OK everyone, research has paid off! I have had several long conversations with a principal of Idasailor, a manufacturer of rudders for sailboats. They have a design staff and engineers, do their own manufacturing and are versed in many types of construction. They are the builders of the carbon rudders for the Columbia 30 sportboat and many others.
We have agreed that they will build our rudders from glass to meet the class drawings and be in class spec. They will also offer to build them out of HDPE, an extremely strong mechanical plastic(read: will NOT absorb water!) that VC17 bottom adheres to tenaciously, again, to factory spec drawing and mid-80lbs. as our originals are, or mahogany or carbon fiber for a different cost.
Wait, this get's better...they can ship in about 2 weeks currently AND, for those cruisers and folks who don't want to keep suffering from bad design, a much more balanced (75% improvement)rudder -not class legal.
I have agreement that the costs will be as follows:
Factory spec HDPE $725;
optomized weather helm adjusted: $775; both carry a lifetime warranty,
Factory spec molded f'glass $925
Optomized and lightened(not class legal) $950
All plus shipping - UPS able.
For those prices why not get two, one for racing and one to cruise with! Or, you and a friend share the cost of a cruising rudder to share?
Keep in mind that I do not have blessings from fleet measurer etc. to use these folks - yet. Being sailors who appreciate our position and compassion about our boat, I feel that they will back us on this move and why wouldn't they? The rudders will be built to the specs for the original rudder, just not blessed by the holy committee.
Please ask for Joel when ordering, he is familiar with our need. 1-866-400-2204 (Idaho)
