rudder position

[john3357]

What is the proper position for the rudder to be. Straight down or at an angle to the boat. On my Venture 22, there is rope to raise and lower the rudder and it could be positioned at a 45 degree angle relative to the boat.

[bartmac]

I don't own a venture 19 but every boat I've owned has had the rudder in a vertical or near vertical....so much so that if it's positioned off vertical the amount of effort required to steer increases dramatically.We used to sail hobies with a kickup system and if you hit an object in the water the rudder would kick up and you'd have to relatch it down quickly to regain steering ability

[hart]

Down vertical when sailing. Raise it to horizontal for trailering or motoring in shallow waters. I'd worry about the stress at the joint with it in any other position.

When I had my 22 I almost never locked it down though, so that it would kick up (I sail in shallow waters and do the same on my X). Perhaps a bit dangerous in case you turn turtle, but I almost never locked my keel down either.