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Kayak and Canoe Design Bulletin Board
alas, you opened Pandora's box...
Posted By: Jason W. In Response To: Rudder ? (CommonStriped)
Date: Thursday, 4 May 2000, at 11:32 a.m.
A very interesting question Walt. I have found that a boat with a rudder often times needs the rudder because when it is up, it acts like a sail so you put it in the water and it makes the boat handle better. I used to have a "tupperware" boat without a rudder and a guy I paddled with had the same model boat, but his HAD a rudder. While paddling in the same conditions at the same time (20 yards apart or so) I didn't need a rudder and he had to put his in. Then we switched boats and once I put the rudder in everything was fine. He was in the boat without the rudder and was doing just fine. Not overly scientific, but at least we had the same basic model boat, the same conditions and we each tried each boat so paddling technique didn't show up (if it had, he would have had trouble paddling the boat without the rudder).
One the boats I make I don't need a rudder due to the design of the hull underwater (i.e.: slight rocker, definite keel for a good porion of the hull).
One type of kayak that really benefits from a rudder is the tandem. Due to its extra length it is really nice to have a rudder.
In answer to your question, I have typically found that more attention to paddling form will help with tracking problems quite a bit. Even shifting your body weight will assist in tracking while paddling into or away from a quartering wind.
Some people swear by rudder and others don't think they are worth it.
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