On 13 Mar 2006 16:18:26 -0800, "luc" wrote:

who cares what the rudder does, as long as the boat is going in the
right direction?

Particularly with a single engine boat, and sometime with twins, you
use the rudders to direct prop thrust during slow speed maneuvers.
Knowing in advance where the rudders are saves a bit of trial and
error with the wheel.