It used to be normal to place the rudder on the opposite side of the R/C hydro hull from the turn fin. When the rudder is moved for a left turn (for scale boats) it generates a lifting force which loads the turn fin, helping to keep it planted. That’s the good part. The bad part is this makes the hull very sensitive to right turn input, often resulting in a spin out or flip. During a race right turns can be necessary to avoid a slow or dead boat, or as a course correction to stay on the oval. A flip means a DNF, worse than finishing in last place.
The use of hooked turn fins reduces the advantage of an opposite side rudder. It holds the left sponson down well in left turns (it also complicates tuning by adding an additional adjustment). An additional advantage is a marked reduction in right input sensitivity, so the boat is more likely to finish a heat particularly when driven by a less experienced driver. Many consider this a good reason for mounting the rudder on the same side as the turn fin. A great many drivers have won a lot of championships with this setup.
All that said, if you are not racing and are not an experienced hydro driver or are using a straight fin then it would be best to mount the rudder on the opposite side. It could be a matter of personal preference.
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