Vibrating rudders on Bene First 26

MoodySabre

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I went sailing with a friend on his boat today - an 8 year old First 26.5

It was fairly breezy and every time we got over 7 knots (with the help of some tide) the twin rudders made a hell of noise vibrating. Is this normal or is there an easy fix for it?
 
Common problem, mostly caused by the trailing edge being too rounded.

You can grind a bit off or add another small tapered section.

Good luck and fair winds. :)

Yes. Having owned three new Hobie 16s, the first thing I did with each one was to file a flat down the trailing edge of the rudders. Without that they would howl like a banshee!
 
I had this with a Hunter Horizon 23. It always vibrated but when I had all the sliding pintles machined out and a new larger pin made the transom acted like a sounding board and the whole of the boat sang.

I spent quite a lot of time researching this and came up with two fixes. With an electric planner in hand, I planned ONE side of the trailing edge about 5-10mm back to give it a "wedge shape" . Then I squared off the bottom edge. of the rudder - flat!

The difference? It has TOTALLY transformed the way the boat handles it is lighter on the helm with a lot less kickback - it tracks 10 times better and all the vibration has gone. This is just not my thoughts, when my son tried the boat first time with out me telling him what I had done he said the difference from last year was amazing - what have you done?
 
I concur with Tross.
Having previously owned and raced a First 26.5 I agree with all of the above foil mods - CERTAINLY take a file or electric plane to the trailing edges and square off the bottom - As you have a pair you can just do one at a time and raise the windward one then have a listen and a look at the newly re-faired foil, go about (after having dropped the raised foil!!) and then do the same with the unaltered foil, - you will certainly notice the change!
 
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