At 10:26 AM 9/27/01 -0400, Craig MacKinnon <elroca_at_earthlink.net> wrote: >Rudders shouldn't be substitutes for boat handling skills; anyone making the >argument that they're nothing more than alternatives to proficiency is >imposing a false option; in some instances, focusing exclusively on skills >can unnecessarily cloud the issue; choosing a rudder is an individual >decision that matches a specific kayak This is true both ways. It would take a whole lot of chopping and fiberglassing to get a rudder onto some boats, my PinTail comes to mind. > and an individual paddler; for >example, some have described "rudder dependent" designs, apparently >recognizing that rudders on some kayaks under certain conditions can >increase overall forward paddling efficiency; if this is so, why wouldn't a >paddler, regardless of skill level, take advantage of this increased >efficiency? Because in some instances a rudder would wreck an otherwise nice boat. >By removing the skill red herring, one can focus on individual >goals and specific kayak designs when deciding whether a rudder is >appropriate. For some of us skills are a goal unto themselves. I have one boat that absolutely requires a rudder, and one that I feel a rudder would wreck. Carving turns via edging can be a joy, a feeling I've never gotten from plowing around a turn with a ruddered boat. The current designs speedster will turn pretty quickly with the rudder, but it just doesn't feel like a nice carved turn in something like an Anas Acuta. A rudder is just another tool in the equipment arsenal. One that is failure prone so a backup plan needs to be available anytime I chose a boat with one. I've had the rudder fail on my surf ski. The stability decreases and steering becomes brutal. I can still get it home, it's just a lot more work. kirk *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Sep 27 2001 - 11:15:27 PDT
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