: I'm interested in designs for footrest/rudder pedals for my sea kayak. Has
: anyone got any ideas?
I wish I could claim the idea as my own, but check the link and search for
"rudders." There's a great piece about a setup that both minimizes
cockpit volume, offers solid, comfortable braces and a simple, reliable mechanism for rudder conrtrol. The forward bulkhead is set a few inches from where you want to locate footbraces. The bottom half of the bulkhead is built up, to function as a footbrace. Just above that is a control bar, mounted on a central pivot. If you're not actually using your rudder to steer, but rather to correct for quartering seas or other conditions that require frequent corrective strokes, the set-up should offer more than adequate steering range.

This system is going into my next boat, and I'm such a believer, I'm surprised it isn't in a lot more boats. I'm thinking of constructing the "step" that your feet rest against out of some kind of high density foam, both to offer a bit of comfort and to provide better purchase for my feet. Nothing too squishy, though.