Upgrades: The New Rudder

I was reading a discussion thread about Ericson 39s. The consensus was that backing this vessel is a poor idea. “Just don’t do it…” seemed to be most common counsel. I had a Columbia 34 that had a generous spade rudder, I was able to back that boat with minimal problems and could dock the boat with minimal difficulty and embarrassment. If I had one critique of the Ericson 39 it would be this: The rudder is too damn small. 

The Ericson 39 is an early IOR design. Its lines were shaped by that rule. The beautiful long overhangs, the fin keel owe their comely form to Bruce King and his interpretation of the IOR rule. My first impressions sailing this boat were that the boat responds well in the “lumpy gravy” sea state for which the Santa Barbara Channel is known.  Indeed, with gusts up to 30 knots, the 39 responds well both up and downwind.

But the issue of backing remained. “Just don’t do it” is impractical advice. Mary can tell stories about trying to get this boat to track when leaving our slip at Channel Islands’ Landing. While the Beneteaus and Jeanneaus seemed to effortlessly leave their slips, even the Catalinas departed with ease, our Ericson was, at best, unpredictable in reverse.  When the boat was surveyed, Jim Wallace suggested that we consider replacing the rudder. 

I am something of an Ericson purist. I grew up on an Ericson 30, and have loved the Ericson 39 since I first saw it in Sailing Magazine. Jim Wallace had crewed with Bruce King on his ’39. I felt that, given that pedigree and love of Ericsons, this might be an acceptable modification. Now, I must also admit that I have seen many poorly conceived and wretchedly executed “upgrades” – I prefer to say degradations – made on Ericsons. I think of the fellow whose Ericson 38 was hauled out when we were doing work on Tiburón; he decided that the keel needed fins and that he was the guy to design and fabricate them. 

After some time Mary and I hit upon the Schumacher Rudder.  Originally designed for the venerable Cal 40, it had the advantage of changing the aspect ratio of the original rudder to provide more depth and more wetted surface area, while not significantly impacting the PHRF rating on the Cal. This seemed to be the ideal solution. Now onto fabrication. Just how does one make a rudder? This is an important part of your vessel. It is not so simple as just slapping a little new glass on the existing rudder (like the fins to the keel described above). This requires expertise; expertise that I lacked. 

FinCo Fabrication: Say those words with reverence. FinCo Fabrication, in beautiful Santa Ana, CA, is the place. They specialize in fiberglass fabrication and have expertise in restoration, fabrication, and repairs of all things nautical. I was impressed that they are also Star Sailors (a breed unto themselves!). FinCo worked with the folk at The Boat Yard to produce the new rudder. In all, the process took about one month from delivery of the old rudder and post, to the installation of the new Schumacher rudder. They even arranged delivery of the completed rudder from their plant in Santa Ana to Port Hueneme. 

The first thing that I noticed about the new rudder was that the boat will track in a straight line in reverse. It will turn both to port and starboard in reverse, as well (I do have to admit that having a maxi-prop helps this process). Weather helm is diminished. The boat has become more nimble, while still moving like an Ericson. We have had almost a year with the new rudder and have been pleased with the results.  

- Pablo