Rudder?

When I purchased my trident 15 it had nothing...no rudder/rod holder etc....I found a rudder kit somebody was selling on some other kayak fishing forum for $75 and installed it myself. Install was easy enough. Definitely money well spent. Had my first yak for 3 or so years and wished it had a rudder the whole time. Indispensable when the wind is blowing. Otherwise I don't use it much but I'm usually out fishing till the wind picks up with a long paddle back to the sc harbor. Thank goodness for rudders.

-FF

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you just pull the rudder cord out of the cleat if you want the Hobie rudder to be able to "pop up" if it hits something? I haven't tested this (don't want to break my rudder...) but I heard it somewhere.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you just pull the rudder cord out of the cleat if you want the Hobie rudder to be able to "pop up" if it hits something? I haven't tested this (don't want to break my rudder...) but I heard it somewhere.

it will but the Hobie rudder doesnt retract in a vertical plain. it moves in an arc throwing you into a left turn.  I watched that frustrate my wife until she locked it i. with the cleat. It was kind of funny to see her stuck paddling circles.

Well, I pulled the trigger - purchased from ACK for 198 to my door. Should be here Friday.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you just pull the rudder cord out of the cleat if you want the Hobie rudder to be able to "pop up" if it hits something? I haven't tested this (don't want to break my rudder...) but I heard it somewhere.

Not on my 09 Revo, at least. Because I never cleat the rudder line. It will not pop up when I run over kelp; it usually collects kelp until I nudge it off the rudder with my paddle enough to raise & lower it again.

Well, I pulled the trigger - purchased from ACK for 198 to my door. Should be here Friday.

You won't regret it !!!

I have an OK Trident 13 and love the rudder.  Can't imagine going out without it now.

I have the trident 4.7 ultra and wouldn't use the kayak if it didn't have a rudder, it keeps it so straight while paddling and like everyone said about the wind. I love it!

I got my rudder from metalman back home in Hawaii. About $120, works with Ocean Kayaks and I think Hobies.

Works very well in wind and for sharp turns.
I think he can ship. If anyone's interested, I can make intro.

I have a Trident 13 which I fish mostly on the ocean.  The only time I wish I had a rudder is when I am salmon trolling where the drag of the line makes the yak want to turn all the time and I have to paddle harder on the line side. Other than that the T13 drifts and paddles very straight, though sometimes I have to put my big landing net on the deck to reduce asymmetrical wind drag.