Rudder?

I have been contemplating the purchase of the OK rudder kit for my Trident 13, being a "newbie" I turn to you veterans for advice.

Most of my fishing is done in Feather River "close to home" current isn't extreme but there are certain areas I struggle keeping position due to wind and current. So my question is: Is it a must have? is it worth the $200+ investment?

Thanks!

-Teddy

I wondered about a rudder for my Yak when I first bought it.  Then I was out in the wind without one and my friends had them. after miles of dealing with trying to hold my line while they just cruised I ordered one that night. no regrets on that purchase

I bought my current kayak used and it came with a rudder already installed. Being a pig of a boat (OK Prowler Big Game) that's often difficult to maneuver, a rudder is really helpful. Especially in windy conditions, its really nice to be able to just paddle and then use the rudder to maintain course. Is it a necessity, I can't answer that for you and I'm sure there at plenty of people who don't care for them. That being said, I don't think I'd have a boat without a rudder now. Best idea though, just test paddle one with a rudder and see if its something that you like.

Im glad I have one on my T13. Makes life easier when factors make tracking harder.

It's not a big deal when I can track well. But when I am paddling on one side and still not maintaining a straight line, I end up wishing I had one (as was the case when I demo'd a Trident Ultra 4.3 on a really windy day). But there are days when I never use it because tracking isn't especially important for whatever type of fishing I was doing at the time.

I have two kayaks one with one without. I fish out of both. If you spend most of your time in the kelp you don't want one. The rest of the time there very nice. When I in my caribian with out I am constantly pressing on the feet rest try to get it to turn.  But cutting across the kelp with my stealth  is a pain in the ass. But it smokes in heavey swell and wind.

Thanks for all the helpful replies - I do notice I tend to struggle keeping a straight line where I fish which makes it a pain to troll at times.

A rudder definitely helps in current...you can manuever while drifting instead of constantly re-positioning your yak w/the paddle. I find it most helpful in wind though.

I have two kayaks one with one without. I fish out of both. If you spend most of your time in the kelp you don't want one. The rest of the time there very nice. When I in my caribian with out I am constantly pressing on the feet rest try to get it to turn.  But cutting across the kelp with my stealth  is a pain in the ass. But it smokes in heavey swell and wind.

Interesting ... in my ruddered kayak, I never worry about going through kelp and it doesn't seem to hang up.

-Allen

Mine pops up if there is too much drag in the kelp.

Worth every penny!

Night and day difference.  Kelp does not hang up on it nor pop it up.  My rudder has saved me a few times from banging into rocks.

For me it would depend on how that kayak drifts without it. My OK Scrambler XT does not drift well. It spins around like a propeller in the slightest current or wind... I've thought about adding a rudder to my Scrambler, but opted to keep it as a simple beater for crabbing. Don't want any extra bells and whistles for ropes to get caught up on.

Interesting ... in my ruddered kayak, I never worry about going through kelp and it doesn't seem to hang up.

Mine pops up if there is too much drag in the kelp.

Carl is talking about his Stealth, which has a fixed rudder. Hobie rudders aren't able to "pop up" when going over kelp either. That's one of my main complaints about the Hobie. But the rudders on OK, WS, etc are not fixed so they allow you to go over kelp much easier. The main downside to aftermarket rudders is the price...seems like minimum 200 bucks to add a rudder. 

Thanks for all the helpful replies - I do notice I tend to struggle keeping a straight line where I fish which makes it a pain to troll at times.

Ease of maneuverability while trolling is one of my favorite things about having a rudder. Lots of times you'd like to work a certain depth contour and having a FF and a rudder makes it easy to keep yourself right where you want to be. This is especially true if you're encountering wind or current.

Interesting ... in my ruddered kayak, I never worry about going through kelp and it doesn't seem to hang up.

Mine pops up if there is too much drag in the kelp.

Carl is talking about his Stealth, which has a fixed rudder. Hobie rudders aren't able to "pop up" when going over kelp either. That's one of my main complaints about the Hobie. But the rudders on OK, WS, etc are not fixed so they allow you to go over kelp much easier. The main downside to aftermarket rudders is the price...seems like minimum 200 bucks to add a rudder.

Yes, of course.  Just trying to clarify any generalizations.

BTW, I paddled for like 20 years before finally getting a rudder.  While I like to think it made me a better paddle, a rudder sure is NICE!

-Allen