Re: [Paddlewise] controlling a rudderless kayak

Matt Broze wrote:
> 

> it might be best to put it right behind the seat though. Tilting the kayak
> as Ralph suggests is excellent advice most of the time but may not be that
> feasible if the kayak is wide, gear laden, and paddled by a small paddler.
> Then leaning just takes too much effort.
> Our new website www.marinerkayaks.com has a detailed discussion of the
> techniques to help control weathercocking in a rudderless kayak, rated from
> the easiest to do to those that require more effort. You can find it in the
> "Course Keeping" section of the Paddling Manual.

Great advice on that site!  I learned something too.  My corrective
strokes for weathercocking pretty much follow what Matt Broze suggest,
i.e. first rock the boat to one side briefly with every other paddle
stroke, then try tilt, than choke up on the paddle etc.  Since I am in
wide folding kayaks I don't follow that order however.  I tend to use
the rocking briefly toward windward first and then go to choking up on
the paddle shaft before I would try to hold the boat on a tilt.  I
hadn't thought of the idea of turning your torso 15 degrees (toward the
direction of the wind that is drawing your boat toward it).  I have to
try it.

The site has good advice on other aspects of paddling too.  Worth a
visit.

Matt talks some about boat design when discussing weathercocking and
mentions shifting weight toward the rear to prevent weathercocking.  On
the Nautiraid single, which weathercocks like crazy, you can add a
weight at the very stern to accomplish this.  I know someone who adds a
5 pound handweight back in there to do this.

Another solution is a strap-on skeg.  Feathercraft has one for its
Khatsalano that probably would fit most boats, hardshell or folding. 
Its base is a thick piece of hypalon that conforms to the hull shape of
the boat.  Hanging down (and encased in hypalon) is a small disc to form
the skeg.  The whole contraption attaches with two webbing straps that
are attached to the hypalon and wrap around over the deck and close with
buckles.  It is not quite as versatile as a retractable skeg.  But this
strap-on skeg takes up little room inside your boat and can be added
when you anticipate long crossing in cross winds or just want the
tracking a skeg can give you.  It costs about $30 if I am not
mistakened.  It beats a rudder in weight and foolproofness.

ralph diaz
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************