Re: [Paddlewise] Rudders & Sharps (was BCU vs. ACA...)

Wayne said: <heavy snips>

> >>>  Someone on the list commented on those nasty
> rudder things that some people put on their boats , and how
> they consist of metal knives and wicked cables the can do
> damage to swimmers.  I agree, I am a skeg paddler, but I
> don't want to start another skeg vs. rudder holy war on the
> list. >>>

Boat-over-boat rescues, T- rescues, etc, are always associated with the
possibility of paddler injury in some form or another. Rudders can
complicate matters and/or add potential injury problems. I opted for a
foam core molded rudder from Valley Canoe (one designed interestingly
enough from Paul Caffyn's famous "discovery" of using one on a Brit
boat, to which I lengthened it more like Paul's too). It has little in
the way of dangerous protrusions, and the actual rudder is rather
benign. I modified my rudder with vinyl covered stainless steel cables
and ran the line through the deck close to the rudder mount via small
triangular rudder cable-routers from Prijon, molded into the rear deck
of my Nordkapp. I then went over the whole boat and rounded any other
sharp corners, and/or modified anything malignant. If you have added
anything to your deck using screws (especially Phillips screw heads) and
over tightened the screw, you may need to file the sharp shards off. Try
not to leave anything on deck that a finger could get caught in. Sand
any sharp fiberglass edges that may have been missed. Try to replace any
sharp or pointy cotter pins and the like with something more benign.

Sorry, I don't have any tautological arguments to add to those we have
already displayed on this list regarding rudders and skegs with respect
to their use or lack of use by experts. :-)

I do think everyone should go over their kayak, slowly, with your hand
feeling for any dangerous, sharp edges, then smooth them out or make
modifications. Just don't do it while your neighbors are looking on, as
they might think you love your kayak just a little too much (that goes
for doing it in front of your spouse, too).  :-)

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who is no longer on the "cutting edge")

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