Has anyone ever retro-fitted a rudder to a plastic kayak? I've been
plotting how that might be done with the small, plastic kayak I got on
points. It doesn't track at all (which makes it great in a tight slalom
run, but gives my girlfriend fits when she's trying to paddle across
flat water).

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of wires running along the top of
the kayak, if that would make it simpler. Is it possible? Is it a LOT
of work?

Argo
http://greenrealm.blogspot.com

Its work.
The manufacturer may have a kit , otherwise you are in for work.
I would look at making a skeg.
Check out some of the slip over skegs tat are available for the R5 or
Pelanski Spirit and copy them.

i have a necky looksha lv sport that came without a rudder. i used it for
about three months with my friend with a rudder. for my birthday present
that year, my friend bought a rudder kit, and had the kayak shop install it
for me. worth every penny (whatever it cost ... i don't know amount because
it was a gift) ... it makes such a difference! check with your kayak dealer
and see if they can help you.
"Argo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Has anyone ever retro-fitted a rudder to a plastic kayak? I've been
plotting how that might be done with the small, plastic kayak I got on
points. It doesn't track at all (which makes it great in a tight slalom
run, but gives my girlfriend fits when she's trying to paddle across
flat water).

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of wires running along the top of
the kayak, if that would make it simpler. Is it possible? Is it a LOT
of work?

Argo
http://greenrealm.blogspot.com

in article , minicooper at
wrote on 9/13/05 8:43 PM:

i have a necky looksha lv sport that came without a rudder. i used it for
about three months with my friend with a rudder. for my birthday present
that year, my friend bought a rudder kit, and had the kayak shop install it
for me. worth every penny (whatever it cost ... i don't know amount because
it was a gift) ... it makes such a difference! check with your kayak dealer
and see if they can help you.

Seems a better idea to try your kayak before you buy and not purchase one
that needs a rudder to track properly.

"Argo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Has anyone ever retro-fitted a rudder to a plastic kayak? I've been
plotting how that might be done with the small, plastic kayak I got on
points. It doesn't track at all (which makes it great in a tight slalom
run, but gives my girlfriend fits when she's trying to paddle across
flat water).

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of wires running along the top of
the kayak, if that would make it simpler. Is it possible? Is it a LOT
of work?

Argo
http://greenrealm.blogspot.com

i hope i'm replying to group: of course in retrospect i would have enjoyed
a kayak with a rudder from the beginning. but it cost more, was my first
boat, the kayak dealer said i wouldn't need a rudder in morro bay. my
friend bought his with the rudder. i couldn't keep up. i was more tired
than he. it was more fun when i had a rudder too.
"KMAN" wrote in message
...
in article , minicooper at
wrote on 9/13/05 8:43 PM:

i have a necky looksha lv sport that came without a rudder. i used it
for
about three months with my friend with a rudder. for my birthday present
that year, my friend bought a rudder kit, and had the kayak shop install
it
for me. worth every penny (whatever it cost ... i don't know amount
because
it was a gift) ... it makes such a difference! check with your kayak
dealer
and see if they can help you.

Seems a better idea to try your kayak before you buy and not purchase one
that needs a rudder to track properly.

"Argo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Has anyone ever retro-fitted a rudder to a plastic kayak? I've been
plotting how that might be done with the small, plastic kayak I got on
points. It doesn't track at all (which makes it great in a tight slalom
run, but gives my girlfriend fits when she's trying to paddle across
flat water).

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of wires running along the top of
the kayak, if that would make it simpler. Is it possible? Is it a LOT
of work?

Argo
http://greenrealm.blogspot.com

I mostly teach White Water yakin' but I started out with a touring boat. I
was discouraged from buying a rudder for the first few months, and it made
me a MUCH better paddler, as I would have at first ( as most do ) thought of
it as a "sterring wheel". Once you learned to paddle properly, ANY boat
tracks. The hardest thing to teach a noobie in WW boat is to make it go
straight. And yes, I understand that a rudder can help in windy or cross
current conditions. Guess it depends upon one's sense of instant
gratification and willingness to put time into given activity. Paddle on!
"minicooper" wrote in message
...
i hope i'm replying to group: of course in retrospect i would have
enjoyed
a kayak with a rudder from the beginning. but it cost more, was my first
boat, the kayak dealer said i wouldn't need a rudder in morro bay. my
friend bought his with the rudder. i couldn't keep up. i was more tired
than he. it was more fun when i had a rudder too.
"KMAN" wrote in message
...
in article , minicooper at
wrote on 9/13/05 8:43 PM:

