> One of the advantages of the stern-mounted kick-up rudder is that if you
> paddle over shallow water, the rudder will swing up over any obstruction
> without damage no matter what the orientation as long as you are going
> forward. If your system needs to be straight to retract, you run the risk
> of it breaking off. You might want to make it strong enough that it won't
> break or flexible enough that it can absorb an impact.

> The picture did not come through on my browser, probably because it is a
> BMP file instead of a GIF of JPEG.

In theory, if I was to hit something the rudder would be pushed aft. Ideally the bent upper arm would force the rudder in line before it retracted - I guess for this to work effectively the system would require some flexability - therefore bungie shock absorber in the rudder cable system (this would have to be secondary to footbraces as it provide no support).

Mark