Shaping RuddersBy David HallThe best (and cheapest) tool for this job would be the round tip scissors you let your children use instead of your "good" scissors. You should, however, move up and use your good scissors. You will take literally weeks of sanding to accomplish what three seconds of scraping will do. Position the rudder with the tip of the blade in your chest. Reach forward with the scissors open about 45 to 60 degrees - it doesn't seem to make much difference. Position the open scissors crotch against the trailing edge of the rudder. Apply a modest amount of force on the sharp edge of the scissors to the trailing edge of the blade and pull toward you three times. The left side of the scissors is your scraping tool. You should get a fairly nice peel of plastic off the rudder. Then do the same thing to the other side of the same rudder. And, of course do the other rudder. Don't take more than three strokes per edge before testing on the water. The whole procedure should take, if you really think about it for awhile, maybe about 15-30 seconds. David Hall H-16, 80318, "Quick" San Antonio, TX |
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