thin but high-strength struts and rudders

[007clint]

For a 20 Rigger, I am looking for thin but high-strength struts and rudders.

I normally like the speedmaster strut and mini-rudder (I assume they are 7075-T6) - can they be safely 'thinned'?

How do the Eagle SXG 20 and the 'Fine Design' units compare?

Does anyone make a thin titanium set?

What does everyone prefer for a 20 Rigger?

 

[Chris Wood]

to my knowledge the speedmaster stuff is 6061

fine for the strut but i had way to many issues bending there rudders.. the rudders dad sell for my 20 hydro kit are 7075.. they hold up much better for me than 6061

hope i helped

chris

 

[007clint]

Chris - thanks for the reply. I just got an email from your dad that confirmed the metals but he didn't have any pictures.

Would you happen to have some close-up shots of the strut and rudder?

 

[Chris Wood]

clint. i don't think so.. the only pics i have are on our web site.. if you look at the blackbird section on www.woodrcboatproducts.com

you can see some pics that are taken of the boat.. in those pics are some of the hardware.

chris

 

[Archie Stanton]

Just a thought:

Given two identical pieces of 7075 AL:

You can significantly increase ultimate strength of a relatively thin sample 7075 piece by anodizing it. Rigidity would be increased but brittleness would also be increased.

 

[Ron Olson]

I got word last week that a member on this site is working on titanium rudders. Those should be thin and strong enough when he's ready to roll them out..

 

[007clint]

I got word last week that a member on this site is working on titanium rudders. Those should be thin and strong enough when he's ready to roll them out..

COOOL! It just makes sense (metallurgically speaking). 'Member on this site' - I am interested.

Would it possible to put the water pick-up on or in front of the turn fin?

 

[Ron Olson]

I would say no. It seems like it would add drag which would affect how it steers and would disrupt water flow to the turn fin.

I don't know if he's going to incorporate a water pick-up in the rudder or not. If not then I'd advise to use a pick-up tube that gets fed by the propwash.