RUDDER:

A rudder is a primary control surface used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft, or other conveyance that moves through a fluid
medium (generally air or water).

Types of Rudders Used For Ships:

1. Spade or Balanced Rudder:
DEFINITION

The concept of a balanced rudder involved the shifting of the centre of rotation of the rudder to point approximately 1/2 of the way from the
forward end to the after end.

CHERECTERISTICS

1. When 30% to 40% of the area is forward of the turning axis there is no torque on the rudder stock at certain angles.

2. At some angle of rudder, it is balanced. i.e., torque is zero, to keep rudder at that angle.

3. Axis of rotation lies between 0.2 L and 0.37 L.

APPLICATION

It is applied in vessels with long sharp stems.

WHERE IT IS DESIRED TO KEEP SHIP AS COMPACT AS POSSIBLE

WHERE THE STRENGTH OF RUDDER STOCK IS TO SEVER PROBLM

MERITS

It has little strength on ruddertrunk,

compacted steering gear and

high manoeuvrability .

2. Unbalanced Rudders:
DEFINITION

Unbalanced rudder IS A rudder with all of its area aft of the turning axis. At no angle rudder is balanced. Axis of rotation is the leading edge.

CHERECTERISTICS

A rudder with all of its area aft of the turning axis.

At no angle rudder is balanced.

Axis of rotation is the leading edge.

APPLICATION

It is applied when vessel is unfit for balanced rudder. It is meant for small ships of deep draft.

MERITS

It can endure large stresses.

3. Semi- Balanced Rudder:

DEFINITION
A semi-balanced rudder has a shorter Vertical section forward of the stock, thus less counterbalance than the balanced rudder, but more
than the unbalanced rudder. The semi-balanced rudder often need more torque than the balanced rudder

CHERECTERISTICS

A rudder with a small part of its area, less than 20%, forward of the turning axis.

At no angle rudder is balanced.

Axis of rotation lies less than 0.2 L.

APPLICATION

It is applied when a large rudder is required and the vessel has a small steering gear.

And it is a very widely used kind of rudder for modern tonnage, especially for the container type vessel and twin-screw vessels.

MERITS

It provides high manoeuvrability .

4. Flaps Rudder:
DEFINITION

A Flap Rudder is a specific type of multi-sectionrudder used on boats and ships. A Flap rudder produces more side force than a classic rudder of
equivalent size. Depending on shipowner requirements, a flap rudder may be used to reduce the overall area of a rudder whilst maintaining
equal lift forces or may be used whenever there is a requirement for high manoeuvrability.

CHERECTERISTICS

SMALLER FLPLIKE RUDDER IS ATTACHED AT THE TAIL OF MAIN RUDDER RESULTING IN BETTER PERFORMANCE

APPLICATION

It is meant for vessels that require to be highly manoeuvrable.

Container feeders

Shuttle tankers

General cargo carriers/heavy lifters

Car carriers

ConRo/RoRo

Ferries

Cruise liners

OSV/PSV

AHTS

Push boats

Research vessels

Fishing vessels

MERITS

It provides high manoeuvrability , but complicated linkage system.

Optimised profile

Reduced weight
 No cast parts

Improved manoeuvrability

Highest possible lift

Flap angle up to 100

Crabbing

Improved course keeping

DP functionality

Reduced tug assistance

Best propeller coverage

5. Pleuger Rudder:
DEFINITION

The Pleuger rudder is a power assisted ship's rudder. It creates a flow of water in the direction therudder points powered by an auxiliary electric
motor.

CHERECTERISTICS

has a smaller auxiliary propeller housed within it (which runs by a motor).

this housing is mounted on the rudder itself, it generates a thrust (which is smaller than what is generated by the ships main engine propeller)
in a direction that is oriented along the rudder,

APPLICATION

, in normal speeds, the Pleuger is not operated.

when the Pleuger is run, the main engine propeller must not be operated simultaneously, which will otherwise cause the Pleuger to be torn
away.

MERITS

power the ship in slow speed .

Advantages are increased efficiency at lower speeds ( 10 knots),

The thrust produced by the Pleuger rudder is sufficient to power the ship in slow speed maneuvers when the force required to move the vessel
is relatively small.

Pleuger rudder is meant to be assisting in the fast maneuverability of ships, in tight harbor operations.

6. FULL KEEL RUDDER

DEFINITION:

The full or full keel rudder lies at the aft end of a full length keel. The keel-rudder streches along the entire length of the bottom of the hull.

CHERECTERISTICS

The leading edge of the keel protects the rudder from flotsam.

DURING GROUNDING The boat will sit comfortable on its side until the tide returns and floats the boat back up

the rudder of a full-keel boat is usually hinged to the aft edge of the keel, making a continuous surface. The engines propeller is usually
positioned in an aperture between the keel and rudder.

APPLICATION

The full rudder is quintessential of offshore cruisers like Wetsails and Cabo Ricos..
ADVANTAGES OF FULL KEEL RUDDER

1. The primary benefit of this rudder configuration is the strength and protection provided to the rudder.

2. It is hinged at top and bottom, well distributing the forces on the rudder. Rope (such as lobster pot warps) or debris in the water cannot snag
on the rudder.

3.The full rudder is safe and nearly invulnerable to damage.

4.Even grounding may not cause damage.

DISADVANTAGE OF FULL KEEL RUDDER

1.Because the sideways force of the water on the rudder is entirely behind the rudders pivoting point at its leading edge, putting all the force
on one side of the rudder, it takes more energy to move the rudder. This is one reason why larger boats seldom have tillersbecause it can
require much force to push the rudder out against the water streaming past the keel.

7. Outboard Rudder
DEFINITION:

An outboard rudder is mounted outside the hull on the boats stern, such as shown in this photo, rather than below the hull using a rudder post
or hinges to the keel or skeg. Most outboard rudders are turned with a tiller rather than a steering wheel, since there is no rudder post to which
to gear a wheel.

CHERECTERISTICS:

An outboard rudder does not require a hole through the hull for a rudder post and thus is less likely to cause trouble if damaged.

ADVANTAGES:

The rudder can often be removed or serviced while the boat is still in the water. Hinges at the top and bottom of the rudder section may
provide more strength than a single rudder post.

DISADVANTAGES

1.Like a spade rudder, an outboard rudder is vulnerable to being struck by or caught in objects or rope in the water. 2.Unlike a spade rudder it
cannot be balanced in the water flow, so the force of water is always on one side of the pivot point, requiring more energy for turning the
rudder.

Skeg-Mounted Rudder
DEFINITION

Some fin-keel sailboats have a skeg-mounted rudder like the one shown.

ADVANTAGES

The skeg offers the same advantages as a keel-mounted rudder: the rudder is protected from objects in the water and has more structural
strength than a rudder mounted only on the rudder post.

disadvantage:

because it is not balanced as a spade rudder may be, with water forces distributed on both sides, it requires more force to turn the rudder
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