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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