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Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
By:Larry C.
Date: 3/1/2000, 6:56 pm
In Response To: Re: Does the Coho need a skeg? (Shawn Baker)

> Almost every kayak made could benefit from a skeg. Not all the time, but
> there are some conditions where they would be valuable. Depends on the
> conditions you're likely to paddle in. In following/quartering seas,
> almost all boats weathercock to some degree. Some boats (more
> maneuverable) are easier to correct with corrective strokes. Hard-tracking
> boats can actually be a liability if the hydrodynamic side pressure
> doesn't balance with the aerodynamic side pressure, as Erez stated,
> because they're more difficult to bring back to your bearing with a
> corrective stroke or two.

> If you're always paddling in calm conditions or paddling into the wind,
> you probably don't need a rudder or skeg. If you don't mind doing a few to
> many (depending on your boat's design) you probably don't need a rudder or
> skeg. I don't like the look of rudders, but I experienced 20 kt winds and
> 2-3' quartering seas that convinced me that some directional
> correctability would be an asset.

> Sure, it paddles nicely. It's one of the better boats out there for its
> blend of maneuverability and tracking, but it's still succeptible to the
> effects of quartering seas. Not as much as some other boats, but still
> affected. I don't think the Coho is severely "hyped". A lot of
> the praise given this boat is earned. You don't need to experience
> "extreme" conditions to want a skeg, but you don't necessarily
> need the skeg in extreme contidions either. A question of want vs.
> need....

> Shawn

I have been paddling a Coho for 2 years and I have not yet paddled in conditions I wished I had a skeg I would advise anyone building a Coho to paddle for a season before deciding you need a skeg. Shawn is right that almost any kayak could benefit from a skeg as well as a pickup truck could benefit from an automatic transmission but I haven't found the need for one those yet either.

Larry C.

Messages In This Thread

Skeg questions
Dave Canning -- 3/1/2000, 12:51 am
Re: Skeg questions
jeff warrick -- 3/1/2000, 8:44 pm
skeg memmories
erez -- 3/1/2000, 5:07 pm
way to go erez
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 6:56 pm
Fish farms?
Shawn Baker -- 3/3/2000, 12:08 pm
Re: Fish farms? et al
Mark B -- 3/3/2000, 7:02 pm
here are some answers
erez -- 3/1/2000, 12:35 pm
Talking about skegs
Jason -- 3/1/2000, 5:32 pm
Re: Protecting inside the skeg trunk
willy dommen -- 3/3/2000, 11:17 am
Re: Talking about skegs
erez -- 3/1/2000, 10:40 pm
Skeg Box
mike allen ---} -- 3/2/2000, 12:09 am
Re: Skeg Box
Greg -- 3/2/2000, 11:29 pm
must be another article
mike allen ---} -- 3/13/2000, 9:03 pm
Re: must be another Ross
Ross Leidy -- 3/14/2000, 9:12 am
Sea Kayaker Mag Skeg Box?
mike allen ---} -- 3/6/2000, 4:52 pm
Yes , that the one (no text)
Greg -- 3/25/2000, 10:28 pm
pics and plans
Greg -- 3/1/2000, 11:49 pm
Re: here are some answers
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 1:11 pm
Re: here are some answers
erez -- 3/1/2000, 4:50 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Shawn Baker -- 3/1/2000, 1:30 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Larry C. -- 3/1/2000, 6:56 pm
Re: needing a want
lee -- 3/1/2000, 10:11 pm
Re: needing a want
Larry C. -- 3/2/2000, 6:25 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 1:40 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Shawn Baker -- 3/1/2000, 1:50 pm
Hey Shawn, I gotta ask
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 1:58 pm
Re: Hey Shawn, I gotta ask
Shawn Baker -- 3/1/2000, 2:08 pm
Widerness camping
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 2:25 pm
Re: Montana/Wilderness camping
Shawn Baker -- 3/1/2000, 2:40 pm
wilderness camping
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 2:55 pm
Re: wilderness camping
Shawn Baker -- 3/1/2000, 3:04 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 1:44 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Eric Schade (shearwater Boats) -- 3/1/2000, 5:59 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Ross Leidy -- 3/1/2000, 1:55 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Mark B -- 3/1/2000, 2:19 pm
Re: Does the Coho need a skeg?
Ross Leidy -- 3/1/2000, 2:28 pm
Re: Skeg questions
Tedley in VT. -- 3/1/2000, 6:37 am
Re: Skeg questions
Mark Woodhead -- 3/1/2000, 4:16 am
Re: Skeg questions
Berkeley C. -- 3/1/2000, 12:06 pm
Re: Skeg questions
Bob Hysen -- 3/1/2000, 2:10 am
Spring?
Dale Frolander -- 3/1/2000, 2:29 am
Re: Spring?
Bob Hysen -- 3/1/2000, 2:37 am