Re: [Paddlewise] Hull Modification Photos and Skeg Issues

In a message dated 12/15/2002 6:41:04 PM Central Standard Time, 
strosaker_at_cox.net writes:


> I've been asking a lot of skeg boaters if
> they have problems with their skegs, and most have said that their skegs 
> jam
> frequently after surf launches and landings. I am surprised at how hush, 
> hush
> this issue has been and why so many paddlers tolerate their skegs jamming. 
> I
> guess that after dogging other kayakers for using "vulnerable" rudders, it 
> is
> a little embarrassing for skeg boaters to admit that there skegs are a 
> piece
> of junk.
> 
Confessions of a former drop down skeg user: I'm breaking the silence! Too 
long have I asked other paddlers to dull their pfd mounted peanut butter 
spreaders, cheese slicers and salami cutters on my dirty, filthy gravel and 
mud filled skeg box.
The retractable skeg on a former boat of mine jammed quite a bit. The device 
had little tolerance for gravel and filled up on launches where the stern 
dragged on the ground. The channel glassed into the gunnel that carried the 
skeg deploment slider wire actually broke when I pulled the slider too hard. 
I sold the boat and now have the integrated skeg hull on my Nordkapp Jubillee 
and am perfectly content. No, fellow paddlers, no more wet arms or pinched 
fingers from rafting up to me to clear a box I filled with as much gravel as 
I did my retinue with poor launching technique. Thanks, Duane, for raising 
the issue.

unburdened chest,

Rob G






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