Re: [Paddlewise] Skeg Jammers

I don't think there will ever be an end to the skeg vs. ruder debate.  It's
personal preference.  Certainly a lot of good paddling had been done in both
designs.  I have paddled both over the years and my preference is skegs.  In
my
experience skegs are reliable, the environment I paddle in, salt water and
sandy beaches in by no means friendly to moving mechanical parts.  However my
problems with skeg jams have been limited to one bad experience in the three
years that I have paddled my current boat, a Kayak Sport Millennium.  That bad
experience was more due to my inexperience with the skeg, than blame on the
boat.
In this particular incident I jammed it on a pebbly beach at the start of a
week-long camping trip.  I tried to unjam it by forcing the skeg control and
ended up unjaming it, but damaging the cable that controls the skeg, later the
skeg just fell out and I was forced to due the remainder of the trip without
the benefit of a skeg.  In the end it just meant a few stern rudders and some
sweep stokes and it wasn't really an issue.  I now have a small cord tied to
my
skeg and when it jams I have friend pull on the cord to unjam it, this method
has worked well and I really have had no complaints.  For the record I don't
recommend fishing line, it's too hard to find and grip while your boat is on
the water.  Additionally you should have enough line for someone to get a firm
grip.  I also carry a pair of pliers and a knife in my day hatch in case a
really nasty jam occurs.  On camping trips I carry a spare skeg and control
mechanism in case disaster strikes.

One thing that rarely gets mentioned is that while rudders fail less often,
then can be more catistrpic.  If a cable breaks its possible that you will
lose
your foot pegs and your ability to brace will be compromised.  I would much
rather deal with stern rudders and sweeps than no foot pegs.  Certainly
properly maintained cables are reliable, but when sand and salt are involved
anything
can happen.

In the end lots of people use rudders, and lots use skegs.  They both work
well.  It's just a matter of preference.

Skegjammer Dave
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