NYKiter wrote: ↑Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:48 pm
Snip....
WHY ON GODS GREEN EARTH WOULD ANYONE MOUNT A RUDDER FACING DOWN ON A FOIL....
It will have less turbulent flow from the mast, thus more effective.
Also, it will reduce the risk of destroying your rear wing if you are on low water - as the rudder will take the load, and the fuselage/mast is way stronger if impact on the rudder, than if you get one side of the wing into the bottom - then your hydrofoil will break very easy because of the extreme torque
So many reasons to have it facing down - in fact I can not see one single reason for having it facing upwards ???
Having said that, it is usually DIY who uses a rudder nowadays, as the rear wing is often flat (a lot easier to build), so a rudder is needed to stabilize.
Most hydrofoils uses a rear wing with upswept tips, so they work as a rudder, and are away from the mast turbulence too, and less parasitic drag - the most efficient way by all means.
But a rudder works too, and facing down is IMO the best choice, so plummet did it just right IMO
PF