I am doing a Dab Chick kit which is going OK so far. It is a free sailing 25” gaff rigger.

Will add radio control, and I have started this by making a hatch into the 3rd compartment to house servos and battery.

The question I have is where to put the rudder. The original design has a very small rudder that is mounted just aft the compartment where I have the servos. I have got something a bit bigger. Should I mount it in with the servos like this:

Or is this too close to the keel?

Would it be better here:

I know this is the better place but I will have to make another access hatch above it and also hole one of the bulkheads to pass through the control rod.

Is it worth making more holes 8n the deck and bulkheads, that’s the thing.  Any suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.  

Edited By Noel on 02/12/2018 18:13:27

It’s still double the size of the one in the kit, but I guess that was only really to keep it in trim.

I think I will put it in the aft compartment and bite the bullet with making another hatch!

Will get the next size up JP brass one too, but right now just want to get general layout correct before I plank up the sides.

Thanks everyone.

I'd thought about having the rudder post come through to deck level but I am unable to find one off the shelf long enough. I don't have the "stuff" to build my own rudder right now and I'd rather to stick to stuff that I know works.

But it will be as close to transom as possible without it underhanging the rear.

I will make the hatch cover for the rudder compartment part of the main deck house/cover that will go over the servo compartment too, so that should improve it's waterproofness. If I put 10mm of ply upstand around the hatches and make a housing to fit snuggly over that I reckon that will be ok.

I'm quite comfortable with the fact I may have to make up a plywood rudder, but at least these brass ones are a robust base onto which you can build something bigger!