[Paddlewise] [Fwd: [Fwd: Rudders/ frequency]]

Having watched the commentary on "rudders" I recalled a most excellent
debate
that went on between George Gronseth and Alex Ferguson on 'Wavelength
about
a year and a half ago. The discussion was truly infomative and down
right excellent.
I attempted to get Alex Ferguson to once again add his commentary and he
has
given me permission to post his opening gambit toward the discussion.
Personally,
I do esteem the Australians and NewZelanders for their kayaking context
and
naturally the benefits of a rudder. However, lets see where this goes
and perhaps
we can lure the good Doctor into subscribing to this great group of
paddlers.

Best Regards,

Philip Wylie

attached mail follows:

Philip

> Hey, my friend it has been a while since I have seen a posting from you.

I haven't bothered to get on to Paddlewise. Certainly things 
have been a bit quieter but it was good to note the 
other day (messages on WL) that Jackie hadn't managed to 
totally kill WaveLengths (Tim only set it up so she could 
kill it).

> Did the land of down under get submerged by Canadian Ballast Rocks
> courtesy of John Winters???

Still paddling and our yearly forum coming up at Easter.

> I was thinking you might want to join the fray as you did so eloquently
> with George Gronseth last year on the rudder debate. Since you
> championed

Flattery  :-)

> the cause so well, I was hoping to bait you into the discussion with out

You might want to forward the following to Paddlewise -

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rudders

Tank testing will not emulate being at sea with wind and
waves.

Until tests are done with proper rudder pedals, and not 
those stupid American sliding pedals, will things ever be 
realistic - drag and course holding.

Holding a very accurate course (paddling beside one's 
partner in lumpy and windy conditions) is so much easier 
with a rudder. generally you can paddle much closer safely 
(also more sociable  :-)

Regular, power strokes close to the hull should always be 
preferable to wide sweep strokes. Every wide sweep stroke is 
a "loss" stroke compared to a straight power stroke.

Matt Broze (Sea Kayaker magazine) came up with 12 of the 
most ridiculous reasons for not having a rudder, that if 
those were all there were, then there was no argument 
against them.

Read Paul Caffyn's "Dreamtime Voyage". Check his milages 
with and without a rudder - 10 - 20% increase with one?

Alex

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That might stir something if anyone actually has an answer.

Alex
--
----------------------------------------------------
Alex Ferguson      a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz
Electronics Workshop, Chem Dept, Univ of Canterbury
Christchurch, New Zealand


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