Hello,
I'm wondering how critical the location of the rudder pivot (and with it the entire rudder) is. To be more specific, the rules allow the pivot point to be 9" from the transom, but it also needs to be 1" above the projected line of the hull bottom. As I see it the two factors are longitudinal location vs. the submerged surface of the rudder. As the rudder moves aft from the transom (increasing it's leverage) it must also come up (decreasing it's submerged surface area). So has anyone experimented with the placement to see if there is a discernible difference?
I am working on a new aluminum head for my rudder. I'd rather not figure out after the fact that the pivot could have been better placed. The stock fiberglass head I have has the pivot at 7.5" back and 1.5" up, but I haven't had a chance to sail yet (just bought the boat a few weeks ago) so I have no idea how that feels.