Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board

Re: skeg vs rudder

Posted By: David Dick
Date: Friday, 11 February 2000, at 11:03 p.m.

In Response To: skeg vs rudder (Lance Alldrin)

The central control problem for kayaks is that they want to turn into the wind. If you design a boat with little of this tendency (little rocker, long length, lots of aft deadrise, etc.) you may find it so directionally stable a rudder is needed to make turns. If you design a boat that is easy to turn you may want a retractable (aft mounted) skeg for the times you want it to go straight, especially paddling downwind.

Since doubles and triples are more difficult to turn than shorter singles, and you need co-operation from your partners to execute the tricks that can make turns easier(leaning, making corrections on wave tops, etc.), rudders are popular.

One thing to watch out for - people sometimes get a double/triple with the idea of paddling it solo part of the time. These big boats are awkard solo. Folks seem to end up getting everybody singles afterwards.

Messages In This Thread

skeg vs rudder
Lance Alldrin -- Thursday, 10 February 2000, at 1:07 a.m.

Re: skeg vs rudder
Nick Schade -- Thursday, 10 February 2000, at 8:42 a.m.

Re: skeg vs rudder
Ross Leidy -- Thursday, 10 February 2000, at 10:59 a.m.

Re: skeg vs rudder
David Dick -- Friday, 11 February 2000, at 11:03 p.m.

Re: skeg vs rudder
lee -- Saturday, 12 February 2000, at 8:39 a.m.

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