bits, and then use a diamond wire saw to cut under the SS bits. This t type of saw is usually available in army supply outlets or MEC. It is simply a little cable with diamonds on it and a ring on each end to put your fingers through.

With the SS bits removed, the rest is simple. Lay in the new post and finds with Epoxy and filler using micro ballon on the last layer and fair up the cutout portion. The original foam is extremely high density, but you can replace it with either the same or an epoxy filler.

Wasn't there a guy parting out a Laser just a year or two ago , I wonder if the rudder is around still ?