Re: [Paddlewise] Rudders/ frequency

Gerald Foodman wrote:

> ...SNIP...  If you are traveling long distance in windy, choppy conditions a
> rudder saves energy.  No matter how skilled you are.

While this may be your experience, and while it is definitely true for
some boats, I do not believe that it holds as a general proposition.
>From the standpoint of energy use, a rudder has both an advantage and a
disadvantage. The advantage is that one avoids the energy loss
associated with corrective strokes (or edging). The disadvantage is that
the rudder adds significant drag. If you are paddling a boat that you
have to fight to keep on course when not using the rudder (such as a
surf ski), then the rudder's energy-saving advantage outweighs the
disadvantage of increased drag. But for boats that require little effort
to keep on course, the drag of the rudder probably outweighs any energy
saving from being able to avoid occassional corrections. (I say probably
because I am unaware of any scientific tests.) 

One of my boats has a rudder.  It seems to me that this boat (a
Solstice) requires less effort to paddle in windy conditions when the
rudder is retracted. This is a boat that is very easy to hold on line
without using the rudder. If you have a boat that is difficult to handle
without the rudder, then the use of a rudder with such a boat probably
does save energy when paddling in the wind. But I have seen no evidence
to suggest that this is generally true, and I have anecdotal evidence to
the contrary.

Dan Hagen
Bellingham, Washington
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