Oops I didn’t catch it was an AI.
Don’t lop off the bottom of the rudder, no need on an AI, the size of the rudder on the AI is near perfect, (it’s a tad small on the TI). One cool feature about the AI rudder is it can still be used in really shallow and weedy water, ( especially in kayak mode). What we do in shallow water is raise the rudder up so it is straight back but tilted up around 15 degrees from horizontal so as little of the rudder is in the water as possible. Then lock in place. The boat still steers ok, espescially when in kayak mode both shallow peddling and paddling. Yea the steering is a little harder, but it sure beats getting out and walking the boat thru the mud or oyster beds. A really cool feature.
By your description I’m pretty sure your not locking your rudder down strong enough.
You are really lucky with the new AI with the same centerboard system as the TI, which is really good. We have a lot of shallows, oyster beds, and coral heads around here that you can’t see, I rest my elbow on the centerboard lever and use it as a depth finder, tells me i’m in shallow water and it’s time to put the bungy onto the mirage pedal and start shallow pedaling, ( hint you can still pedal the mirage drive just fine with the bungy on). Keep in mind the center board is huge, you don’t have to keep it all the way down, ( of course you need it all the way down, like on upwind), typical position for us in light wind is 1/3 down, ( less drag). In heavier winds if helm control get hard, furl in the sail a turn or two, that’s what we do. If your sure the rudder is locked down correctly, and your still straining to steer, this is called weather helm, means you have too much sail out. Hope this helps FE
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