Anyone having luck with whitecaps and/or Rondar USA since the tech committee email regarding the deadline? I have multiple calls and emails into both. I'd really like to start booking hotels etc for Charleston and the Annapolis events this spring but I'm concerned I won't have the parts in time to complete the vertical rudder....
I called whitecap again today and spoke with Paul. He said he's keeping a list and will call for deposits beginning of February. He seemed optimistic about having them finished by Charleston.... hopefully we get a few days warm enough to do epoxy work in NJ this spring.
Brian (and any other narrow tower boat owners)
The technical committee recognize the extra work and extra cost involved in installing a vertical rudder bracket to a narrow tower boat (Mark 1 and Mark 2 boats).
We voted last weekend to extend the deadline for narrow tower boats. The full text of the waiver will be published and circulated shortly.
We still strongly recommend making the upgrade because it really does make the boat easier to sail.
You boat (narrow tower) is still class legal with a swept rudder at Charleston and Annapolis.
The Class Technical Committee recognizes that boats with a narrow rudder tower face significantly greater time and expense installing a vertical rudder. We have issued a waiver extending the time these boats have to install a vertical rudder until June 2021.
We recommend that all boats install the vertical rudder as soon as they are able because it makes the boat noticeably easier to sail in big breeze and helps avoid broaches downwind. The full details of the waiver are attached.
Additionally the components to install a vertical rudder will not necessarily be easy to obtain in the future.