[Paddlewise] loading trim with and without rudders

It was suggested that using a rudder is an easier way to "adjust the trim" 
of a kayak than by judicious packing of cargo. My boat has a rudder, and I 
still am careful to pack it balanced fore and aft. Here's why:

I prefer to paddle without the rudder as much as possible, both to keep my 
skills up and because the rudder creates drag.

Even when I am using the rudder, a well balanced boat requires less radical 
rudder angles for course correction. The harder you have to put the rudder 
over, the more "stall" (read "drag") you may create.

Murphy's (Posiden's?) Law dictates that a rudder cable will break or a 
sliding footpeg jam at the most inconvenient moment (the latter has happened 
to me). You're going to have to pull the rudder out of the water and steer 
with paddle strokes then; why not make it easy on yourself?

Philip Torrens
N49°16' W123°06'

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