Re: [Paddlewise] Question for Doug Lloyd

> With it being so quiet here on the western front, I wondered if you'd 
> comment
> on your use of a rudder. It doesn't seem like you hear many paddlers of 
> your
> experience using a rudder and I wonder if you use it mostly in certain
> circumstances and what those would be. I'm thinking of buying a freinds 
> boat
> for playing around the rocks; the area where I tend to use my rudder a 
> bit.
> It's a shorter boat than my usual, so it's pretty agile, but definately 
> needs
> a rudder for traking in wind. Just thought it would be nice to hear your
> thoughts.
>
> Mark

Mark, et al,

While my perspective might not be worth a flip in the dip, I do tend to feel 
strongly that paddlers who tour in comfortable - and usually seaworthy 
kayaks these days -  who employ the use of a rudder do so 80% of the time, 
when really, they only might need some rudder assistance 20% of the time. 
Those who enjoy rudderless kayaks probably would like to have a rudder 20% 
of the time. If all things were equal, my math wouldn't be too far off I 
suspect - at least for real-world sea kayaking conditions and today's 
generation of paddlers. Things are never equal as they say. And skegs only 
obfuscate the above further.

In the end, it comes down to the ability of the paddler and secondarily, the 
design of the kayak. There are superb paddlers (I, not of that ilk) who can 
make any poorly designed (usually a touring model for the purposes of this 
discussion) kayak handle like a charm (both tracking and turning), meaning 
there are kayaks out there poorly designed that need a rudder or a skeg a 
good percentage of the time to track well without undue effort by the 
average paddler. While it is a given that most purpose-designed kayaks have 
intended, specific handling parameters, I much prefer to see the use of 
rudders and skegs, if they must be used, on these often more neutral, well 
behaved types of kayaks, the purpose of the chosen device being course 
holding. Also, kayaks designed for maneuverability will never track 
extremely well, though some designs show remarkable compromise. Adding a 
rudder to the former, isn't a bad solution to achieve a fun play boat that 
can still hold a course enroute to the play area.

My own experience with rudders suggests there are certain advantages and 
disadvantages to using them and having one mounted. Rudders are not 
inherently "bad" things but, they are a mechanical device that can fail. We 
all know that I suppose. So are skegs, which more often that not it seems, 
jam while leaving the beach with a certain size pebble aggregate. Rudders do 
induce more drag. Rudders often disengage from "solid water" in following 
seas unless a deep draft design is used - which adds more drag. A broken 
rudder may compromise rapid egress in the event of sudden failure.

In the late 70's/early 80's, Brit boats just didn't come with rudders. I 
added one to my Nordkapp HS, and came away with a semi-maneuverable boat 
that had fatigue limiting ability, as well as expeditionary and extreme sea 
condition handling - with the use of the deep draft rudder when undeployed 
and deployed, respectively. Unlike a skeg, I didn't have to worry about 
launching off the beach wishing I had a partner to pry my skeg out or the 
gear-loading compromises with a skeg box. Nor did I have to worry about an 
intrusion into the integrity of the hull. These were all important 
considerations for a small volume kayak with anticipated hard use around 
reef n' rock, paddled solo. I felt fully-rationalized, given Paul Caffyn's 
sacrilegious-success with a rudder, VCP's production of a tough, overstern 
retro-fit rudder, and examples of rock garden rudder use both by the Tsunami 
Rangers and Force 10.  With consequential shoulder tendonitis as a fact of 
merely paddling - made worse by my youthful exuberance - my rudder allowed 
me to continue my spirited activities on the water (though I still sufferer 
considerably to this day from chronic shoulder pain, almost continually).

I only object to skeg-snobbery revealed by those who intone, "No stinking 
rudder!" This would be easier to take from those who eschew all mechanical 
aids, save for the paddler, boat, and blade. Anyway, I'm getting off track 
myself here. Suffice it to say I have a chuckle whenever I here the 
non-rudder crowd exclaim, "I wish I had a rudder right now!" or even more 
funny when longtime rudderless, skegged-boat devotees add a rudder to their 
kayak one day.

In terms of my own rudder use, I use it about 40% of the time in summer and 
60% in winter, mostly due to the higher wind and wave values I tend to 
frequent in all season, in the context of my intrinsic shoulder problems no 
doubt. When deployed, the rudder is normally used in association with 
corrective tracking issues, not turning ones. I do use the rudder for 
turning assists in big, more open-water rock gardens to compensate, most 
likely, for the lack of maneuverability when comparing a kayak like my 
Nordkapp to say, a kayak like the Pintail. For long crossing, the rudder is 
a life saver, though I have been called to task in the past for that comment 
as a bit melodramatic. I remain steadfast, however.

While forward paddling into quartering high winds, I like to get my chest 
down on the foredeck. This is a difficult bodily position  to be in for 
edging control or directional stability using paddle blade skills. The 
rudder is a no-brainer here. And so to in steep, following or quartering 
seas: kayaks with low secondary stability make edging an exciting, if not 
anxious procedure. The rudder eliminates this. For all out sprint paddling, 
the rudder allows me to concentrate on symmetrical, efficient paddling with 
goodly body rotation. For towing in extremis, a rudder adds significantly in 
my highly opinionated view - allowing of course for a tow rig that avoids 
rudder interference. For sailing my Nordkapp, it seems esential to have a 
rudder.

Having said all this, I'd still prefer not to have to use a rudder if it was 
possible. I'm sure a good, chined kayak, probably with a well made skeg used 
when demanding conditions extend for hours, combined with well-healed, 
improved paddling skills would sufficiently meet my own arbitrary 
requirements 90% of the time - even 95%. But that still isn't 100%.

Doug Lloyd
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