Sailboat Rudder Types Explained: Skeg-Hung, Spade, Twin & Aperture Rudders (with Capt. Jay Williams)

Join Capt. Jay Williams for a clear, real-world breakdown the major sailboat rudder designs: skeg-hung, spade, twin rudders, and aperture/keel-mounted rudders. Whether you’re evaluating a bluewater cruiser, buying your first sailboat, or simply want to understand how rudder design impacts safety, handling, and performance, this episode gives you the knowledge every sailor should have. Jay draws from a lifetime at sea—cruising, running commercial vessels, managing shipyards, and overseeing new builds—to explain how each rudder type performs in real conditions: offshore swell, tight maneuvering, grounding scenarios, and heavy-weather helming. This is the practical, experience-based insight you won’t get from a textbook. ⚓ What Jay Covers in This Video The structural and performance differences between skeg-hung, spade, twin, and aperture rudders Which designs offer the best protection, steering feel, efficiency, and redundancy How rudder type influences offshore reliability and maintenance requirements Why some modern performance cruisers favor twin rudders How older full-keel and aperture designs behave under sail and power This video is essential for sailors considering a long-range cruiser, passagemaker, performance yacht, or classic full-keel sailboat — and for anyone who wants to understand the most critical steering component on a boat. If you have questions about sailboat systems, offshore readiness, or purchasing the right yacht for your goals, contact Jay Williams at David Walters Yachts. 📞 Jay Williams – David Walters Yachts: 305-788-1121 📧 Email: jay@davidwaltersyachts.com 🌐 davidwaltersyachts.com – Search all listings and market reports Sailboat rudders, skeg hung rudder, skeg rudder, spade rudder, twin rudders, aperture rudder, keel hung rudder, rudder design, rudder types explained, bluewater sailboat design, sailboat steering, boat rudder maintenance, offshore cruising safety, sailboat survey tips, cruising yacht design, yacht rudder failure, rudder bearings, sailboat handling, modern performance cruisers, full keel boats, sailboat basics, sailing education, Captain Jay Williams, David Walters Yachts