I am just wondering about those kayaks that have both a retractable skeg and a rudder (retractable as well, of course) - what's the logic behind ?! A lot of lines and, more things that can go wrong! Wouldn't a down-lockable rudder (at the same time locking the pedals) be simpler and better - as then it would work both as a skeg and as a rudder?! If our basic kayak is extremely course steady - say by having nil rocker wouldn't a forward skeg be nice :-)! We have found that our huge Klepper XXL turns on a dime (Ok, big dime!) with leeboard down in combination with the rudder (or paddle, or both) - in fact it turns sharper than the two feet shorter Aerius II, probably due to lower draft (we weigh just 20 lbs more when we use the XXL, compared to the Aerius II, but has a lot of more packing volume - nice)! Tord *************************************************************************** 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 7/4/07, Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu> wrote: > > I am just wondering about those kayaks that > have both a retractable skeg and a rudder (retractable > as well, of course) - what's the logic behind ?! A lot > of lines and, more things that can go wrong! Certainly a lot that can break, all right. Having a skeg in the right place would help reduce leeway in a crosswind. > Wouldn't a down-lockable rudder (at the same time > locking the pedals) be simpler and better - > as then it would work both as a skeg and > as a rudder?! The only reason a rudder can help leeway is that it makes it easier to keep the bow pointed slightly into the wind to correct for the wind. A skeg, placed properly (as John Winters surmised) would probably reduce some of the downwind movement. It would also add resistance and, under the right conditions, could actually "trip" the boat causing a capsize. Yachts have been known to trip on their keels in heavy seas and roll. > If our basic kayak is extremely course steady - say by > having nil rocker wouldn't a forward skeg be nice :-)! If the kayak were prone to cocking in the wind, then I would think so. Again with a resistance component. > We have found that our huge Klepper XXL turns on a dime > (Ok, big dime!) with leeboard down in combination with > the rudder (or paddle, or both) - in fact it turns sharper than > the two feet shorter Aerius II, probably due to lower draft > (we weigh just 20 lbs more when we use the XXL, compared > to the Aerius II, but has a lot of more packing volume - nice)! > It would be nice to see comparison times for 180 degree turns with the leeboard down compared to the leeboard up. And various combinations. Do you hold your paddle so as to extend it farther outboard when you do these turns? Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** 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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