Abstract: The rudder is always placed behind the propeller to absorb the energy in the wake flow, thus to achieve a more optimized maneuverability. According to the characteristics of the propeller flow, six kinds of rudder arrangement were adopted by varying the lateral and longitudinal distances away from the propeller. In each case, the free-running model test was carried out in the lake, including the turning circle test, the zigzag test and the pull-out test. The speed drop and the static roll angle agree well with the general rules of maneuverability. By testing the parameters and analyzing the test data, different effects on the turning ability, the course-keeping ability, and the response to intermediate and small helm angles were achieved with different rudder arrangements.