[Mary wrote] >Cost here in the US is about $375 > Here is the info on the Seal Line rudders > http://www.cascadedesigns.com/sealline/smarttrack.asp $375 / 0.4 = $940NZ plus freight plus retailer's markup in NZ = NZ kayak. I'd love to be able to charge that for a superior product i.e. no holes in the hull, easier adjustability, rudder locks up on retraction with only 15% (?) more windage than the Seal Line, more comfortable pedals, simpler more rugged product. The trim tab - they talk about the discomfort of sliding pedals in a cross sea/cross wind situation and then produce a non-sliding product????? If adding a bit of constant rudder gives discomfort then maybe there is something seriously wrong with the kayak. Personally I think it is an unnecessary complication. Pedals - tiddly little things. Why not produce something that fits the whole foot as is done here? Adjustment - they are now using our (NZ) system of auto-adjustment lines though it looks as if the pedal position is still stepped adjustment and though adjustable from in the cockpit, you need to do two adjustments instead of one adjustment as is common in this country. Blade - retracts vertical. I went away from that system a decade ago. Prone to damage in the surf. Note, mine was about $5 of materials to do the same job, still got one on one of my kayaks, and at least 2 others I know of, after nearly 2 decades. Deployment - via a spring, like to see that after a day on one of our coasts after it gets full of sand. Might be OK but... An overpriced step in the right direction - could do better. Alex . . *************************************************************************** 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 Tue Oct 02 2001 - 14:35:50 PDT
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