San Juan 21 Class Association

I noticed varying gudgeon offset spacing from the hull when comparing different SJ21's.
Is there an ideal rudder rake or measurement out there?
I have searched the web, and cannot find anything. The class rules make no mention of it either.
Does it even matter?

I am curious because late model boats have a 1/2" built-in offset, while earlier models are flush with the transom and have a "spacer" between the hull and gudgeon.

Attached are two photos I could find that illustrate this difference.

The first one is with the offset built into the transom, while the other photo (not very good) shows the "spacer" between the hull and the gudgeon. The motor mounts have similar designs: one built into the hull, while the other is attached to the exterior of the transom after fabrication.

Here is a better photo of the transom with a spacer between the hull and gudgeon.

The variation in gudgeon spacers is a result of refinement over the years. I have hull #2, my gudgeons are mounted directly on the transom with no spacer and the deck edge lip is cut away for the pintals. A friend's boat #255 has spacers under the gudgeons so the rubrail and deck lip didn't need to be cut and the latest refinement on #2577 was adding the spacers to the hull mold so the production was smoother. As long as the spacers are the same thickness, there is no difference in the rake of the rudder from one boat to another, and the 1/2" of offset relative to my boat with no spacers is insignificant.

Mark Sailmaker wrote:The variation in gudgeon spacers is a result of refinement over the years. I have hull #2, my gudgeons are mounted directly on the transom with no spacer and the deck edge lip is cut away for the pintals. A friend's boat #255 has spacers under the gudgeons so the rubrail and deck lip didn't need to be cut and the latest refinement on #2577 was adding the spacers to the hull mold so the production was smoother. As long as the spacers are the same thickness, there is no difference in the rake of the rudder from one boat to another, and the 1/2" of offset relative to my boat with no spacers is insignificant.

Thanks Mark!