I’ve gone from
Beneteau First 25 (dual rudder) to
Beneteau 31 (single) to Beneteau 35.1 (dual) to now Beneteau 41.1 (single)… I think your 349 is a sister ship to the 35.1 — here’s my tips:
1) A
rudder is not a
rudder. The dual
outboard canted rudders can be half the length/depth of a
single centered deep spade rudder and they just act differently because they are canted well
outboard and shallower when
docking. So, think about them differently and be ready for it!
2) a
single rudder feels in
docking like you are docking on rails… as the
boat coasts in and slows, you don’t lose steerage until you are almost full stop. Dual rudders — outboard and canted feel drifty in comparison — just picture yourself in a canoe with the oar somewhat in the
water and canted out trying to steer; then picture yourself
steering with the oar centered straight down and dug in deep — that’s what I think about when docking single vs dual, because with dual rudders you loose steerage sooner, but, you lose that in-a-groove feeling sooner too and you feel the drift… on the First 25, 20+ knots on the
dock, with a shared slip, single-handing — oh my, good times
3) dual outboard canted rudders (especially here in the Port of Los Angeles) are kelp magnets. They are not as protected as a single rudder that’s directly behind the
keel. I carried a folding 8” Silky Gomboy, that required me to be tethered to my jackline, lying on my stomach, reaching down over the stern to cut off kelp — with roots it could be 50lbs — in order to neither sail, nor have to
dock with that affecting steerage. You’ll know what I mean when your
boat slows right down in forward idle and
steering feels all gummy. Try docking with THAT.
4) last tip is I’ve had more success thinking about a ‘rectangle’ approach to docking maneuvers than a more swooping ‘oval’ approach. With dual rudders it’s harder to rectangle and you end up swooping when your speed is down and the
wind is up
Hope this helps! Congrats on the 349 — great choice!!