My Aero will be six this year and I can share some interesting pictures of two rudder stocks + tillers that I’ve had.

My first was damaged in the boat park and was replaced around two and a half years ago, so they have both now had about the same use.

I have a sea boat, and while both were rinsed the same after sailing, the top one was left in the boat whereas the bottom one lives at home in my office.

A striking difference.

In the picture below, the top one is the home stored rudder, the bottom was boat stored. They don’t look that different at first glance, but there is more corrosion on the bottom one which also has some swelling.

Here’s a close up of old boat stored one.

In conclusion, if you can, don’t store the rudder in the boat if you sail in the sea.

Fortunately the RS Aero is pretty good for corrosion compared to an ILCA/Laser that has metal spars.

RS Aero spars are corrosion proof, and the only things that appear to corrode are the deck clam cleats, mast top clam cleat and the tiller / rudder stock.