Peter O asked------ > Can anyone say if skegs tend to tip kayaks over when they > broach during surf landings? > > Can anyone explain why varying the degree of deployment of a > skeg allows one to compensate so effectively for such a wide > variety of directions of wind or waves? Peter, I'm not a boat designer, but I've been paddling a boat with a skeg for over three years; so I do have some experience with them. To my knowledge, the skeg works by anchoring the stern in the water. If your boat starts to weathercock, the bow swings into the wind and the stern swings down wind. By anchoring the stern, the wind has more of an effect of blowing the bow downwind. By varying the amount of skeg deployed, you can usually just counter the weathercocking. Not enough skeg and you will still weathercock but to a lesser degree. Too much skeg and you will actually leecock. As far as the skeg tipping you over in surf, you should always raise the skeg prior to surf landings to prevent it from breaking. My boat almost always wants to broach in surf. Once or twice I've forgotten to raise the skeg. It did not make me capsize or effect things at all - but all of that sideways stress on it can definitely bend or break it. I was lucky when I left mine down. Prior to entering the surf zone, I have a very short checklist. Check to make sure, my hat is strapped on, the retainer for my eyeglasses is tight, and the skeg is up. I've turned this into a ritual so that I don't forget. Steve Holtzman Southern CA *************************************************************************** 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 Sun Feb 08 2004 - 05:18:15 PST
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