Re: [Paddlewise] Rudder story

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com>
<SNIP>


>I think there's potential value in rudders as a way of introducing newbies
to kayaking.  My sweetie,
>Amie, paddled last year for the first time "full time".   We bought her a
kayak after renting several
>different types.  She basically likes kayaking (her background is canoeing)
but kayaks more
>because I love it and we do things together.  (yes, I have to do stuff she
likes)
>
>She couldn't get the hang of the boat without the rudder at first.  We
worked on it and she
>understood what she had to do.  Some lessons later, she started to get it,
but still used
>the rudder quite often.

Since the need for a rudder is so boat dependent I would like to know what
boat we are talking about when experiences are described. This is a lot like
labelling "drugs" as bad when there are all sorts of different drugs which
have all sorts of different actions.

 >This year,  the first time out she didn't use the rudder
>even though conditions weren't ideal.  I commented on it towards the end of
the day and
>she turned, looked at the rudder and said "I forgot about that!"  She
rarely used the
>rudder at all this year, reserving it for really rough winds or when she's
too tired to
>use constant correction strokes.  (And she won't get in over her head - I
see to that!)
>
>The key is instruction and "weaning" the paddler off the rudder so it
doesn't become a
>crutch.  I emphasize to Amie and others that it's a "trim tab" rather than
a steering
>device and it should be used as such.

This is the "put training wheels on your bike when you are learning"
approach. Just slows the learning process way down and creates bad habits
that you will need to unlearn.


>
>There are reasons for having rudders that have nothing to do with bad kayak
design,
>being a poor paddler, being a wimp, etc.  Ya can't sail without a rudder
(unless you
>have several arms).

A "V" sail work just fine without the rudder. Just tilt it in the opposite
way you want to turn.

>I wouldn't want to go on a long trip in cross winds without one
>and would prefer to have one if I suffered from a sore shoulder or elbow on
a trip
>and had to deal with wind.

Again what boats are you talking about that have given you these
experiences.

>I want to get a "high performance" day paddling kayak and it won't have a
rudder.
>But I'll keep my ruddered tripping boat for longer outings, even if i
haven't used the
>rudder in a long time.  I haven't used my first aid kit on a trip yet
either, but always
>bring that so it's there in the event I need it.

This arguement presupposes there aren't any disadvantages to having a rudder
mounted when there are numerous ones.
>
>I think the rudder argument is like "real men don't eat quiche".  Real men
eat whatever
>they bloody well want to!

That's what I have always said.
Real men don't let others tell them what to do or think either, but they are
willing to listen to the arguments, experiment, and then decide for
themselves what they want to do. They are also willing to put up with the
flames and flack they get because of their decision. Real women too!

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com





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