Ship'sCat
Member
My 23ft triple keel sloop has a rudder made from teak and mahogany, it seems. It is fixed to the transom with bronze pintles like a big dinghy rudder. Thus it has a front edge exposed to the oncoming current. The trailing edge has a nice taper. However the front edge is virtually square apart from a small radius at each edge. Being about an inch thick it seems to me it must be producing unnecessary drag, and should also be tapered for streamlining? It comes from a reputable designer and maker. Does anyone know if a square edge here is indeed the appropriate and scientific/ properly engineered thing?