Save-A-Boat - The Forum for Plastic Classic Rebuilds!

While on a visit to Port Angeles WA for the last couple of days (by boat) I spotted an Islander 30? on the hard. It had an interesting dual rudder setup, and I'm wondering if anyone on the forum can shed some light on this anomaly.

I don't know if this holds true for this boat, but I have seen some Camper Nicholsons that have a similar arrangement, and the forward rudder is a "trimming rudder." I don't know much more about it; I had asked someone after seeing the Camper Nic.

I've seen this feature somewhere too. Can't remember exactly where ... possibly on some America's Cup boats??

From Wikipedia

"In some sailboats, the trailing edge of the keel has a trim tab which is used to null out rudder forces (lee or weather helm)."

This is a good one to remember.

The next time one finds oneself pretzeled into a locker sweating only slightly more profusely than one is swearing while trying to undo some harebrained "remedy" performed by the Previous Owner..... Stop. Think.

It could be worse.
The previous owner could've been THIS guy.

This one does look like it was added as an afterthought, perhaps to "modernize" the steering and have the cool spade rudder like the people with new boats...

Wonder if there are two helms?

I still can't pin down the boat model :-(