What controls the direction of the boat and may vary widely in size, design, and method of construction?

What controls the direction of the boat and may vary widely in size, design, and method of construction?

• A. Propeller
• B. Mast
• C. Keel
• D. Rudder

Answer: (D)

Steering is done by the rudder. The rudder is a movable surface located at the stern that deflects water as the boat moves, creating a turning moment that changes the vessel’s heading. Because boats vary so much in size, speed, hull shape, and how they’re steered, rudders come in many designs and constructions—from simple flat plates on small boats to more complex, balanced or fully submerged rudders on larger vessels, built from wood, fiberglass, steel, or composites. The rudder works with the steering system (tunnel wheel, wheel, or tiller) to translate the operator’s input into a change in direction. The propeller mainly provides thrust, not direction (though some modern systems can assist steering in limited ways), while the keel mainly adds stability and reduces sideways drift and does not steer.

Steering is done by the rudder. The rudder is a movable surface located at the stern that deflects water as the boat moves, creating a turning moment that changes the vessel’s heading. Because boats vary so much in size, speed, hull shape, and how they’re steered, rudders come in many designs and constructions—from simple flat plates on small boats to more complex, balanced or fully submerged rudders on larger vessels, built from wood, fiberglass, steel, or composites. The rudder works with the steering system (tunnel wheel, wheel, or tiller) to translate the operator’s input into a change in direction. The propeller mainly provides thrust, not direction (though some modern systems can assist steering in limited ways), while the keel mainly adds stability and reduces sideways drift and does not steer.