part of the original email read >The rudder is only used to help a >bit in windy conditions and when surfing. maybe someone addressed this but here's my bit; windy conditions maybe depending on which quarter etc, but not in the surf. One of our big jobs here is to convince people being taught how to handle/have fun in the surf is to keep their rudder up You can't turn fast enought with a rudder in the surf, you need to be able to turn fast with a lean turn to cope with various situations. This is especially in bigger surf where it becomes a key skill to handle it safely eg in break zone to deal with rapidly steepening waves that may present a danger to you. Not only is turning with a rudder too slow, a rudder (or skeg) slows lean/paddle turns. Also a rudder can 'catch', facilitating a flip and a dunking. They can also be dangerous for fellow surfers and can be damaged in surf if you bottom the rear of your boat on the sand. As you come into shallower water of course this problem is accentuated especially if broaching - bent rudders, tipped paddlers etc. Before a surf session many in our club/group remove their rudders for these reasons. better to develop and rely on leaning and paddle skills in the surf zone. nick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Sep 30 1999 - 16:52:06 PDT
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