THE TRUTH ABOUT TWIN RUDDERS: Busting 5 Myths You might Believe - SwT 201

Main Ideas

The host, Thomas, argues that social-media discussions often present opinions about modern yacht design as facts. He says his views come from years of sailing, racing, and maritime operations, while acknowledging that he is not a naval architect and is not offering a definitive blueprint for yacht design.

His central point is that neither modern nor older boats are automatically safer or better. Design, condition, maintenance, and the sailor’s experience all matter.

Five Claims About Twin Rudders and Modern Yachts That He Challenges

1. “Twin rudders are cheaper and built less robustly.” Thomas says a twin-rudder installation is generally more expensive, despite each rudder being smaller. He estimates that the overall cost can be more than 50% higher, and sometimes nearly double, because the system requires additional components. He argues that twin rudders became common mainly as yacht hulls grew wider—not because builders wanted to cut costs.

2. “Wide modern yachts are impractical or merely ‘dock queens.’” He sees wider hulls and twin helm stations as part of yacht-design evolution. Larger wheels became awkward to use while sitting to leeward and looking at the sails, so separate helm stations offered a practical solution. He says they also make it easier to reach the stern and swimming platform. In his view, these features can improve comfort and usability without making a yacht unsuitable for longer voyages.

3. “Twin rudders are especially vulnerable to impact.” Thomas argues that a single rudder on a wide yacht may need to extend much deeper, increasing the potential force from an impact. The smaller, shallower twin rudders may therefore be less exposed in some situations. He also notes that having two rudders can provide some redundancy if one is damaged, though actual safety depends on the design.

4. “Modern twin-rudder yachts are poor upwind.” He disputes the claim that twin-rudder yachts cannot sail well upwind. He says a wide, stable hull can heel less and keep the rudders at more effective angles when close-hauled or somewhat overpowered, improving control and performance.

As an example, he compares his modern Bavaria, B-Free, with his friend Kylie’s 2009 yacht. In light winds, he struggled to keep up; in stronger winds, he says B-Free pointed higher and sailed several knots faster—at one point describing the difference as up to four knots. He attributes this to the boats’ different hull designs, not to one sailor being better.

1. “Twin-rudder boats are difficult or dangerous to steer at low marina speeds.” Thomas rejects the idea that twin rudders are ineffective at slow speed or that such boats necessarily depend on bow thrusters. He says docking skill depends on understanding a particular boat’s handling, propeller effects, wind, current, and approach—not simply on whether it has one rudder or two.

He demonstrates towing another sailboat into Shelter Bay Marina and docking without using his bow thruster. He presents this as an example of planning and control, rather than proof that every docking situation is easy.

Other Safety and Design Points

• Older designs are not automatically stronger or safer. Thomas disputes the assumption that a skeg-hung rudder or an older “blue-water” design is inherently more robust. Strength depends on the particular design, its age, and its condition.
• Age and maintenance matter. He says problems he has encountered with rudders have often involved water entering old rudders, corrosion or expansion around rudder stocks, and deterioration over time. He also emphasizes maintenance of through-hulls, engine and generator raw-water connections, keel bolts, and rigging.
• Accidents should not be diagnosed from a short video. Drawing on his experience with incident evaluations, he cautions that a visible failure may result from several contributing factors. He criticizes speculation about a yacht lost at sea when investigators cannot inspect the wreck or establish what happened.
• Statistics need context. Thomas discusses reported keel losses and other risks but stresses that available figures and explanations are incomplete. He also suggests that some apparent design failures may be related to the age of boats or overdue maintenance rather than one specific construction type.
• A boat’s actual condition and its owner’s limitations matter. His closing advice is to understand the yacht you have, including its faults and limits, and to understand your own abilities. He argues that the “best” cruising yacht is not simply the one with the most reassuring label or the newest design.

Practical Lessons and Instructions

When Judging Strong Claims About Boats

• Separate firsthand experience and verifiable facts from opinions repeated online.
• Ask whether the speaker has experience with the designs being compared.
• Be cautious when a person’s criticism also supports a yacht or product they are trying to sell.
• Don’t infer the cause of a failure from its visible outcome alone.
• Consider the boat’s age, maintenance history, and modifications—not just its rudder or keel type.

When Docking

• Learn how the specific yacht responds at low speed, including how its propeller affects movement.
• Plan an approach that gives you room and keeps useful margins. Thomas demonstrates positioning upwind before making a controlled curve toward the berth.
• Avoid relying on a bow thruster as a substitute for understanding the boat and planning the maneuver.
• Don’t let people on the dock pull lines before the boat is properly positioned.
• Treat practice and training as more important than assumptions about whether a particular rudder arrangement is inherently easy or difficult.

Speakers and Sources Featured or Referenced

• Thomas, the host and narrator, speaking from aboard B-Free.
• Kylie, Thomas’s friend and sailing companion, featured in the sailing comparison and in discussion of a rigging problem.
• An unidentified French sailor, heard in a brief exchange about crossing the Atlantic and sailing without an engine.
• An unidentified interlocutor, heard asking whether twin rudders are easier to handle or cheaper.
• An unidentified sailing influencer, whose comments about twin-rudder boats being difficult to steer at marina speeds are played and criticized.
• A marina radio operator, heard responding to Thomas’s request to enter the breakwater while towing another sailboat.
• Dick Bont, referenced by Thomas in connection with criticism of modern yacht designs and an interview on Sailing Millennial Falcon.
• Sailing Millennial Falcon, a YouTube channel whose video and statements are discussed.
• Sailing Uma, referenced in connection with a yacht-loss video.
• Jeffa, cited by Thomas as a rudder supplier with experience producing many rudders.