I have been working on my Tahoe 23 since the end of January. It has been going very well, except when I am thinking, designing, contemplating


There are a lot of great Tahoes out there. For example, Brad Tucker’s Tahoe 23 has a swim platform and a handsome step in the transom. Among the professional builders, I am drawing inspiration from Pedrazzini, StanCraft, and most of all from VanDam’s Susan C. It has a gorgeous scalloped out transom with steps.
Putting in the scalloped transom and a single step above a similar swim platform is what has been the subject of much design and contemplation.
The scallop would project into the area above the rudder and steering gear. It looks like there would be about 10” clear between the keel and the underside of the swim platform/deck.
I am looking at the Buck Algonquin 10R1HSSS1 rudder with a 1”x 9” rudder post to fit the space below the swim platform.
I have a number of questions, hope you can help me.
Can I use the rudder port with the 2 1/8” tube below the flange? (The keel plus bottom is about 1 ½”)
Do I need the external plate? What does it do?
I don’t see the rudder post bracket called for in the plans on the Glen-L web site. Could I mount a rudder bearing to the underside of the deck to support the top end of the rudder post or do I need to keep looking for or make a bracket?
The pieces going onto the rudder post: rudder port – about 4”, tiller – about 1”, collar – 1”, bearing flange – 1 ½”, add up to 7 ½”. Does that sound about right? Is 1 ½” of “unassigned” rudder post length enough?
Do you see major issues with trying to pull this off? Bring on the comments,
Tom