i have a necky looksha lv sport that came without a rudder. i used it
for
about three months with my friend with a rudder. for my birthday
present
that year, my friend bought a rudder kit, and had the kayak shop
install
it
for me. worth every penny (whatever it cost ... i don't know amount
because
it was a gift) ... it makes such a difference! check with your kayak
dealer
and see if they can help you.

Seems a better idea to try your kayak before you buy and not purchase
one
that needs a rudder to track properly.

"Argo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Has anyone ever retro-fitted a rudder to a plastic kayak? I've been
plotting how that might be done with the small, plastic kayak I got on
points. It doesn't track at all (which makes it great in a tight
slalom
run, but gives my girlfriend fits when she's trying to paddle across
flat water).

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of wires running along the top of
the kayak, if that would make it simpler. Is it possible? Is it a LOT
of work?

Argo
http://greenrealm.blogspot.com

in article , minicooper at
wrote on 9/15/05 10:58 PM:

i hope i'm replying to group: of course in retrospect i would have enjoyed
a kayak with a rudder from the beginning. but it cost more, was my first
boat, the kayak dealer said i wouldn't need a rudder in morro bay. my
friend bought his with the rudder. i couldn't keep up. i was more tired
than he. it was more fun when i had a rudder too.

I was actually suggesting buying a kayak that doesn't need a rudder to be
paddled...or as someone else said, maybe it is more about learning to paddle
so that a rudder is not required. My kayak came with a rudder on it but I
have never used it nor understood why I would want to.


"KMAN" wrote in message
...
in article , minicooper at
wrote on 9/13/05 8:43 PM:

i have a necky looksha lv sport that came without a rudder. i used it
for
about three months with my friend with a rudder. for my birthday present
that year, my friend bought a rudder kit, and had the kayak shop install
it
for me. worth every penny (whatever it cost ... i don't know amount
because
it was a gift) ... it makes such a difference! check with your kayak
dealer
and see if they can help you.

Seems a better idea to try your kayak before you buy and not purchase one
that needs a rudder to track properly.

"Argo" wrote in message
oups.com...
Has anyone ever retro-fitted a rudder to a plastic kayak? I've been
plotting how that might be done with the small, plastic kayak I got on
points. It doesn't track at all (which makes it great in a tight slalom
run, but gives my girlfriend fits when she's trying to paddle across
flat water).

I'm not worried about the aesthetics of wires running along the top of
the kayak, if that would make it simpler. Is it possible? Is it a LOT
of work?

Argo
http://greenrealm.blogspot.com

"KMAN" wrote in message
...


I was actually suggesting buying a kayak that doesn't need a rudder to be
paddled...or as someone else said, maybe it is more about learning to
paddle
so that a rudder is not required. My kayak came with a rudder on it but I
have never used it nor understood why I would want to.


"KMAN" or "caveman?"



These folks who scream against rudders remind me of the "driving
enthusiasts" who said the world would end with the introduction of anti-lock
brakes.

Rudder or not? It depends on what type of kayaking you're doing. I kayak
on the open ocean around the Hawaiian Islands. For the first year that I
had my kayak, I did not have a rudder. I can do just fine w/o the rudder.
I'm a big, strong, physically fit guy. But out here, on the open ocean, I
deal with currents, tides, large swells, and very strong winds. While I
have yet to meet a situation I can't paddle out of (and hope/plan never to)
I can't say the same for those I paddle with. I frequently have to tow
other paddlers out of bad situations. My rudder makes such emergencies much
easier to deal with. Using my rudder I can turn on a dime, easily position
myself next to a needy paddle, and correct my path while towing another boat
(or two.) My rudder was the best investment into kayaking I have made.

I would recommend getting a rudder. If you paddle enough that it's a
question, and your boat won't support a rudder, than maybe it's time to look
into a new boat.

