Even bigger rudder for the i14t

I am having trouble with the manoeuvrability of my i14t.
It doesn't respond to the rudder when running. I have the larger rudder. Has anyone tried an even larger rudder.
I was thinking of making a 24inch rudder from glass and epoxy. It will be lighter than the present rubber version so shouldn't interfere with the twist and stow mechanism.
Perhaps Matt you could confirm the feasibility of using a larger rudder.

I would question the weight balance in the boat. Heavier person aft? If weight forward... the steering would be very difficult / sluggish.

More rudder is almost always better... untill it just becomes drag and hard to deploy / retract.

You do have the rudder all the way down and cleated there?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I keep telling you that the small rudder bolted to the larger rudder is a great fix to a sluggish problem. Yes, you will have to get out and lift the rudder by hand, but that is a small thing compaired to the rudder not working very well. There have been some great homemade rudders shown on this site, but I fixed my probem in 15 minutes and two bolts.

Good luck with what every you decide to do.

I am 72 kilos and my wife 50. The rudder mechanism is still and sometimes jams. But even normally the boat is always moving off the wind with lee helm when under sail. I have tried taking the mast will little change. With a paddle sail its a nightmare. But it is better with a small jib.
I just feel a slightly bigger rudder made from ply and epoxy...slightly lighter than the current one .... Would rectify the problem without affecting the twist mechanism.
Sorry thin water didn't know you had responded before. Haven't got the smaller rudders so can't do what you suggest.

Sorry Matt I didn't answer your question. Yes the rudder is fully extended and cleated.

If for sailing... try holding the forward fins up against the hull and the aft ones down. Then maybe both down to look for a balance point. With sail power on a reach, the boat will have lee helm unless you can correct lateral slip. Try to rake the mast aft a bit.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks Matt for the useful advice. I will try this out over this weekend. I will let you know how the even bigger rudder works when it's installed.