For interior space and comfort there are very few yachts of similar length that can compare with a VDS 34.

Mine is a steel version with deep keel and spade rudder which I believe is the original design configuration. Shallow draught and skeg hung rudders are an accommodation for inshore cruisers.

The alloy and timber versions are .9 tonne less in displacement but carry .2 tonne more in ballast and therefore have a better ballast to displacement ratio and should perform better than steel versions.

This assumes that the original design has been adhered to. Consideration should also be given to whether the yacht has the taller fractional rig or the sturdier mast head rig.

I spoke with somebody a few years ago who said the alloy versions sit too high in the water. This may or may not be the case but they would have a greater payload capacity which would offset it.

Unfortunately I have not had mine in the drink yet but I have been told there is not much to pick in sailing performance between a VDS 34 and an S&S 34.

Sounds like you had a great trip and with 5 people aboard and all that gear, you have done really well.

I look forward to hearing more of your adventures and having some of my own.

Best pic I have at the moment. I have dropped the rudder out which was half full of water and rusting out. I will rebuild it in composite stainless framing and most likely closed cell foam filling with woven mat fibreglass skin.

It is incredibly heavy when built of 3 mm steel. I will follow the guidelines set out by Joe Adams in his yacht design booklet. The propellor shaft is out too.

Thanks Ramona. This yacht is now my "main squeeze" as the S&S has sold and settled at a fair price for both the new owners and myself.

The rudder is about 5 foot deep and the post a solid 3" stainless shaft. It had 3 mm frame plates, a 3 mm skin and a heavy shoe on the bottom. I am going to cut the post short and weld a stainless tube/pipe on it to the bottom plate.

I had then considered fabricating the frame plates and skin from light gauge stainless, say 1 or 1.5 mm sheet with a drain plug in the bottom. This will obviously create some electrical potential.

Do you think this would be a good idea or would a composite be better?? The original all steel construction just does not appeal to me at all.

cisco said..

The rudder is about 5 foot deep and the post a solid 3" stainless shaft.

The first thing I would do is to get rid of the solid shaft and replace it with hollow bar just for the weight saving it will achieve and reduce pitching moment.

3" shafting weighs nearly 37kg/m

About the same dimension as an SS34, UFO 34, Kalik 33, Carter 33. I would be inclined to round off the bottom leading edge so it did not collect weed. Apart from that see how she sails and then plan the next one. I would probably keep it the same length and even add a bit more surface area! Research other yacht keel/rudder updates and see what the trends are. Shortening may reduce the down wind security.

OK, I am convinced. I will rebuild the rudder to the same size and shape but it has to be lighter.

Got a bit of other steel work to do before that though.