Subject: Re: baidarka hand operated rudder or adjustable skeg
From: James Mitchell (mariner@seanet.com)
Date: Sun Feb 11 2001 - 00:35:02 EST
Are you really having trouble holding your boat on a 45 degree tack to a
headwind? Because that is about the only point where a skeg would be
helpful. Those of you who are considering skegs, I would suggest you take a
very close look at the stern of your boat when it is moving fast. See if a
paddling partner will shoot a photo of the very back of your boat in action.
You should see it setting up a virtual roostertail of water, into which it
nestles itself as effectively as any tin rudder. If this is not enough, I
would suggest that your seat is too far forward -- you should be looking at
about 65% of LOA for the location of the back of the seat. And if THAT
can't be fixed, I suggest trying to permanently attach a piece of hardwood
as a keel extension. Start under your seat, and gradually add about an inch
of wood under your keel clear to the stern. You may even want to add more
than that, and plane it down later when you can see the effect. I suspect
that something like Gorilla Glue and a few carefully placed brass screws
might do the trick, but someone with more experience in bonds may have a
better glueing solution than that -- and of course I am thinking in terms of
polyurethane-coated nylon skins.
Go look at a Mariner. Matt and Cam built something akin to this into their
Max, Express, and I think even into the Mariner II hulls. It is a broad
keel extension that runs clear to the stern, dropping some of the rocker out
of the hull but keeping the excellent turning characteristics of their
hulls. Note that their hulls are the most wind neutral production boats I
have ever encountered. I was down at their shop today, and they had a
Solander Plus racked up right under a brand new yellow Max. It was very
interesting to stand there and study the aft sections of those two hulls in
a comparison matchup. You can really see how the water will affect each so
differently.
Your baidarka stern is one of the most marvelous designs ever conceived. I
would think that a very subtle addition could correct any problem you might
be experiencing. Believe me, if you ever try to use a skeg in real
conditions (rough beaches, ocean landings, etc.) I think you will not be too
quick to advocate their use.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Gerlach" <gerlach1@pacbell.net>
To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 11:48 AM
Subject: RE: baidarka hand operated rudder or adjustable skeg
> Patrick,
>
> I think a couple years ago Bill Low posted some images of an adjustable
skeg
> he incorporated into the stern of one of his baidarkas. I've never used
one
> but from the discussions that followed I think it would help compensate
for
> the strong Bay Area winds and currents.
>
> John
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-baidarka@lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Robert Morris
> Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 9:47 AM
> To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: Re: baidarka hand operated rudder
>
>
> Patrick
> Details about this rudder, both styles, can be found in Contributions to
> Kayak Studies (see postings of the past couple of days) including drawings
> and description of use.
> These are not rudders in the steering sense, but more like trim tabs set
to
> adjust for current, tide or wind.
> Robert
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: "Patrick Campbell" <patrick@laurelglen.com>
> Reply-To: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
> To: "Baidarka@Lists. Net" <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
> Subject: baidarka hand operated rudder
> Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 08:53:02 -0800
>
> Hi --
> I tried to get the following note to Peter Frantz and George Dyson, both
> of
> whom discussed this theme in a 1995 posting, which I just discovered
(ain't
> the internet wonderful!). The 1995 addresses of neither is current, so if
> anyone could pass it along, I'd appreciate it. Also, feel free to chime
in
> if you have any ideas.
>
> Many thanks, Patrick
>
>
> Hi Peter -- I saw the discussion you and George Dyson had re hand operated
> rudders. (From
> 1995!!). I paddle in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been getting
into
> racing, particularly. I have limited use of my feet, so I can't operate a
> foot operated rudder, which makes fast times more difficult. I'd love to
> see what you have rigged up. While your discussion was about hand
operated
> rudders,
> I don't see why a non-foot-operated rudder needs necessarily to be a
> hand-operated rudder.
>
> Are you anywhere near the Bay Area or do you know anyone who has done
> anything like this? I understand that Kasper is a local guy.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Patrick Campbell
>
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