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in article , John Fereira at
wrote on 9/23/05 6:32 PM:

KMAN wrote in
:

in article , John Fereira at
wrote on 9/22/05 7:00 PM:

KMAN wrote in
:

One other issue...maybe he's a great paddler but needs a new kayak. A
relevant consideration to successful paddling without the
artificiality of a rudder to compensate for steering problems is the
way the boat responds to difficult conditions. For example, does the
bow try to turn into the wind, or does it blow downwind?

For the New Zealand trip and the circumnavigation of Iceland he (Chris
Duff) did with two others I know he was paddling a NDK Romany
Explorer. For the circumnavigation of Ireland, the rest of the
British Isle and the northeast US (starting in NY, going down the
coast, *up* the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, through the great
lakes and out the St. Lawrence river and back to NYC) he was paddling
a VCP Nordkapp. Those boats are considered by many to be a couple of
the most seaworthy sea kayaks ever made. Neither was equipped with a
rudder so he was relying on his skills when encountering difficult
conditions. You might want to read Chris's books "On Celtic Tides"
and "Southern Exposure" for a description as to just how difficult
those conditions were. The point is that even though Chris is one of
the best open water paddlers in the world he isn't claiming that he
would ever develop enough skills to handle conditions that would
severly limit his ability to maintain a desired course.

Well if you think a rudder is going to save you from a tsunami, you are
dreaming.

Shows how much you know about waves.

My dad us bigger than your dad.

A tsunami, while very large has a very
long period.

Mhm.

Encountering on open seas is likely going to be easier than
handling a 10' breaking wave in a tidal race.

Having a rudder still ain't gonna make a difference.

In any case, I'm not claiming
that it would save someones life under any conditions.

It's not going to save you under and conditions. If you can't paddle well
enough not to require a rudder to get where you are going in the first
place, the rudder isn't going to turn you into Superman when nasty
conditions come along.

Whatever these conditions would be that it was impossible for
an expert to paddle, I'd say the rudder isn't going to be the
lifesaving difference.

Paul Caffyn claims otherwise and anyone that knows who he is and his
accomplishments would certainly classify him as an expert paddler.

I think it's quite possible you are in love with Paul. He seems awfully
important to you! I, however, remain unimpressed that this particular fellow
enjoys using a rudder. It remains a fact that a rudder is unecessary to
accurate and efficient paddling.

And I would have to say manipulating a rudder
would be the last thing on your mind when trying to maintain a brace
against whatever hellish nightmare you were encountering.

Maintaining a brace whether you're using a rudder or not isn't going to get
you out of hellish conditions. It's just going to prevent you from
capsizing in hellish conditions.

Um. OK. But surviving hellish conditions is a lot easier when you aren't
rolling over like a chicken on a rotisserie, right?

The types of conditions I'm talking about
might involve wind, a tidal race/currents, or rocks, but not necessary large
waves. It might just be a matter of being able to maintain a course for a
long distance because there isn't anyplace to land.

Just paddle straight using your body and, uh, paddle. Having a rudder is not
necessary for accurate and efficient paddling.