----- Original Message ----- From: "Alex Ferguson" <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz> To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2001 2:35 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Rudders <snip> > An overpriced step in the right direction - could do better. > > Alex Okay, I'll bite. Alex, how about a description in gory detail of your best rudder system? I'll admit to being quite curious how it's done properly, even though there is no chance that I will be converted... ;-) Photos would be nice too if they are available. I also agree that the sealline system has some serious shortcomings, especially the fact that it retracts vertically and not flush with the rear deck. This is a recipe for disaster in even the smallest surf, because the rudder will be mangled on the bottom if the kayak flips over. It's also a problem for cartopping and for carrying the kayak. For such an expensive system, I would expect much better in at least this aspect. Cheers, Kevin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
[Kevin] >Okay, I'll bite. Alex, how about a description in gory detail of your best >rudder system? I'll admit to being quite curious how it's done properly, >even though there is no chance that I will be converted... ;-) Photos would >be nice too if they are available. Converted to using a rudder? No need to be, just that if a person IS going to use one, what about a decent design - no sliding pedals, support for the whole foot, easy position adjustment, no mounting holes through the hull - not rocket science to design something like that. I have supplied drawings to those who have requested them. There are three (5?) NZ kayak manufacturers that I can think of straight off that use pedals mounted on a platform with a central track/bar. Usually they have a series of holes and a sprungloaded pin to position the platform. I use webbing and a camlock - micro-adjustment steps. The pedals hinge on the platform at the bottom of the pedal or off a fixed piece such that the heels brace against a fixed point and the toes move or in my case, the hinge is level with the ankle and the whole feet sized pedals move. All use auto-adjusting rudder lines and have done for quite a number of years. Rudders all come up and on to the deck, Challenge Plastics and mine pull up like a dagger board on a yacht and the blade holder cants over so the rudder blade is in the same place as all the others. Difference is the blade is locked down to the hull by the pull-up line which goes to the top of the blade. The one exception is the Southern Viking rudder which is mounted on the side of the kayak, independantly developed in Australia and here. Both designers put it on the port side because the water goes down the plughole the other way in the southern hemisphere(???!!!). 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/ ***************************************************************************
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