Re: [Paddlewise] comments on rudders

From: Philip Torrens <skerries_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 09:25:28 PDT
>From: "Matt Broze" <mkayaks_at_oz.net>

> >
>The following was published in ANORAK a while back, I couldn't agree more.
>Matt Broze
>
>Preventing the Scourge of Rudderitis
>
>Rudderitis is a crippling affliction endemic and widespread among the
>aquatic humanoids on the planet earth known as "kayakers".
HUGE SNIP
>them how easy paddling will be using a preinfected shell, they should JUST
>SAY NO!
>
>This has been a public service message from the Center for Kayak Control,
>Dr. A. Marsman, chairman

Thanks to the good Doctor for his timely warning to us all. A small further 
note if I may:
It appears that "rudderitis" can be passed on not only through the family 
lines of the kayakers, but also of the "shells". Examination of successive 
generations of shells reveals that once they have been infected with 
"rudders" there is a tendency for the natural sharp stern line to become 
blunted and flat, with bizarre right angles resembling those on the larger 
craft in which "rudders" are believed to have originated. Often this 
"squaring of the stern" becomes so extreme that the shell itself can not 
longer track without one, creating a grotesque, self-perpetuating "obligate 
symbiosis" wherein the shell must have a rudder, even though this parasite 
saps its speed and handling.

Philip Torrens

N49°16' W123°08'


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Received on Thu Jul 08 1999 - 09:26:15 PDT

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