Re: [Paddlewise] Rudders redux

I prefer a footboard with a steering stick rather than foot pedals.  The footboard makes for better use of the legs during the 
forward stroke (as in sprint boat racing).  For messing about in the surf where pitonning is possible, I am concerned that pedals 
may permit one's feet to slip past the pedals and become entraped (which is why many wild water kayak designs moved away from 
small foot pedals fifteen or so years ago).

While a rudder is not necessary for steering control, it sure helps (particularly in quartering winds).  Yes, it adds a bit of 
drag, but it also permits you to spend your efforts entirely on your forward stroke, rather than using part of your efforts to 
steer the boat.  I don't have any stats to put forward on this, but for the last couple of decades I have paddled sprint kayaks 
with rudders (they all have rudders -- which is worth noting, for if rudders were not a good thing then Olympic racers would not 
use them) and identical sprint kayaks with their rudders broken off, and I can assure you that even in calm water and calm wind 
condtions, sprint kayaks with rudders go a lot faster than their identical counterparts without rudders.
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