Rudder Aluminum Sheet Gauge?

[leo_081103]

What is considered best gauge size for aluminum rudders? Considering things like dents, stiffeness, hitting branches and the likes. I will be doing aluminum rudders for my new on-going rig. My rigs have fiberglass encapsulated wood rudders. Maybe you may also drop a comment between glass and aluminum rudders. Btw, my glass rudders are light enough you can pick them up with two fingers without straining them

Thanks in advance.

 

[goldhunter_2]

your stiffness will depend on the aluminum alloy and the way you frame out the rudder more then the thickness.

I would think if you use a air foil design with a frame you could use .40 5052 or 7075 if your just doing the cheap bend over foam filled style probably say go at least .90 thickness . personally if I was going to build any I would go with the airfoil design over the framing it is a much better built/designed rudder

check airboat trader in the dealer special section I think it was panther or diamondback had a stack of used r scratched rudders for $100 a set a few days ago