Looking at a Top Hat with a transom-hung rudder?

Have looked at the Top Hat Association page and can't see that they were ever built this way - any of the Marks.

Does anyone have anything to offer??

Thanks

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theselkie said...
Looking at a Top Hat with a transom-hung rudder?

Have looked at the Top Hat Association page and can't see that they were ever built this way - any of the Marks.

Does anyone have anything to offer??

Thanks

Nsw might be the one to ask.
do you know which model it is mark 1 2 or 3

Would be a non-standard mod.
Advantages:
Maybe to get a better clearance and performance from a shaft drive prop
Less weather helm (not that this is a particular problem with the Top Hat)
Better control in astern
Rudder tube closed off? Done properly?
More room in the cockpit (probably the main reason for the mod.)

Disadvantages:
How well was it engineeered? Transom beefed up? Would need to be longer to get fully submerged.
More vulnerable to damage.
Non-standard mods tend to reduce resale value.

Shabby job. Had a closer look at it. Has 'dodgy' written all over it. Has me wondering whether something happened to the hull to precipitate the need for a new rudder??

Anyways, a Folkboat found me!!!! More later

There's got to be a good reason for a transom hung rudder. Having had my Yop Hat for 6 years, I can't see a need! Unless he had some damage or thought it might go better. You would really need to beef up the transom though, as they're not very thick.

Pics would be good?

Hope you enjoy the folKboat, I looked at them but the headroom got me.

There is no advantage in fitting a stern hung rudder to a Top Hat.

With Top Hats you can turn them within their length.

The thickness of the Mk1 transom is 10mm plus, can't say what it is for Mk 2 & 3's, but it will be thinner.

I think I remember the story with this Top Hat, racing he was and trying to get an advantage, which really is not obtainable that way.

Yara has said the rest or it.

I do have photo somewhere, I'll see if I can find it.

Thanks for all your help.

Yes, the blurb in the advertisement emphasised how the owner had been tuning the boat for racing. I guess it's the same boat. Up here at Scarborough in Brisbane.

Yes, the Folkboat headroom is non-existent for most folks, however, I'm only 5ft, so she's fine for me. Very excited to get her trucked home to Brisbane and back in the water....she is sooo pretty. :)

Selkie, was that the one at Yorkeys Nob, Cairns?

The Mark 1 transom may be 10 mm thick but most of us had to cut it out to fit a long shaft outboard when the dreadful "Vire" inboard failed (all too often as I recall).

Here is a photo our Top Hat (Baker Built Mark I) being launched (shows rudder) on 1st September 1967 @ Bayview. Dad cancelled his Clansman order (18 months delivery) and had Baker build our Top Hat in just 6 months.

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Yara said..
Selkie, was that the one at Yorkeys Nob, Cairns?

Hello Yara
no, the boat is at Scarborough, just north of Brisbane. I guess I shouldn't explicitly name her, however, the name on the hull is kind of an 'ultimate fail' type of affair like the lyrics to the song which go something like, "...he wanted a 13, but they drew a 31...". .

@ WarrinaIII. Sweet memory . I remember a similar moment in 1980 when our Triton was about to be launched. Oh, those dads of ours have a lot to answer for lol!!! I look back at some of the hairy experiences I had as a child sailing Moreton Bay with my Dad and any reasonable person would have been turned off sailing for life. Not me....just made me want it more and more .