Michael Rhodes 7,931 views. Rudders can make a poorly maneuverable kayak far more maneuverable. Skeg Style Sea Kayaks You should take your pick depending on your likes and dislikes, and sometimes practice makes perfect. It is connected to a metal cable that is attached to a lever located next to the paddler. Without an iota of doubt, kayak rudder does offer greater control over the course of the kayak. When a boat is being paddled in a forward direction, a wave will form at the bow (front) of the boat. Everyone has a different budget. Some skeg models can be retracted when you don’t need to use them, while others are fully incorporated into the boat. Rudders have a significant amount of wind resistance when retracted which can increase a kayak’s tendency to weathercock. It very much acts as a fully deployed skeg. A skeg is a blade located underneath the kayak inside a recessed area. So far I like the Necky kayaks and I believe I have it narrowed down to either the Looksha or the Chatham, both in … As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. So, if you are a novice paddler who is considering purchasing a touring kayak and are faced with the great skeg versus rudder debate and are not certain which one to choose, then the best option is to first carefully consider the information presented above. Finding the right touring kayak can take some time. There's nothing like kayaking out at the lake with friends and family. Skeg Style Sea Kayaks. Get it as soon as Thu, Dec 3. However, while this might seem like a relatively simple choice to many novice paddlers, the fact is that both skegs and rudders have their advantages and their disadvantages. DISADVANTAGES OF A SKEG. Without them, when you're paddling in wind you can find yourself taking much harder strokes on one side to keep your kayak running straight. Categories Alternative. There has always been a debate surrounding rudders versus skegs, which is better. When it’s deployed straight, it makes your kayak’s stern move slower than the bow, keeping it on its course. A rudder is designed to be deployed fully, and can be swept side to side by operating foot pedals in the cockpit. "Tracking" is the ability of a boat to travel in a straight line. A rudder system is very similar to a skeg, although paddlers have more control over its movements. They come off the stern end of the kayak down into the water and can be moved from side to side. Wwhen it comes to choosing between a skeg and a rudder, there is no right choice. Rudders with sliding foot braces can lead to poor form by preventing the paddler from transferring energy from the paddle to the kayak by pressing against the foot braces. There is no metal blade slashing around like a guillotine during rough water rescues. Some of the boats on our list are gender neutral, some are specific. Many rudder designs have adjustable foot braces which move forward and backward in order to move the rudder blade from one side to the other. Having a skeg or rudder is more enjoyable. Basically, “A real kayak doesn’t need a rudder.” Many of these purists do however acknowledge the benefits of using a retractable skeg (a non-turning fin located near the stern) in certain conditions to improve tracking, especially on rockered kayaks, in quartering seas and on off-the-wind legs. I'm finding a few kayaks that work well without either one in most conditions. The answer is neither! The purpose of installing a skeg on a kayak is to increase its tracking ability. Having said that, there are certainly times when a skeg or rudder can make your life easier. From a technical standpoint, whichever side the rudder is on will apply more resistance against the water while the opposite side allows the water to move by more freely. A skeg cannot be turned left or right … A skeg is a blade – or fin – that sits dead center on the keel, near the kayak’s stern, and acts as an incremental correction device, assisting the kayak’s tracking. Therefore, rudders are far more mechanically complex than skegs are and thus, they are more prone to failure. For me the main benefit of a skeg over a rudder is that a boat designed to have a skeg is often more manoeverable and playful than a kayak designed to be used with a rudder. Cons of Kayak Rudder. Everyone has a different budget. You may notice when you are out on the water in wind that your kayak will sit parallel to the waves (side to the wind) when you are not moving. Also, it is important to note that unlike rudders, skegs can only be lowered and raised; not turned from side to side. A skeg is usually deployed on the underside of the hull and a few feet forward of the stern of the kayak. Let us start by defining the differences between a rudder and a skeg and by describing how to properly use each device. Moreover, is a skeg necessary? But because most strong tracking kayaks don’t respond well to sweeps without significant edging. Kayaks with strong tracking aren’t immune to the pressure differences that cause kayak weathercocking. Rudders can make novice paddlers dependent on them and thus, cause them to fail to learn advanced paddling skills. It does not pivot. Rudder, Retractable Skeg or Nothing? 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Rudders, Skegs, and skudders are required primarily to prevent a phenomenon called weather-cocking. Rudders are typically controlled via foot pedals that are located in a kayak’s cockpit. I would never buy a boat on the factor of whether it had a rudder if I was shopping for a standard sea kayak. See how it performs without a rudder or skeg. In my opinion, using a skeg or a rudder makes a kayak handle in a way that I do not prefer.