OK, so i went out and spent some time with the "Wet Kitty" yesterday afternoon and took some measurements. After leveling the waterline of the boat(with the trailer jack), I put the level on the leading edge of the rudder. The leading edge of the rudder jutts forward of the rudder pin approx. 2". plumbing down from that point, the leading edge of the rudder rakes back approximately 5".
If I plumb down from the pin at the bottom gudgon, the rudder rakes back approx. 3" from that point. This measurement is to a point about 2" above the bottom of the rudder(so the bottom curve is not included in the measurement.
Just for fun, I pulled the bolt out of the rudder/ casting and moved the rudder forward to the point where it was plumb at the face(roughly, since the front is curved), and the rudeder had to be pulled about 1/3 of the way down and out of the casting.the curvature that , say, the 5.8 has at the top of the rudder is not there. Leading me to the possible conclusion that I shuld re-build the top of the rudder instead of the bottom, Thus adding the curvature that exists in the top of the 5.8 rudder.
Obviously I need to add pics. I will try again. Later.
I'm thinking of epoxying dowls into the top of the rudder. Possibly aluminum, removing material from the sides of the rudder where it goes into the casting, adding back FG to casting width, fill the center with epoxy or fg, cutting to new size sand paint and voiala, new plumb rudders(also approx3" longer)that can be adjusted back if needed.
It seems that the rudder extension will be less stressed up in the casting. Also thicker, and with dowels, should be very strong.
Any suggestions on the process?