Just spent my first season sailing a J24! I bought a 2003 boat built in Argentina and we had a blast this summer on Lake Tahoe!
One issue I had that I'd like some advice on is the rudder had a distinct wobble at speed. The "wobble" was not a vibration. The tiller would move 2 to 3 inches back and forth approx. 3 or 4 times per second. This would only happen off the wind at or about hull speed. I checked the gudgeon straps and pins and there is no play whatsoever. I looked closely at both foils and could not see/feel any anomalies. I do not have class templates so the foils could be out of spec, but if they are, it would be so minor that I don't think it would cause the problem.
I faired a rudder on a Santana 35 once and did encounter a cavitation/vibration at the trailing edge. A pro told me to bevel one side of the trailing edge and that cured the problem. The J24 rudder trailing edge is so narrow that I don't think that is the issue either.
So as you can see, I'm at a loss as to the problem and solution. What I do know is this problem will become a much bigger problem if I don't figure out how to fix it. Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks...........
One issue I had that I'd like some advice on is the rudder had a distinct wobble at speed. The "wobble" was not a vibration. The tiller would move 2 to 3 inches back and forth approx. 3 or 4 times per second. This would only happen off the wind at or about hull speed. I checked the gudgeon straps and pins and there is no play whatsoever. I looked closely at both foils and could not see/feel any anomalies. I do not have class templates so the foils could be out of spec, but if they are, it would be so minor that I don't think it would cause the problem.
I faired a rudder on a Santana 35 once and did encounter a cavitation/vibration at the trailing edge. A pro told me to bevel one side of the trailing edge and that cured the problem. The J24 rudder trailing edge is so narrow that I don't think that is the issue either.
So as you can see, I'm at a loss as to the problem and solution. What I do know is this problem will become a much bigger problem if I don't figure out how to fix it. Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks...........