-----Original Message----- From: Don Watson <dwatson_at_up.net> To: Richard Mitchell <mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu> Date: Saturday, November 21, 1998 4:40 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] rudder advice >Richard, >Nice to hear from you. The black plastic piece, where the rudder assembly >meets the bracket that is attached to the kayak stern is the weak link in >the rudder. When this becomes worn the rudder assembly pivots out of the >bracket during wet exits, rolling, and even in rough seas and winds, when a >rudder is most essential. I wouldn't be concerned about the Feathercraft >rudder on your personal kayak. I was mentioning this in regards to kayaks >that are used day in and day out in a rental situation, by a multitude of >different paddlers, who aren't necessarily careful with the rental >equipment. This type of use situation is ideal for testing equipment and >comparing different designs, such as rudders. On a foldable kayak, such as a >Feathercraft, I wouldn't go too fast into putting in another rudder, as the >one you now have is designed for your kayak. Reinstalling pedals and rudder >assembly in an aluminum framed kayak is something you might not want to do >without a lot of planning. >Have a great trip with your family in the Carribean! >-----Original Message----- >From: Richard Mitchell <mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu> >To: Don Watson <dwatson_at_up.net> >Date: Saturday, November 21, 1998 5:06 AM >Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] rudder advice > > >>Dear Don: >> >>Please help. I must use the feathercraft rudder as our family >>needs a large foldable for all three of us -- we out grew our >>Klepper. What goes wrong with the Fcraft rudders and can they be >>replaced with anything you recommend?? The K2 mounting to the >>hull is much less substantial than the Klepper's but I've been >>reassured that it is adequate (or so the factory says). We will >>be sailing our K2 so that will add additional stress. Were do >>the Fcraft rudders let you down? I'm leaving for the Caribbean >>in 2.5 weeks so any advice now could be a real blessing. Thanks. >> >>Rich >> >>> Don Watson wrote: >>> >>> At the company that I guide for, the Feathercraft rudder gives >>> us more trouble than any other rudder assembly.On a personal >>> kayak the Feathercraft rudder may be O. K., but on rental >>> kayaks, in a fleet, they don't hold up. On doubles I like the >>> Valley rudder, made in Britain, though the deployment and lift >>> lines sometimes get twisted and tangled.The Maple blade gives >>> it a nice and natural look. >>> Rudders seem to be a sometimes necessary piece of gear, though >>> in singles a retractable skeg can be a good choice. There again >>> skegs have the habit, in my experience, of jamming at the most >>> awkward times, with pebbles that lodge in the opening of the >>> skeg box.No rudder or skeg should be a substitute for good >>> paddle skills. >>> Cheers, >>> Don Watson >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: richard <richard_at_saber.net> >>> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >>> <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> >>> Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 11:30 AM >>> Subject: [Paddlewise] rudder advice >>> >>> Byron, >>> >>> >>> I am no expert on rudders but i do know that >>> Feathercraft has one of the best. >>> It has been copied by Aquaterra, Current Designs, >>> Wilderness Systems. >>> Can be purchased from Feathercraft for >>> non-Feathercraft kayaks for about >>> $100. Worth checking out. >>> >>> Richard M >>> >> >>-- >>Richard G. Mitchell, Jr. >>Department of Sociology >>Oregon State University >>Corvallis, OR 97331 >>U.S.A. >>(541) 752-1323 phone/fax >>mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu >> > *************************************************************************** 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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