Ulli Hoeger asked about skeg materials and I thought I'd add my two cents worth to give everyone something to think about: I would not use aluminum in a skeg and would not have aluminum in the water as either a skeg or a rudder on any kayak because there is some evidence it attracts sharks. It is a well know fact that AL in sea water under goes a slow chemical reduction called electrolysis, it breaks down the molecules on the surface and discharges a weak electric current in the water. It has been suspected by researchers that this current is mistaken by the sensing organs on a shark as an injured fish thrashing in the water. There also have been a number of antidotal reports that support this idea because sharks have attacked boat props, rudders, etc. including one scary story of a sea kayaker I think in the Deep Trouble book who had an aluminum skeg on his kayak. I personally do not prefer a rudder but if you regularly paddle in known shark waters I would replace any aluminum rudders or skegs, or at the very least put several coats of a tough paint on it. I would think for an all wood S&G kayak a wood skeg would be plenty strong, especially if you put a layer of fiberglass over it. Peter *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>C'mon, this is as bad as the old "aluminum pots cause Alzheimers" >idea - it's ridiculous to worry about all the untested or poorly >tested ideas that come up. I've been using aluminum pots all my life and I don't remember hearing about any such theory. ;) KeS *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Peter A. Chopelas wrote: >Ulli Hoeger asked about skeg materials and I thought I'd add my two cents >worth to give everyone something to think about: > >I would not use aluminum in a skeg and would not have aluminum in the water >as either a skeg or a rudder on any kayak because there is some evidence it >attracts sharks. Think about it? As the only kayaks attacked by sharks that I know of were plastic and the kayaks I know of paddling in shark infested waters had aluminium rudders (and weren't attacked), it follows that you SHOULD fit a metal blade. All that insulation caused by plastic upsets the sharks and causes attacks - stands to reason...... 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/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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