guide comparing: skeg vs rudder?

Advice
#81

Boy, does that Khatsalano ever need…

– Last Updated: Aug-29-06 6:41 PM EST –

a skeg. That thing weathercocks like the metal rooster on top of a barn.

Dogmaticus

#82

Elaho
The Elaho really is a fun boat, but mine definately behaved better when I put full water bottles in the day hatch.

#83

Sorry, misread it
The Khats is the most squirrelly of the boats I have paddled downwind in 15 kt or greater winds, but it is the easiest to correct. I have paddled mainly non ruddered kayaks since starting out

#84

Weathercocks but easy to correct

– Last Updated: Aug-29-06 6:55 PM EST –

I find no need for a skeg or a rudder on mine.

#85

You have good taste, sir
What a pretty little boat she is.



Dogmaticus

#86

DLonborg … please stop by and
take my Tideline 19 out in the ocean. Has skeg, has rudder, needs neither for fun.



Camvan call me anytime.

#87

We have one - DS Elaho
My husband’s first sea kayak, from which he learned more than anticipated about control. It’s the drop skeg model too, first two years, so a bit more so than the ruddered models that replaced it.



It’s a fantastically fun boat. It rolls like a darned WW boat and has WW thigh braces in the original RM models so it makes a great play boat. (as long as you don’t mind dumping a couple or so cups of water out of the rear bulkheads every few hours). But no, if it’s one of the early DS models in particular going straight is just not going to be its thing. You can mitigate this with some trim as above, but not really alter the basic personality.

#88

Divisiveness?
In this or another thread by camvam there was concern that paddlers are divisive. And yeah, when paddlers are out of their boats on dry land in front of a computer screen or around a few beers, they can argue for hours about rudders/skegs, BCU cert’s, amount of offset in paddles… you name it.



But none of that garbage applies when a bunch are together on the water. At that point it’s just about everyone being able to enjoy the experience and be compatible in the conditiolns they can handle and likelihood of needing a rescue. And even being rescue bait is OK as long as they are dressed for immersion and the more skilled paddlers don’t mind practicing their rescues.



I could name other sports or activities where the same thing occurs. For a time you could spend what seemed like hours listening to racing bicyclists argue the merits for more recreational riders of faster cadence, or the exact configuration of a bike frame that made for an efficient hill-climber. But at the beginning and the end of the ride it was still about having a good time and getting home safe.

#89

Now you did it Celia, you said…
the dreaded acronym…BCU…sssshhhh…Don’t anyone get excited, calm down people, move along, there’s nothing to see here.



Dogmaticus

#90

Oh gawd, you’re right!
Camvan - it’s the Brit’s version of the American Canoe Association, a system of classes etc for learning to kayak. You never saw it. Get your first lesson or so anywhere before you even think about this kind of thing.