> Mark, Interesting study here, "a traditional rudder would be ineffective in the only conditions which it is really required..." I find the conditions where a rudder is most useful are high winds, or towing in high winds, then following seas and winds. With regards to following seas,certainly a rudder will restrain the tendency of a long boat to broach , but if you are surfing down a wave then your paddle is what there is to control the boat. Short steep waves from the stern are challenging. My first few years of paddling were with stable ruddered boats. The first time I took out tippier boats, Arluk 1,1.8,1.9 it was entertaining, especially with short steep following waves. That's when I discovered that I didn't really brace. something about having to roll up more than once convinced me. I still think some kind of retractable or flexible Gumby-like fin/rudder about the size of an index card would be extra groovy. Maybe short steep waves from the stern cause control problems, but opportunities too.