Re: [Paddlewise] Rudder facts (was Weatherhelm)

Robert Woodard wrote:
> 
> John Winters wrote:
> 
> > Unfortunately they printed the graphs in such a small scale that taking
> > information off results in lots of error not to mention the error due to
> > normal distortions of copies etc. Doing the best I could for 5 degrees of
> > leeway I got  a 1.8% increase in drag at 2 knots, 11.4% increase
> > at 3 knots and 14% increase at 4 knots.
> 
> Thanks John. This is the kind of information I like to see.
> 
> In this rudder vs. non-rudder debate, I can't help think about a little
> snippet I read in Derek Hutchinson's book on Sea Kayaking:
> 
> "A few years ago the sea kayaking world was a relatively small one, so that
> if a kayak came on the market and had obvious faults the word was passed
> round among paddlers by word of mouth. If the boat was a bad one, it usually
> fell by the wayside and was never heard of again. This is not so today, and
> the bad designs stand next to the good in the retail stores - caveat
> emptor!"
> 
> I think the discussion here has centered around if rudders are bad or not. A
> few have avoided this debate and looked deeper and asked "why is the rudder
> needed?". The rudder is not "bad" (at least no one has presented any
> evidence to show that it is) but some have offered evidence that it retards
> a boats efficiency (is this bad?).
> 
> Matt Broze has repeatably stated that a rudder is not needed. To back that
> up he designs boats that he stands behind not needing one. A pretty powerful
> statement. Rather than trying to prove that rudders are bad, he proves (at
> least to some people) that they aren't needed when the design is correct. I
> like that approach.
> 
> The little blurb I quoted from John W's post above is the second piece of
> information posted that shows there may be a significant increase in drag
> with a rudder deployed. This doesn't mean rudders are bad, but does indicate
> a paddler who needs a rudder may pay a premium for it if (s)he decides to
> use it. This certainly seems to fit with what I've observed while using my
> rudder (low/no drag at lower speeds, noticeable drag at higher speeds), but
> my body is not calibrated enough to place a number on the amount of drag I'm
> experiencing.
> 
> There are only 2 reasons I've seen to use a rudder. Someone tell me if I
> missed any:
> 
> 1) To compensate for a design shortfall.
> 
> 2) To compensate for lack of paddler skill.
> 
> You have to empathize with those suffering from #1, and can only encourage
> those suffering from #2 to get better. Some people don't know to which
> category they belong (yet); something that experience will hopefully tell
> them one day.
> 
> I think it would be interesting when someone asks for opinions on a certain
> design in this forum, to read "that boat needs a rudder all the time - that
> boat needs a rudder in high winds - that boat never needs a rudder". When
> this starts to happen, as a group maybe we can again start to weed out the
> bad designs.
> 
> Woody


I have a better ideal. Why don't you share with us all what kind of kayak 
we should be paddling, as I think you might be on to something.

Where was someone like you when I started out? I suspect you could help 
my paddle stroke also.

James, amused(really):-) "honest!"

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