I started out on flat water (ponds & streams in VT) in a flat bottomed rudderless, skegless rotomolded toy. A devil to paddle in a straight line as you can imagine. Perhaps it was the best training. I've been paddling solo in a Feathercraft Kahuna for several years. And though my husband thinks I'm completely mad to do this, I always start the season going out without my rudder. I only put it on when I'm going for a long day out and I think I might want to be lazy. My next boat will have neither installed, though I've ordered a strap on skeg just to have the option. I wouldn't want a boat that was dependent on a fallible bit of kit. I have far more confidence in my technique when I'm out alone than in any hardware. And if the conditions get to the limits of my technique skeg, rudder or none I'll be heading to shore. happy paddling, je Oh, and yes, I do yoga but the roll isn't bomb proof.... yet ;-) The world revolves around engineers...only because they choose to pick their own coordinate origin. ------------------------------------- janellen_at_harriman4.net *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> I started out on flat water (ponds & streams in VT) in a flat bottomed > rudderless, skegless rotomolded toy. A devil to paddle in a straight > line as you can imagine. Perhaps it was the best training. > > I've been paddling solo in a Feathercraft Kahuna for several years. > And though my husband thinks I'm completely mad to do this, I always > start the season going out without my rudder. I only put it on when > I'm going for a long day out and I think I might want to be lazy. > > My next boat will have neither installed, though I've ordered a strap > on skeg just to have the option. > > I wouldn't want a boat that was dependent on a fallible bit of kit. Too many factors to consider in duscussions, that's why they are endless. In a flat-bottom boat you really depend on rudders as on fallible part, because rudder makes a lot of difference in such a boat. In Kahuna you depend on it much less, because its tracking is good enough to go without a rudder, and it is short enough to turn it without one either. I'm using rudder less than 50% of time on Kahuna (additional reason not to use a rudder is that this boat is not too fast, so why slow it down more?). With a long hardshell boat - it depends on both hull shape and weather conditions. It's good to have it in choppy seas, winds, currents, and you will not need it on flat water if tracking is good enough. In 17 ft 24" Seaward I paddle with rudder up on flat water, and with rudder down on windy days and in tidal currents (more than 50% of time - this is probably where I'm losing technique). *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I was going to say has anyone tried using some kind of lee board instead of a skeg. It could be manipulated from the cockpit. I guess it would be too much clutter on deck. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Mark posted: >I was going to say has anyone tried using some kind of lee board instead of a skeg. It could be manipulated from the cockpit. I guess it would be too much clutter on deck.< Someone I know had made his own kayak (similar to Duane's lovely boat recently highlighted). He used a center dagger board, positioned just behind the cockpit. Doug Alderson, the one who made the kayak, would often outpaddle me in my deep draft ruddered Nordkapp in certain conditions. It was easy to raise and lower with a bit of a body twist, and added an amazing stability to the kayak. Unfortunately, it was a pain in rock gardens and a pain in kelp. The housing also took up a bit of room in the rear compartment. Other than Kleppers and canoes, I don't recall ever hearing about side mounted lee boards on kayaks, just the centerboard I saw on Alderson's kayak. Here's an interesting rig for a canoe: http://w2d.com/mermaid/sail.html Doug Lloyd Victoria BC *************************************************************************** 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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