Hi Mary,
None of todays popular boats have rudder heads that offer sufficient structural support to the rudder blade when the rudder blade is in the horrizontal or partially down position. The latest fad in rudder heads is an abbreviated design that offers structural support to the system when the rudder blade is in the fully down position only. These rudder heads designed for deep water starts only. Why did the builders change rudder head design? Ans. WEIGHT.
You can cut off all the rudder head framework aft of the rudder pivot bolt and save about 1 pound of rudder head weight. Now you have lost all structural support for the rudder in the partially up or fully up position. Why did all the rudder heads get broken at Jensen Beach a few years ago in the Worrell Race. Ans. No structural integrety in the system when the rudder blade is in a partially down position and used to steer the boat; no rudder head framework or casting aft of the rudder pivot pin.
Who makes a rudder head that does support the rudder properly in all positions? You know who....
Bill