[Paddlewise] Rudders and wind

 From the discussion about large or small cockpits, mention was made of 
Chris Duff's trip down here - WIND !!!!! Paul Caffyn originally used a 
slide on skeg for his Nordkapp, a compromise. He now uses a deep fin 
rudder. Incidently, not all rudders are worth having - ever measured how 
much blade actually gets in the water on a Prion kayak (Seayak or Kodiak)?

MB?

> > He also said that going
> > solo as he did, meant he wouldn't have anyone else around to get the skeg
> > unstuck for him after a launch through surf. I got the impression from the
> > questions about this if he were to do it again he would make the same 
> choice
> > of the more maneuverable kayak without add-on control devices. He felt the
> > maneuverability he gained with the Romany in the critical surf portions of
> > his trip outweighed the difficulty he had during particularly bad 
> quartering
> > following seas where he at times wished he had a rudder or skeg on his boat

DL

>and a deep
>draft ruddered kayak for quartering seas, etc. I've been on trips where 
>rudders
>have broken, skegs have continually gotten stuck in the closed position due to
>gravel, etc., etc. (I have a custom-modified HD rudder with a lock pin/quick
>release that keeps it nailed to the neck for heavy surf landings).

Rudders, surf landings and paddling in New Zealand -

It is possible to fit a hoop protector over the rudder in the stowed 
position if you are really worried about rolling on the beach after a surf 
landing. As far as the rudder unstowing (falling over the side), mine is 
locked in position, when up, because the pull-up line goes to the top of 
the blade and slides the blade up the "holder". The pull-up string "ties" 
the blade to the deck.

New Zealand bought Strikemaster training aircraft a number of years back. 
They developed fractures in the main spars long before any problems were 
encountered (per flying hours) in Britain. Turbulence caused by wind. New 
Zealand is a very windy place. Sounds like about 20-25 knots blowing 
outside at the moment, supposed to go round to the nor'west later today 
(warm) and that can go to 30-40 knots followed by a southerly 30-60 knots. 
Our summer trip was dogged by wind.

 > but I do get the feeling from Chris generally, that
 > this gear/kayak talk is all secondary to the experience and lifestyle of
 > expedition paddling and the freedom in life derived thereof.

Just makes life a little easier to enjoy if things work.

Alex
.
.

Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************