CHAPTER XV 



GUNNING-PUNT RUDDERS 



The question of a rudder in a gunning-punt is one which must 

 be left for the intending punter himself to decide ; also whether 

 it shall be of the ordinary boat type or of such a design that it 

 will lift up on the punt when running aground. It is with this 

 latter that we here mean to make particular reference. The 

 ordinary rudder is simple enough. Lifting rudders of various 

 kinds are numerous — some answering their purpose fairly well, 

 others being worse than useless. 



The essential properties of a good lifting rudder should be 

 such that when the punt runs sharply aground, or proceeds 

 forward or backward in a shallow, the rudder will readily lift, 

 immediately lowering when afloat in sufficient water for it to 

 do so. I have seen rudders with a simple pin arrangement, 

 working in the stern chock, lift well when running forward ; 

 but should the punt be shoved backwards, the rudder would 

 break. Such a rudder is a nuisance, because unshipping it is 

 a necessity when shallow water is reached. An ordinary 

 rudder and a careful watch for shallows would undoubtedly be 

 much better. 



In our sketch we give details of a good lifting rudder. It 

 has all the advantages necessary, and, from personal use and 

 tests, answers them remarkably well. Running over a shoal 

 it rises freely, nothing it may meet being too abrupt for it to 

 rise over, and it quickly falls when free of ground. In shoving 

 astern it works equally well, and is really efficient in every 



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