Regarding floatplane landing and takeoff: At what point in both landing and takeoff is the water rudder raised/lowered? Thanks!
It´s only used during taxi/docking. It should be raised for both takeoff and landing.
Cheers
The water rudder must be relatively effective in order to steer the slow moving aircraft against currents and wind to the takeoff point or dock.
Since on most GA airplanes it is coupled to the vertical flight surface rudder, it must be out of the water before you take off or land. Especially with a powerful single you may need lots of right rudder to keep the nose pointed into the wind. That would be quickly too much force on that water-rudder, and it would also act as a brake to some extent.
With larger airplanes the water rudder would not be retracted but simply locked in the centered position.