Just my 2 cents.




suds

in article , Suds at
wrote on 9/18/05 9:18 AM:


"KMAN" wrote in message
...


I was actually suggesting buying a kayak that doesn't need a rudder to be
paddled...or as someone else said, maybe it is more about learning to
paddle
so that a rudder is not required. My kayak came with a rudder on it but I
have never used it nor understood why I would want to.


"KMAN" or "caveman?"

These folks who scream against rudders remind me of the "driving
enthusiasts" who said the world would end with the introduction of anti-lock
brakes.

Silly comparison.

You don't actually need a rudder to paddle efficiently and accurately.
That's the whole point.

Rudder or not? It depends on what type of kayaking you're doing. I kayak
on the open ocean around the Hawaiian Islands. For the first year that I
had my kayak, I did not have a rudder. I can do just fine w/o the rudder.
I'm a big, strong, physically fit guy. But out here, on the open ocean, I
deal with currents, tides, large swells, and very strong winds. While I
have yet to meet a situation I can't paddle out of (and hope/plan never to)
I can't say the same for those I paddle with. I frequently have to tow
other paddlers out of bad situations. My rudder makes such emergencies much
easier to deal with. Using my rudder I can turn on a dime, easily position
myself next to a needy paddle, and correct my path while towing another boat
(or two.) My rudder was the best investment into kayaking I have made.

I would recommend getting a rudder. If you paddle enough that it's a
question, and your boat won't support a rudder, than maybe it's time to look
into a new boat.

Just my 2 cents.

Not sure who you are talking to, but since the post was initially addressed
to me, I already said that my kayak does have a rudder. I don't use it and
have no idea why I would need to use it. I've paddle on the ocean too. In
squalls, in big swells, etc and so on.






suds

KMAN wrote in
:

in article , Suds at
wrote on 9/18/05 9:18 AM:


"KMAN" wrote in message
...


I was actually suggesting buying a kayak that doesn't need a rudder
to be paddled...or as someone else said, maybe it is more about
learning to paddle so that a rudder is not required. My kayak came
with a rudder on it but I have never used it nor understood why I
would want to.


"KMAN" or "caveman?"

These folks who scream against rudders remind me of the "driving
enthusiasts" who said the world would end with the introduction of
anti-lock brakes.

Silly comparison.

You don't actually need a rudder to paddle efficiently and accurately.
That's the whole point.

Rudder or not? It depends on what type of kayaking you're doing. I
kayak on the open ocean around the Hawaiian Islands. For the first
year that I had my kayak, I did not have a rudder. I can do just fine
w/o the rudder. I'm a big, strong, physically fit guy. But out here,
on the open ocean, I deal with currents, tides, large swells, and very
strong winds. While I have yet to meet a situation I can't paddle out
of (and hope/plan never to) I can't say the same for those I paddle
with. I frequently have to tow other paddlers out of bad situations.
My rudder makes such emergencies much easier to deal with. Using my
rudder I can turn on a dime, easily position myself next to a needy
paddle, and correct my path while towing another boat (or two.) My
rudder was the best investment into kayaking I have made.

I would recommend getting a rudder. If you paddle enough that it's a
question, and your boat won't support a rudder, than maybe it's time
to look into a new boat.

Just my 2 cents.

Not sure who you are talking to, but since the post was initially
addressed to me, I already said that my kayak does have a rudder. I
don't use it and have no idea why I would need to use it. I've paddle
on the ocean too. In squalls, in big swells, etc and so on.

I'm not sure who I am talking to either but I know of at least one paddler
who has very impressive credentials that can describe a compelling reason
for using a rudder. This particular paddler does hundreds of miles
expeditions every summer and describes days where one might paddle 8-10
hours a day with a strong rear quartering wind. While she has the skills to
paddle under those conditions without a rudder, having one makes the day go
a lot easier.

As I see it, using a rudder shouldn't be used as a crutch in lieu of
developing strong paddling skills, however it can come in really handy under
certain conditions. Most paddlers aren't going to put themselves in
conditions where a rudder will become really useful but **** happens.

If you were in the middle of a several mile open water crossing and
conditions got so bad that it taxed your ability to maintain a course would
you deploy your rudder or maintain a "I'm too macho to use a rudder" image?