: Has anyone ever heard of such a thing as a "strap-on skeg"? You
: know, something that you could strap on when no one is around, then you
: could remove it to show off your strip built. It could even be held on
: with velcro or bungees as no one is going to see it anyway. I'm about
: finished with the hull on my Guillemot L, almost ready to flip it over but
: some of your responses to this thread are making me wonder about my
: paddling skills. I have rudders on all three of my other kayaks but not
: not on the G L. Ray

I've seen the type eric mentioned - Just saran wrap the back of yer yak, lightly hot glue a pc of 1/8 in ply skeg form, and glass over the whole works. Loosen the glass, and pry off the hot glue(or could be wedged on from above). Clean up and put a hole in the top edge for a bungee to the cockpit. Straight ahead shock absorbed and also easily removable.

I think feathercraft sells a strap on skeg for one of their folding yaks. Just consists of 2 pcs of webbing 1 1/2 feet apart (ea wrapping around the yak) at the back w/ a skeg attached. Easy to do, make the skeg mount a little flexible for landings.

Or if drag is not an issue, use solid wheels and keep a la carte 2a attached all the time. Who knows, if you play w/ the stays, it might even steer!!hehehe

The wakebd idea is also a hoot, put in a 3 or 4 blind nuts or chicago screws in the c/l of the bottom and screw on a 3ft long skeg say 1/4 in deep goin to 1in out of say 1/2in wide matl.

Another easy care idea may be to screw or glue(poly/u??) a long pc of stiff rubber on the bottom. Stiff enough to steer, soft enought to deflect when landing.

Or why the heck are paddle parks always on top of the back deck, fabricate a park on the side and use the spare as the skeg. Sorta like the old cowboys w/ the long gun in the scabbard, but the scabbard pokes back.

-mick