: The closer the cockpits, the better the double kayaks handles going
: up and down the waves, but the paddlers will hit paddles if not
: in synch, and in the right wind, close cockpits will cause one
: of the paddlers to get wet from water flying off the other
: paddler's paddle. I use 12" back from CB for the backband,
: but your 14" is fine. Like you said, center the distance
: between cockpits on the CB based on the CB for each paddler. A
: rudder on a double is a good idea. I planned to install one,
: bought one, but couldn't bare to put it on my double, even after
: having a hard time broaching from quartering seas crossing back
: 19 NM from Catalina Island. With more relative weight in the
: kayak, that weight farther at the ends, and the faster speed,
: doubles just don't behave as well as singles in conditions. Even
: Nigel Dennis Kayaks writes about their double, "A rudder
: might also be preferable if you intend using the kayak in
: greater than force 5 [17-21 knot] winds."

Also the rudders for tandems are MUCH larger than standard rudders. I've looked at one time at buying a pair of them for the cat, until I figured out the price.

Bill H.