1999: I don't feel secure about the way the rudder was fabricated out of cement. Had the old paint sandblasted off. Enlarged the propeller aperture a couple of inches and cut off the old rudder. No turning back now! The new plan is to make a new rudder out of 316 stainless steel, and have the whole thing electropolished to a mirror finish. This will make the surface 100% chrome (as far as I understand). The two things I am worried about are barnacles attaching to the rudder and crevice corrosion if I paint it with anti fouling paint. I haven't been able to find any information on HOW LONG it might take for crevice corrosion to become a problem? Also how well is marine life able to attach to this kind of surface? How about if I construct an electronic circuit to to send electrical pulses through the rudder, will this discourage marine growth? (Yes, I do know about electrolysis and how to avoid dissolving the rudder with this scheme). Has anybody tried this? If you know where I can find information on any of this please email me: boatman Will be stopping construction until 2001 when we return from our bicycle trip. Wanted to launch this year, but it isn't going to happen. Can't add any more to this web-site for awhile, all the pictures have been packed away. Progress is farther than the last photos show, watch for an update in 2001.