Advise on twin rudder sailboat design

[tom power]

I would buy myself a Yamaha 9.9 or 25 High Thrust and stick it on the sugar scoop with a remote control kit in the cockpit. No need for rudders while docking, lock them and turn the outboard like on a motorboat. The added redundancy of having a second engine if the inboard craps out is just a bonus.

You can still convert to wheel steering if you like, but most sailing is done under autopilot/windvane anyway, so why spend the money. Rig a bungee to keep the tillers up and out of the way if cockpit space is important.

Hi Rumars,
Thanks for the suggestion, much appreciated. The more Ideas on the table the better.
Cheers.

 

[tom power]

I really like @Rumars approach but worry about adding a gasoline powered thing to a long voyaging craft. Maybe a conventional thruster in the stern either in a faired enclosure or a drop down configuration?

Hi Skip, thanks for your input, much appreciated. I originally looked into a retractable bow thruster, I sail around a lot of ice and that idea was really appealing. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure I cannot fit a retractable bow thruster due to the shallow water line near the bow. My boat is currently in Scotland and will come out to verify once I'm back in Canada. In the meantime I will look into a retractable thruster in the stern. A very good idea. Thanks

 

[tom power]

You could gain a bit more authority by adding a fixed skeg in front of the rudders. It will improve handling both with the prop and without. The skeg will load up when you turn the rudder. The combo is nearly as effective as all rudder, and it doesn't change the power draw of your autopilot.

A second trouble is that you have a gigantic prop and you can't slip it enough to gain handling without the boat taking off like a cog railroad. If you don't cover a lot of distance under power, you could also try hanging a little 14 x 14 two-blader under there and you can keep some water moving over the rudders you have. You'll also get a whole bunch of prop walk.

Hi philSweet, thanks for your input and physics explanation, I absolutely like what you proposed, I think I will try this first. The boat is sailed near ice so I have though about a skeg in the front to protect the rudder some. This would be an easy retrofit. The sailboat design Kiribati 36 drawn by B&G Yacht design have skegs in front of the rudders, I plan to order the plans to compare. Boat Plans Kiribati 36 Boat Plans - Kiribati 36 https://bgyachtdesign.com/boat-plans-designs-easy/boat-plans-kiribati-36/
I need a spare prop, I'm going to go with your recommendation and see how it works out.
Cheers.