: Rudders are for plastic junk boats built with too much rocker for people

I don't like rudders any better than Jay, but find this statement a little too all-encompassing. Rudders can be used to good effect on kayaks. A kayak is not bad just because adding a rudder helps it, nor are the paddlers bad just because they like rudders. I agree that rudders tend to be used as a crutch to overcome weak skills or flaky designs, but there is no reason to be ashamed to use or add a rudder on a design that other people can handle without rudders.

"Too much rocker" can only be said if the design goal of the boat calls for less rocker. Some design goals require rocker and when combined with other design goals, a rudder may be a perfectly reasonable alternative. Greg Barton designs and paddles kayaks with rudders and you can't really accuse a man with gold medals in kayaking of not knowing how to do it "right".

If you think you might want a rudder first try learning wide sweep strokes, if you can't get comfortable with the boat, try adding a temporary skeg. If the skeg doesn't cut it for you, don't be ashamed to add a rudder. Each individual is going to have different needs and desires for their boat. For some people this may include a rudder.