....stuff deleted

I spend a lot of time lurking on cycling NGs. This is probably
kayaking's answer to the "helmet wars" of rec.bicycling.misc



Too true (having read the same sh-- er -- crap as you.

I would like to add that I am not fond of rudders. My experiences are that
they do all of the following:

- add weight to the boat
- cause minor (but painful) injuries when the cables fray
- fail at inconvenient times (or lock up)
- add maintenence chores to the boat that I'd rather not do
- generally (depending upon hull design) add as much resistance as benefit
to paddling

There are times, however, when a rudder is necessary. I've paddled long
doubles that could only be managed with a rudder. I've also been in certain
boats and conditions where a rudder was a nice luxury to have.

My personal opinion is that if you find a boat you can paddle comfortably
without a rudder, than you are better off avoiding the additional
complexity and expense they add to paddling. If you find a boat that
requires a rudder to be manageable, they by all means, buy and use the
rudder. I will continue to use rudderless boats. The times I've paddled
with a rudder, I tended to become lazy and allow my skills to degrade. I
also found the experience to be similar to driving with that atrocity known
as either an automatic transmission or planned obsolescence, take your pick
(note that I am not rational on that particular subject, so you can
question my rationale on this one, too).

Rick