Windmill Class Association

Windmillers,

Good news for those who are interested in a kickup or retractable type rudder. Following is an email conversation with Rick Loheed. Included in his response is a link that shows the hardware. Thank you Mr. Loheed.

Mr. Loheed,

I was wondering if you are contemplating the design and production of a retractable rudder. If built, I know some in the class that would prefer such a rudder.

Dan, The hardware I find right now is an extra 230 to 250.00 though (See http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d3000/e727.asp ), though it appears it includes the pintles but not the tiller arm or extension stick. I am hoping to design my own from aluminum, and cut it out with lightening holes.

Rick Loheed

:: Roy,
::
:: See my general post about rudder production- but to do
:: one for bright finish without glass will require
:: programming a thicker trailing edge. E-mail me with your
:: shipping address.
::
:: I have to source some good boxes and plan to use UPS so
:: there will be a shipping charge. Since you are the Chief
:: Measurer, this will be a good time to confirm I haven't
:: cut any junk! (I hope I have left enough material on the
:: top for the tiller, I haven't fitted one up yet. I'll
:: fit the first article to the DuraBilt this week.) Also,
:: there is some tolerancing required even when CNC
:: machining because it is wood for one thing. Thickness is
:: the hardest variable, so I have begun thickness planing
:: the entire lamination before fixturing on the machine.
::
:: Prices for this batch i will keep at $125 for the cedar
:: and white pine ones, $150 for the mahogany. I hope to
:: generate enough interest in this and new NACA 63A012
:: hybrid dagger boards to do another batch run.
::
:: I will work to set up my website for credit card or
:: PayPal payments this week but checks work too.
::
:: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzew00ta/loheed
::
:: Rick
::
:: :: Sounds like you are making great progress on finding the
:: :: best choice.
:: ::
:: :: I will take one of the blanks I can go up to $200 for a
:: :: blank.
:: ::
:: :: I will buy one if it turns out to be the cedar that I
:: :: have to glass that is fine too.
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: :: I currently have 3 workable rudders- one is the all
:: :: :: cedar first article and has some epoxy/microballon
:: :: :: filler where the roughing pass was too deep and didn't
:: :: :: clean up. It can go for the original quote, is nice and
:: :: :: accurate but of course needs glass and wouldn't be
:: :: :: pretty on one side if bright finished. I'll probably
:: :: :: glass it and use it as a practice rudder on my DuraBilt.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: The other 2 have mahogany leading edges with the
:: :: :: remainder of cedar. They do have very thin and weak
:: :: :: trailing edges but I epoxied any splits or tears in them
:: :: :: today. I plan to vacuum bag glass/epoxy over one of them
:: :: :: tomorrow but I can supply one bare for the original
:: :: :: quoted price. Vacuum bagging would provide the lightest
:: :: :: possible layup and add thickness to the trailing edge
:: :: :: but of course add cost. It wouldn't be too hard to cut
:: :: :: the trailing edges off and add a new hard piece,
:: :: :: dressing it with a hand plane to the trailing edge angle
:: :: :: but adds to the cost.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: I have laminated 2 more blanks today for carving
:: :: :: tomorrow I hope- only one is all mahogany (still
:: :: :: laminated) and the other is a test with some really
:: :: :: clean 'clear white pine' with a mahogany leading edge.
:: :: :: The Mahogany would be easy to bright finish without
:: :: :: glass but I hope to get $150 for a mahogany unfinished
:: :: :: blank. It is more difficult to prepare the tougher
:: :: :: mahogany and the material of course is more expensive
:: :: :: too.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: A hardwood trailing edge I will have to think about -
:: :: :: because of the taper it is not a simple lamination
:: :: :: anymore unless it spans 2 of the strips I am using now.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: In the coming week I will source other woods such as
:: :: :: real Spruce, and perhaps more mahogany. The local boat
:: :: :: builders use a pine known as 'Pinus Virginium', but call
:: :: :: it 'spruce pine'.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Trying hard to keep the costs down and availability up!
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Rick
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: What ever you have is fine. I would perfer something I
:: :: :: :: could bright finish if posable. I have started my own
:: :: :: :: out of ceder and have found the same thing it will have
:: :: :: :: to be glassed. Mahogany leading and trailing edge would
:: :: :: :: be good or you might look at a hard wood trailing edge.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: let me know how it is comming the photos look neat.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: Roy,
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: What material? Spruce? Mahogany?
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: I cut several more rudder blanks today, and posted some
:: :: :: :: :: photos in the Builders Corner of the Photos page here. I
:: :: :: :: :: also tried to post a message about it, but apparently it
:: :: :: :: :: didn't 'take'....
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: The rudders I made today are western red cedar with a
:: :: :: :: :: mahogany leading edge. The cedar is very weak, and needs
:: :: :: :: :: the glass wrap real bad. The trailing edge fo the first
:: :: :: :: :: all cedar one was thicker and is OK- the ones today had
:: :: :: :: :: tighter tolerancing and the trailing edges are 'ratty'.
:: :: :: :: :: The glass will fix it. I'll laminate 2 all mahogany ones
:: :: :: :: :: tomorrow for machining Jan 1.
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: I hope this message posts OK....
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: Rick Loheed
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzew00ta/loheed
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: :: I do now place my order for 1 rudder blank
:: :: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: Windmillers-
:: :: :: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: I have written the G-Code programs for the new rudder,
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: allowing 0.010" for a thin glass finish over the
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: recomended NACA 0012 section, and purchased western red
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: cedar and mahogany. Ethan and others would prefer Spruce
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: and I have now a source for that, too. This afternoon I
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: am ripping and gluing up my laminations for my rudder,
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: which will be the first Windmill rudder on the CNC
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: router. I plan to use mahogany for the leading and
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: trailing edges. After that, it will get a 'peel-ply' and
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: absorbent mat vacuum bagged layer of 8 oz glass/epoxy-
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: after which I will finish it out with Bristol Finish.
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: The vacuum bagging of course ensuring the maximum
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: glass/resin ratio.
:: :: :: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: I think I can cut unfinished wood blanks for $125.00-
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: that is what I have told Ethan. After the first article,
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: I will know better how much time it takes.
:: :: :: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: See http://mysite.verizon.net/vzew00ta/loheed
:: :: :: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: See you at the Mid-Winters!