G'Day, Before starting and to avoid resurrecting debates. I realise neither rudder or skeg are necessary in a kayak, but I'm training for some long open water crossings where the energy saved by an effective skeg or rudder has significant value. Also I recognise that kayaks with rudders or skegs or neither, all have their place. However, I am interested in how skegs work. So here are the questions if anyone can help: - 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? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
On a windless day, a skeg is just a rudder pointed straight forward. You'll need fewer steering corrections since the rudder/skeg will counter any turning action your stroke has on the boats direction. For all other conditions get in your mind that you and your boat are a giant weathervane. The heavy end will point into the wind, or the end with more wind resistance will get pushed downwind. If you want the boat to turn more into the wind you need less resistance on the back of the boat. One way of doing this would be to raise the skeg some. If you want to turn the boat more downwind increase the resistance on the stern - lower the skeg. The skeg is just one component in what direction your boat points. Hull profile above and below the water, gear on the deck, and forward/aft weight distribution in the boat are all going to effect the boats directional stability. Adjustable skegs are an easy way to adjust one component. Kirk -- Kirk Olsen kork4_at_cluemail.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
G'Day Peter Here is a link to an excellent description of skeg operations: http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/Pages/ExpertCenter/Equipment/Skeg/Skeg-1A.shtml I would not think a skeg would contribute to tipping kayaks when broaching. best wishes sid G'Day, Before starting and to avoid resurrecting debates. I realise neither rudder or skeg are necessary in a kayak, but I'm training for some long open water crossings where the energy saved by an effective skeg or rudder has significant value. Also I recognise that kayaks with rudders or skegs or neither, all have their place. However, I am interested in how skegs work. So here are the questions if anyone can help: - 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? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One thing usually ignored is that weather cocking is not just an aerodynamic issue, it is a hydrodynamic one. The faster you are going the worse it happens. A boat with a skeg partway down to cancel cocking at cruising speed will weathervane (blow down wind) at slower speeds or when stopped. Likewise, paddling faster that cruising will cause some weather cocking. I have read very good explanations of this, but cannot remember where I read it, and didn't understand the theory behind it well enough to try and explain it. Steve Brown -----Original Message----- G'Day, 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? All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Steve Brown" said: Likewise, paddling faster that cruising will cause some weather cocking. I have read very good explanations of this, but cannot remember where I read it, and didn't understand the theory behind it well enough to try and explain it. My simple simpleminded understanding is that the bow is cleaving water that is still, so there is a lot of resistance to moving to the side. The stern is travelling through water that is turbulent and moving sideways, having been pushed aside by the bow and the hull. So there is not as much pressure on the stern to resist sliding to the side. Does that make physicist sense? Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** 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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