Frank, Please forgive my having pulled these phrases out of your original message. In a message dated 9/26/01 9:25:04 PM, yakers_at_earthlink.net writes: (snip) << I am NOT an expert paddler and it is rather unlikely I will have the time and opportunity to become (&remain) one. I am certain that a fair number of experts are on this list but there just are not that many as a percentage of the paddling population. (snip) << . . . if a rudder helps some people some of the time what is the problem? I agree a person should be able to paddle without one but . . . >> (snip) << So except for agreeing that a person should be skilled enough to paddle without one, IMHO if you want one-go ahead-if you don't-thats fine too. As someone from LA let me just say"Why can't we all get along?" >> You are exactly right. Few on this list, or around the world, are actually expert paddlers. No doubt there are some experts on this list but not nearly as many as it may sound from time to time. There is however no shortage of folk willing to address this issue time and time again. This is actually an advanced paddler's argument in that advaced paddlers that want to be experts care about this issue. For one to become an advanced paddler, many think that they must learn to control the boat without and external devices. I an NOT an expert either but I do subsribe to this thinking that to become an advanced paddler I must learn to handle my boat in all conditions without any devices. In closing, I agree. It would be great if everyone could learn to handle a boat without a skeg or rudder. But in the final analysis each paddler with use what they think is required. I enjoy the discussion even though I know it will never be resolved. Use what you want and let the folks that want to disccuss the finer points do so knowing that their issues have little effect on the great majority of average paddlers. Have fun, Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Good for you, Jed. You said what I would have like to have said, but I didn't know how to do it without being critical. Different strokes indeed! How in the world can anyone make using a rudder, or not, seem like a moral issue? Yet we do it so well. Thanks for a sensible contribution. The point of the sport, I think, is, as you said in your last line - Have Fun! Jim Tibensky Jed said: In closing, I agree. It would be great if everyone could learn to handle a boat without a skeg or rudder. But in the final analysis each paddler will use what they think is required. I enjoy the discussion even though I know it will never be resolved. Use what you want and let the folks that want to disccuss the finer points do so knowing that their issues have little effect on the great majority of average paddlers. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
----- Original Message ----- From: "kirk olsen" <kolsen_at_imaginelan.com> snip > A rudder is just another tool in the equipment arsenal. snip I'm distinguishing this idea from those who argue that rudders are nothing more than crutches for the unskilled. Someone may argue that a rudder is unnecessary, that a rudder may simply clutter a piece of art or that they prefer, under certain conditions given a certain boat design, the increased overall forward paddling efficiency offered by a deployed rudder--these are all individual choices; I'm willing to leave this issue as a matter of individual choice. Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
At 15:13 9/27/01 -0400, Craig MacKinnon wrote: >----- Original Message ----- >From: "kirk olsen" <kolsen_at_imaginelan.com> >snip > > A rudder is just another tool in the equipment arsenal. >snip > >I'm distinguishing this idea from those who argue that rudders are nothing >more than crutches for the unskilled. Someone may argue that a rudder is >unnecessary, that a rudder may simply clutter a piece of art or that they >prefer, under certain conditions given a certain boat design, the increased >overall forward paddling efficiency offered by a deployed rudder--these are >all individual choices; I'm willing to leave this issue as a matter of >individual choice. > >Craig A newbie to the list here. I'll post a bio eventually. I bought a Dagger Cypress specifically with a rudder. I like to wander the lower Chesapeake Bay marshlands and take pictures. When I see something interesting (bird, etc) I like to get up a good head of steam and then drift with camera in hand(s). The rudder allows me to make heading changes due to wind or tide effects without taking my hands from the camera or my eye from the view finder. This often allows me to catch some shots of birds just as they lift off when I get too close for their comfort. I also enjoy the rudder for downwind drift corrections while I'm otherwise leaning back and relaxing on a break. I'm gettin' too old not to use every advantage I can get!!! ;--) Dave G. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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