MBounds wrote:
The Brazilians have made wooden rudders for years. I think it has to do with the cost of importing new ones.
What you really need to make good rudders is a CNC mill. Otherwise, it's very difficult to get an accurate foil section (= ventilation & separation issues).
Let me know when you pick one of those up, Karl.
It's also really tough to build a wooden rudder as light, stiff and durable as the new EPO's.
John emailed me about these. I don't have a CNC, but I do have access to one at a buddies shop. I'd just have to glue up a blanks and throw them in the CNC. There are smaller models available that really aren't that expensive. You could fit a guitar body in it and thats about it. Full size CNC's are anywhere from 80-200k, and I don't really see the benifit for what I do. Used ones don't hold there value very well at all either. If there was a genuine market for something like this I'd look into it. Selling a dozen sets of blades per year is a tough justification for the investment. But you're right, it would be the only way to consistantly make one.
Anybody have one of those fancy laser/measure guns to create a 3D CAD file, and an EPO?
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