Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 07:25:18 -0400
Message-Id: <199606271125.HAA39848@onlink1.onlink.net>
To: baidarka@imagelan.com
From: John Winters <onlink.net!jwinters@imagelan.com>
Subject: Re: weather helm
At 10:05 AM 25/06/96 -0400, Nick Schade wrote:
(SNIP)
>
>I don't really like movable parts on kayaks (just another thing to
>break), but a retractable skeg can be a nice thing. For a hull design
>that tends to turn upwind, the skeg can be lowered to the point that the
>hull is balanced or the boat turns downwind. There is no similar
>solution that I know of for a boat that naturally turns downwind. I
>suppose you could install a retractable skeg toward the bow of the boat.
>Unorthadox but... Hey, a skeg both fore and aft may make a versatile
>boat!
>
Actually not an unreasonable solution. Some sailboats had double
centerboards to help balance them. Perhaps it can be simplified by just
adding a fixed skeg forward in the form of a very deep rubstrip. One could
try this out by just taping (Duct tape) on a piece of wood and then
increasing or decreasing the size until the desired tracking was attained.
The permanent piece could be done as a beaded edge similar to the ones they
use on surfboards so it would serve to protect the boat and might even look
good.
Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
Box 283
Burk's Falls, Ont
P0A 1C0
Canada