…”I still think rudders are a poor choice in a versatile sea kayak paddled in a full range of ocean conditions, from surf to tide races. “….
This article is based solely on that narrow statement. My question: why does one kayak have to do everything? Whenever you expect one thing to do it all, you compromise each aspect you are trying to build into the equipment.
My first kayak was a 17′ 10” Necky Tesla, built in 2002 and fitted with a rudder controlled by toe pedals atop fixed foot pegs. I love her so much that Turning Point Boatworks recently refurbished her and she will carry me on a solo circumnavigation of Lake Superior next year.
With the rudder up, she turns approximately as well as the Titanic even when edged enough to submerge the coaming. She has been made fun of by numerous kayak friends (most of whom paddle NDKs and frequently request help with stuck skegs). I can manage to surf her, but why? That’s not what she was built for. She is my expedition ‘yak and she excels at it. Tons of real estate to stash gear for long trips and, rather than dancing all over the water like a play boat, she parts dynamic water like a snow plow straight and true. Landing her without getting surfed is a joy. Launching through surf, just as easy. All with no rudder! That is deployed mostly in wind. I have watched skeged friends spend miles sweeping on one side in rear quartering winds while I drop rudder and translate all my effort into forward momentum.
My Necky isn’t a play boat nor does she play on on TV. That’s why I built the Pygmy Murrelet, which doesn’t have a rudder OR a skeg by the way. What does that do the unending skeg vs. rudder argument, I wonder? My Pygmy is the sports car to the Necky’s SUV. Each kayak specializes in different things.
Rudder vs. skeg is a kayak elitists quibble. Some kayaks are designed to function better with one or the other (or neither!) depending upon their design. It’s all good.