Rudder assembly

Claim 2

A rudder assembly comprising: a. a spray plate arranged for extending aft of the stern of a planing hull approximately at the operating waterline of said hull; b. a propeller arranged forward of said spray plate; c. a vane extending downward from said spray plate to the region of the center of said propeller; d. a rudder stock pivotally arranged closely aft of said vane; and e. a rudder blade arranged on said stock to extend aft of said stock from the region of said spray plate to the region of the bottom of said propeller and to extend forward of said stock below the region of the center of said propeller.

Claim 3

The rudder assembly of claim 1 wherein approximately 20 percent of said blade extends forward of said stock.

Claim 4

The rudder assembly of claim 1 wherein the area of said vane is approximately 20 percent of the area of said blade.

Claim 5

The rudder assembly of claim 1 wherein said spray plate includes a bracket extending upward from said spraY plate and having means for pivotally supporting said rudder stock.

Claim 6

The rudder assembly of claim 1 wherein said stock is approximately vertical.

Claim 7

The rudder assembly of claim 5 wherein approximately 20 percent of said blade extends forward of said stock.

Claim 8

The rudder assembly of claim 6 wherein the area of said vane is approximately 20 percent of the area of said blade.

Claim 9

The rudder assembly of claim 7 wherein said spray plate includes a bracket extending upward from said spray plate and having means for pivotally supporting said rudder stock.

Claim 10

The rudder assembly of claim 1 including means for hinging said spray plate to said hull and means for vertically adjusting the position of said spray plate.

Claim 11

The rudder assembly of claim 9 wherein said vertical adjusting means is hydraulic.

Claim 12

The rudder assembly of claim 9 wherein said spray plate comprises a pair of tabs adjacent each other along the fore and aft centerline of said hull and said vertical adjustment means is independent for each of said tabs.

Claim 13

The boat of claim 11 wherein each of said vertical adjusting means is hydraulic.

Claim 14

A rudder assembly for a tunnelled hull planing boat, said rudder assembly comprising; a. a vertical extending from the region of the top of said tunnel to the region of the center of a propeller in said tunnel; b. a rudder stock pivotally arranged closely aft of said vane; and c. a rudder blade arranged on said stock to extend aft of said stock from the region of the top of said tunnel to the region of the bottom of said propeller and to extend forward of said stock below the region of the center of said propeller.

Claim 15

A rudder assembly for a tunnelled hull planing boat, said rudder assembly comprising; a. a vertical extending from the region of the top of said tunnel to the region of the center of a propeller in said tunnel; b. a rudder stock pivotally arranged closely aft of said vane; and c. a rudder blade arranged on said stock to extend aft of said stock from the region of the top of said tunnel to the region of the bottom of said propeller and to extend forward of said stock below the region of the center of said propeller.

Claim 16

The rudder assembly of claim 13 wherein: a portion of the starboard face of said blade in the region of the trailing edge thereof being curved to starboard; and a portion of the port face of said blade in the region of said trailing edge being curved to port.

Claim 17

The rudder assembly of claim 14 wherein vertically separated portions of said trailing edge are curved respectively to starboard and to port.

Claim 18

The rudder assembly of claim 15 wherein approximately 20 percent of said blade extends forward of said stock.

Claim 19

The rudder assembly of claim 16 wherein the area of said vane is approximately 20 percent of the area of said blade.

Claim 20

A rudder assembly for a planing hull having a relatively high speed propeller, said assembly comprising: a. a spray plate arranged for extending aft of the stern of said hull approximately at the operating water line of said hull; b. said propeller being arranged forward of said spray plate; c. a fixed vane arranged aft of said propeller and extending generally radially of said propeller; d. a rudder stock pivotally arranged aft of said vane and in the region of the forward end of said spray plate; and e. a rudder blade arranged on said stock to extend aft of said stock below said spray plate and from the spray plate to the region of the bottom of said propeller and to extend forward of said stock in a region clear of said vane to balance said rudder.

Claim 21

A rudder assembly for a planing hull having a relatively high speed propeller, said assembly comprising: a. a spray plate arranged for extending aft of the stern of said hull approximately at the operating water line of said hull; b. said propeller being arranged forward of said spray plate; c. a fixed vane arranged aft of said propeller and extending generally radially of said propeller; d. a rudder stock pivotally arranged aft of said vane and in the region of the forward end of said spray plate; and e. a rudder blade arranged on said stock to extend aft of said stock below said spray plate and from the spray plate to the region of the bottom of said propeller and to extend forward of said stock in a region clear of said vane to balance said rudder.

Claim 22

The rudder assembly of claim 18 wherein approximately 20 percent of said blade extends forward of said stock.

Claim 23

The rudder assembly of claim 18 wherein said vane is vertical and faired to said stock.

Claim 24

The rudder assembly of claim 20 wherein said portion of said blade extending forward of said stock is arranged below said vane.

Claim 25

The rudder assembly of claim 18 wherein said hull is configured to form a tunnel around said propeller, and said vane extends radially inward from the wall of said tunnel.

Claim 26

The rudder assembly of claim 18 including a plurality of said vanes angularly spaced from each other.

Claim 27

The rudder assembly of claim 18 including means for hinging said spray plate to said hull and means for vertically adjusting the position of said spray plate.

Claim 28

The rudder assembly of claim 24 wherein said vertical adjusting means is hydrAulic.

Claim 29

The rudder assembly of claim 24 wherein said spray plate comprises a pair of tabs adjacent each other along the fore and aft centerline of said hull and said vertical adjustment means is independent for each of said tabs.

Claim 30

The boat of claim 26 wherein each of said vertical adjusting means is hydraulic.

Claim 31

The rudder assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the starboard face of said blade in the region of the trailing edge thereof is curved to starboard, and a portion of the port face of said blade in the region of said trailing edge is curved to port.

Claim 32

The rudder assembly of claim 28 wherein vertically separated portions of said trailing edge are curved respectively to starboard and to port.