From: Bengt
Sent: August-13-09 1:56 AM
To: Will Curry
Subject: Photos of Hallberg Rassy 312

Hi Will,

Last spring I and my friend Par Olofsson purchased Hydrovanes to our yachts (HR312 and HR36 respectively). We found the installation quite straight forward and not too time consuming, and we have tested the rudders during our vacations in the Baltic Sea this summer. We are both very satisfied! Unfortunately the winds have so far not been very strong (6-10 knots) and only once above 20-22 knots, but I was running before the wind then, so the apparent wind was only about 16 knots. But it worked!

I still have to make some adjustments as the vane is touching the backstay, so I have to add about two inches to the timber pads, making them 4″ (upper) and 6″ (lower). If that should not be sufficient, can I shorten the vane 2 inches? I think such a small change shouldn’t matter, or what do you think? I don’t want to add more to the pads as that should increase the leverage on them.

Next summer I need to antifoul the rudder as we are heading south then (the Med and the West Indies) where the rudder will be more exposed to fouling than in the Baltic (where the salt content is rather low, and therefore not too much fouling). Can I just apply the antifouling on the rudder or do I need some type of primer first? [Editor’s note: When the boat is moving, salt water scours the rudder – keeps it clean – best to remove the rudder when not at sea – then no need to paint. Otherwise, a hard paint like that used by power boats is best – not messy when handling it.]

I’m enclosing some pictures of my yacht, maybe you can use them as the rudder is both off-center and with an external swimming platform.

With kind regards

Bengt