: Hi Y'all, I'm building an arctic tern for an expedition on the Sea of Cortez
: this winter, in which I'll be carrying at least a hundred pounds of gear,
: (I'm 5'6", 130). Would you reccommend a rudder or not? Seems like
: most say the tern doesn't need a rudder, but does that consider the
: unpredictable conditions, weight of gear, etc?

This week I developed a firm opinion about a rudder for myself. I have built a Great Auk and have put a rudder on it. I have read the pro and con arguments on these boards now for some time and it comes down to this for me. If one wants to go out to paddle a kayak and the goal is to learn the various strokes and become a very proficient kayaker then leave the rudder off. If one wants to get out on the water and go to places and enjoy what they see and where they go and don't care about becoming a "proficient" kayaker then put a rudder on. I took such a trip this week and enjoyed the beauty of Hoods Canal in Puget Sound. On the way back I was paddling into a strong head/quartering wind for several miles and I'm very very glad I didn't have to worry about the direction I was going because it took all the paddling I could muster just to make enough headway to get back. Now I'm 70 years old so all I'm interested in learning is enough basic kayaking skills to get from point A to point B if the rudder fails. I want to enjoy the water. You younger folks may have a different view of what is important. Earl