Rudders

Thank you for participating. Tryn to figure out to buy one or not.

Hi Fishnfool,

It's not that black and white.

I have a rudder, but don't often use it. When I do, I really appreciate it. Usually when the wind and/or currents are trying to cock you sideways. They're also nice when drifting, since it allows you control the angle of your yak vs the swell.

Your yak makes a difference to. In general the shorter it is the less benefit you get -- but I have a rudder on my 12.5' Caster and use it when I'm on the Stanislaus. It makes turning my 16' Tarpon "easier" when I get lazy.

So, you don't need power steering in your car, but it's a nice indulgence. 

Ben

I know how nice a rudder can be for paddling long kayaks in windy conditions and current, but IMHO ... I think rudders are a nuisance for fishing.  I don't know how many times I've had my line wrap around the rudder.  It can be usually be avoided by paying attention to your line, but not always.

Nothing beats the peace of mind of knowing that your line isn't going snag your rudder if stop paddling and begin to drift backwards.

I used them on long touring boats, sometimes, but usually I was too stubborn to want to "revert" to using a rudder .

IMO, rudders can be great BUT you should learn to paddle without one first. If you are used to paddling and using the rudder to turn, what do you do when a rudder cable breaks while you are out on the water?

If your boat catches a lot of wind from the side, paddling on one side only will still cause you to spin around.  You can tack, but if you are in a hurry, rudders are great.  When fishing, just raise it up.  In certain conditions with high profile yaks, I think it is a safety item. 

that being said, you do need to be able to function without it.  Murphys Law still applies. 

learn how to paddle without one, then get one. 

I love my rudder- use it almost all the time. How often do you get to paddle in non-windy or non-currenty conditions here?

Like was said-- its like power steering-- once you get a car with PS you won't go back (do they even sell cars without power steering anymore?)

Rarely have the issues that ChuckE is talking about- but i'm so used to it being back there that i tihnk i've learned to avoid them...

Some boats really don't need one at all, others simply suck without one.  For example, my T-15 weathercocks like crazy without one, but I absolutely love it with the rudder conversely I never had one on my X-factor and never felt like I needed one either.

Some boats really don't need one at all, others simply suck without one.  For example, my T-15 weathercocks like crazy without one, but I absolutely love it with the rudder conversely I never had one on my X-factor and never felt like I needed one either.

Sean, interesting comment about the X-Factor - I am thinking of adding one on mine for when I am drifting and jigging on the perimeter of kelp beds so as to not have to use the paddle to guide the boat to stay out of the heavy stuff....does that seem reasonable?

You can tack, but if you are in a hurry, rudders are great.

In a hurry?  On a kayak?

My main complaint about rudders is the issue of maintaining equal pressure on each foot-brace while paddling hard. Maybe it's just my poor paddling style, but I like to press my feet up against the footbraces (alternating left & right foot) when I'm bustin' ass or paddling in rough seas. With a rudder, I have trouble keeping equal pressure on both footbraces, so it ends up making the rudder constantly turn side-to-side. Not sure if that makes sense...but it's my main complaint about rudders.
Of course, there are ways to remedy this problem. Like if you have an old school OK yak w/corrugated footwells. Or if you upgrade the footbraces w/fancy aftermarket ones like the Seadog brand that allow you to adjust the rudder w/your toes etc.
PK

I like to press my feet up against the footbraces (alternating left & right foot) when I'm bustin' ass or paddling in rough seas.

Not just you...  I do that while paddling hard, and sometimes paddling mellow just to keep the blood flowin.

You can tack, but if you are in a hurry, rudders are great.

In a hurry?  On a kayak?

Usually involves staying longer than I should have, then running like hell from the wind

Pat, my trident 15 has both the corrugated footwells and the seadogs "gas peddle" controls.  I can press against either

If your boat catches a lot of wind from the side, paddling on one side only will still cause you to spin around. 

Lean towards windward, if your 'yak weathercocks. This does a couple things:

1) A leaned 'yak will automagically steer away from the side you are leaning to
2) Because you are leaning to the wind, you will be putting more "steering" force on that side, while mostly propulsion force on the lee side, thus pointing your kayak further downwind.

Now, slide your grip slightly away from the wind and towards the lee side. This will also put more steering force on the weather side, again, pointing your kayak downwind.

You can tack, but if you are in a hurry, rudders are great.  When fishing, just raise it up.  In certain conditions with high profile yaks, I think it is a safety item. 

A raised rudder does not stop the "oops, I just accidentally hooked the deployment line with my megabait, now I need to hop out and free it, otherwise I'll have to just cut the line" phenomenon.

A boat that absolutely requires a rudder in snotty conditions, is almost guaran-damn-teed to have that rudder fail when you need it most.

that being said, you do need to be able to function without it.  Murphys Law still applies. 

Agreement !!!!! But doesn't that mean that any kayak that requires a rudder "in certain conditions" is unsafe, by definition?


As others above mentioned, I really do love being able to put the "foot" to a kayak when paddling, it really helps me with maintaining torso rotation. Some thing that is very difficult to do when using a rudder that doesn't have solid footpegs. The solid peg/rudder pedal combinations are out there, but not cheap. Isn't the Sealine system something close to $200 just for the pedals?

Scott

P.S. Purely for informational purposes, your boat may handle very differently at different wind speeds.  I recently found that my P-15, which normally weathercocks nicely in moderate winds, wanted to go abeam to the wind in what I estimated to be well above 30+ mph. Winds were forecast to 35 knots that day, and I was in a funnel. Things were just way too interesting as is, so I didn't try paddling at anything besides ~15 degrees in either direction from the wind.

thanks for the pointers Scott, will definitely try them out.

I have both a P15 and a T15 and strongly recommend a rudder for either boat. The Trident weathercocks more than the Prowler, and I find the rudder is more needed in wind. I wouldn't call it 'required' and people make good points about being able to control the boat without a rudder, but it certainly makes the boat easier to control and more pleasurable to paddle. It is also nice when anchored in current to be able to control the bearing of your boat. 

Also it is fun for using two-line kites as locomotion, but that is not something most people do on kayaks. It is a blast however.