in article , John Fereira at
wrote on 9/22/05 7:16 PM:

KMAN wrote in
:

in article , John Fereira at
wrote on 9/21/05 6:16 PM:

"KMAN" wrote in
:



No matter how much time you spend developing your skills there is
the chance you're going to be out when conditions deteriorate to a
point which overcomes your ability to maintain a course. If an
offshore wind becomes strong enough such that despite your increased
skill level you're unable to steer toward a safe landing you might
be better served if some of your training time was spent paddling
with a rudder.

I can't agree with either of those assumptions.

Then you may be overestimating your abilities. I am making the
assumption that you, or many paddlers with a relatively high skill
level potentially getting into conditions that limit their ability to
control their course effectively based on conversations with paddlers
that have undertaken circumnaviagations around large islands (the
south island of New Zealand, for example). In that case, the paddler
assessed his own skill level to the point that he would remain
landbound for days at a time, and on days that he did paddle found
himself in conditions which pushed his limits. I consider him to be
one of the best paddlers in the world. I base that assessment on
having spent several hours with him in training, improving my own
skill level, and talking with other paddlers with impressive
credentials (up to a BCU 5 star level) who did an expedition with him
and echoed similar praise regarding his skill. However, apparently he
seems to have a more conservative assessment of his skill level than
you do.

You are operating on the assumption that the use of a rudder on a kayak
is an aid to effective paddling.

It certainly wouldn't be if you paddled a boat with rudder but never
practiced paddling with it deployed. I believe that it would most
definitely be an aid to mitigate weather cocking even if it was dropped
straight down and not used for steering. Just having it dropped is going to
reduce the effect of wind blowing on the stern.

That being said, I don't think the original discussion about rudders
related to circumnavigations around large islands in the ocean.

The original discussion became irrelvant when you stated that you couldn't
see a reason for ever using a rudder.

Well, I can see the reason - someone who for whatever reason doesn't want to
steer with their paddle and their body.

I, and others (for example, towing
someone out of a dangerous area when there is a heavy wind) are merely
providing examples which challenge your contention.

Yes, but the challenge is ineffective thus far.

In any case, I am not claiming that a circumnavigation of large island in
the ocean is the only case where a rudder might be useful. Paul Caffyn
offers several other reasons he http://www.sissonkayaks.co.nz/caffyn.htm

Mm. Reading that I can't figure out why he hasn't strapped a motor on the
back!

I could throw back a thousand links explaining why a rudder is not necessary
to effective and efficient paddling.