Can a Rudder be Modified and Used for Sculling ?

[otherthan]

I was looking into sculling oars and noticed the best where flexible much like divers fines.
just wondering if a rudder can be used for sculling, not the original rudder but one home made with a longer flexible tail.
need to work on my rudder anyway

anny opinions?

[rebel heart]

You can scull with a rudder (I do it in my sailing dinghy). Helps a lot if you have a tiller and a light boat. The Pardey's talk about how they built their sculling oar (and where the oar lock(s) go if you want to check that out as well.

[s/v Beth]

On smaller boats with a transom mounted rudder I have used the rudder for short distances around the marina. I would not suggest modifying a large rudder- invest in some oars. I used a good set on my Catalina 27 with great success.

[otherthan]

the plan is to use it only to get out and inn the marina, trying to keep it simple, a 15ft oar is kind of in the way.

how whould a flexible rudder affect sailing?

[Joli]

It is said that the French Iron Man Eric Tabarly used a sweep in one of his larger Pen Duick's. The boat was built sans engine. One British crew reported seeing Eric emerge from the fog, standing on the transom of the 68 foot Pen Duick pushing the 35 ton boat with a 30 foot sweep.

You can add an oar lock and a sweep, just tie the rudder amidship.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by jobi

the plan is to use it only to get out and inn the marina, trying to keep it simple, a 15ft oar is kind of in the way.

how whould a flexible rudder affect sailing?

Think about it--the flexibility factor as a propulsion device, works as an in-efficiency factor in redirecting water flow when the boat is wind-driven.

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by Blue Stocking

Think about it--the flexibility factor as a propulsion device, works as an in-efficiency factor in redirecting water flow when the boat is wind-driven.

then the flexable part needs to be remouved once underway, a clip on or slide on finn

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by jobi

then the flexable part needs to be remouved once underway, a clip on or slide on finn

That would work--but wouldn't be less hassle to come up with a removable gunwale mounted oarlock, and a 2 piece sweep oar. I sailed an H-28 in the 70s on Georgian Bay and seem to remember big cockpit lockers for storage Jus sayin

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by jobi

I was looking into sculling oars and noticed the best where flexible much like divers fines.
just wondering if a rudder can be used for sculling, not the original rudder but one home made with a longer flexible tail.
need to work on my rudder anyway

anny opinions?

Yep, handy to make that extra foot when sailing onto a mooring in a 'Drifter'. Ooching at this point is also handy.

Cheers
OZ

[Bowline]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

You can scull with a rudder (I do it in my sailing dinghy). Helps a lot if you have a tiller and a light boat. The Pardey's talk about how they built their sculling oar (and where the oar lock(s) go if you want to check that out as well.

Rebel,

One early morning, a long time ago in Malta, I got 'marooned' in the middle of Grand Harbour. The dinghy's engine had given up the ghost, and no oars were carried. I used the tiller and rudder to scull back to the ship.
I take it that's how you scull your dinghy?

For the uninformed, you just have to watch where you are heading and apply heavy thrust in one direction, then pull the rudder gently back to the other side. By alternating the heavy thrust from port to starboard sides, you can 'zig-zag' to your destination. In my case it was either that or swim with the painter in my teeth!

Cheers
John Hook

[bruce smith]

Learn to scull first before you try to fix what ain't broke. http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6059/6...b32aa5_z_d.jpg

A rudder wagging around on the back of a boat is not sculling.

[zeehag]

skulling with a rudder is called ghosting. has been done for centuries.
is very sloow progress. why not use a get home trolling motor?

[bruce smith]

If you only want to go in and out of the marina , a flexing oar is pointless.
Flexing is about keeping a bit of full time push on the oar, for going in a straight line. In which case a yuloh is better. For in and out , a regular stiff oar will give better power for maneuvering, pivoting the boat 90 degrees, or even reversing and backing up .
!5 feet? the oar on my 12 tonner is not even that long. The one here , on my 23'er , is only about 8.

[micah719]

Build thee a Yuloh!

Single Oar propulsion - Yuloh, Ro, Scull...

WOODENBOAT NZ Sculling and Yuloh Page Three

Duckworks - The Easy Go Yuloh - Part One

Yuloh design cycles | Times Up Boating Association

[YOUTUBE VIDEO]

[Bowline]

Originally Posted by zeehag

skulling with a rudder is called ghosting. has been done for centuries.
is very sloow progress. why not use a get home trolling motor?

Zee,

Mainly because the Royal Navy didn't issue us with such luxuries, if there was any such thing in those days. Maybe an egg-whisk would have helped.

Mainly though, at 0500, in 1960s Grand Harbour there would be few people around to help. Still, as it was then, they expected us to think for ourselves. I was merely being nostalgic, whilst pointing out that a rudder and tiller can be used to propel a small boat. Sorry for any confusion.
Regards,
John Hook