How recent was his article? My understanding is that he first explored the skeg vs. rudder option during is circumnavigation of Australia. The skeg was the so called integral-skeg on his Nordkapp HM which was just a big fin shaped keel built into the hull design for the rear 1/3 of the boat, it was not one of those little strap-on skegs. The HM hull stays in the water pretty well in rough conditions but unlike most modern skeg boats it is not adjustable. Anyone who has paddled the old Nordkapp HM knows that although it tracks well and does not weather cock, it can be a really SOB to turn into the wind in gale conditions. The fin is so extreme that the boat turns downwind, not up in a strong cross wind which can be just as annoying as a boat that weather cocks.. Perhaps Paul would be less inclined to paddle with a rudder if he had tryed the adjustable skegs, perhaps not. Just because one expert paddler prefers one way of paddling does not make it the right way. There are plenty of expert paddlers that paddle well with skegs and there are plenty of experts who paddle with rudders. I personally don't feel the need for some experts endorsement of my preference in kayak style. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 01:33 pm 9/05/00 -0500, you wrote: >How recent was his article? I think I've seen this article quite a while back. > My understanding is that he >first explored the skeg vs. rudder option during is >circumnavigation of Australia. All the trips round New Zealand were with a "slip-on" skeg. >The skeg was the so called >integral-skeg on his Nordkapp HM which was just a big fin >shaped keel built into the hull design for the rear 1/3 of >the boat, True and this is what has been particially cut off and rudder fitted. (I was ducking under this boat and all his others on the way to the toilet a couple of weeks ago). >Perhaps Paul would be less inclined to paddle with a rudder >if he had tryed the adjustable skegs, perhaps not. The article as I read it is in response to those who say you are not a sea kayaker if you have a rudder. Yes, it is preferences (to some extent) and that the rudder option is very viable. >Just >because one expert paddler prefers one way of paddling does >not make it the right way. No. >I personally don't feel >the need for some experts endorsement of my preference in >kayak style. But there are some people who do. Alex . . Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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