To pipe in with my experience with rudders: The core of the discussion seems to be getting down to the issue of efficiency and convenience. I look at the convenience of a rudder (or skeg) like the cruise control feature on an automobile. Sure, you can drive across Nebraska and Wyoming without cruise control, but it makes the long haul much simpler. When you need more hands on control, you turn it off. Before a long trip two years ago, I did a series of time trials, including rudder tests, on a measured course on a lake with an impellor-driven knot meter. Kayak empty, kayak loaded with 150 lbs. of bricks, rudder up, rudder down, etc., and came up with about a 2% rudder drag factor, or about 0.1 mph slower at 5 mph. (Eddyline Sea Star, 18', 22") This drag factor, in my opinion, is overshadowed by the effort that is otherwise expended steering the kayak in some types of rough water. I have been canoeing and kayaking since before 1970 (about 9250 miles total), and can make anything, from a squirt boat on up, go in a straight line if I work hard enough. On weekend and short haul trips of 100 miles or less, I only occasionally use a rudder, as there is usually time and energy for an active paddling style in rougher conditions. On the long trip- 1136 miles in 30 days around the perimeter of Lake Superior, without resupply- I found that I used the rudder up to about 70% of the time in choppy conditions, since I was trying to direct most of my finite energy supply into forward motion, and keeping a heavily-loaded boat on course in quartering seas and reflected waves is a bit of work. In rough water, a rudder under load, would probably exert more than the "2% baseline" of drag, but still takes some of the load off your arms and shoulders and allows a steadier cadence. Perhaps a skeg would be a practical compromise. These are just tools to do the job, like a GPS unit or a butane lighter. This is of course my observation, relating to my paddling style, as I like to cover miles, and am not too concerned about any ideological or traditional purity beyond the human-powered premise. -Andy Knapp *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Andy Knapp wrote: > > To pipe in with my experience with rudders: [snip] > Before a long trip two years ago, I did a series of time trials, including > rudder tests, on a measured course on a lake with an impellor-driven knot > meter. Kayak empty, kayak loaded with 150 lbs. of bricks, rudder up, rudder > down, etc., and came up with about a 2% rudder drag factor, or about 0.1 > mph slower at 5 mph. (Eddyline Sea Star, 18', 22") > > This drag factor, in my opinion, is overshadowed by the effort that is > otherwise expended steering the kayak in some types of rough water.[snip] > > In rough water, a rudder under load, would probably exert more than the "2% > baseline" of drag, but still takes some of the load off your arms and > shoulders and allows a steadier cadence. Perhaps a skeg would be a > practical compromise. These are just tools to do the job, like a GPS unit > or a butane lighter. [snip] Andy: great post -- good to have you chime in with some extensive on-the-water experience -- agree with your approach to the rudder/no rudder religious debate. I think Winskill gave me his headache, though. All: been an illuminating set of posts to read after two afternoons on a salty body of water with 10 - 15 knots of LF quarter/RR quarter winds. Used my rudder part of the time and part not. Had a good time either way. Clear, cold night, brant all over the bay, loons calling at midnight, and a double pocketful of agates on the beach for the morning walk. That's a short summary of why I need/don't need a rudder. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dave; Sorry about giving you my headache. I know I get cranky now and again. It's the religious fervor with which some of these subjects are approached that gets to me at times. I'll try to be better - well, sort of try. It might be fun to paddle together some time. Let me know if you'd like to paddle Puget Sound or if you have any neat spots down on the Columbia or the coast. John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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