To use a rudder not?

It's cool, if you don't deploy it, the footpegs are pretty much fixed. probably won't be using it this weekend anyways.

lookin forward to it!

Jason

The Revo will paddle fine Insayn. It just takes more kayaking skills than a regular SOT. I was looking at a SINKs hull about 2 years ago and realized it was essentially the same as my Adventure. Then why was it so hard to paddle the Addy... I had terrible paddling skills. It took some practice but now it's really not to hard in good conditions. In bad conditions I struggle and I think if I took some paddling classes I'd be a ton better. I usually cheat and drop the rudder when things get rough but since there's no foot controls for the rudder it's really more an adjustable skeg and you feel solid and comfortable seated. That being said I'd never paddle it w/o the rudder if I was fishing. Waaaqay too tiring!!

Z

gotta have one for pedalling for sure, and the hand controlled option is nice too. I pedalled one in the SJ's a few months ago and was really impressed. The owner had the big rudder on it though, and when I hit full speed and a hard turn, it almost bucked me off!

For fishing, those hobie pedallers are money.

Zee, I'm sure the Revo will go straight (eventually) for me with the paddle and no rudder, but a direct comparison between my T-13 and the Revo yields the T-13 a better tracker for me.  
Yeah I could probably benefit from some solid paddling practice to up my game provided I wanted to be a skilled kayaker for some reason.    
Heck, I'm not even a good fishcatcherman yet, and feel that I should focus on catching fish over having mad paddling skills right now.

Enter Hobie Revo with a big ass rudder!  

I can't even imagine trying to fish for Walleye with a bottom bouncer rig in the Columbia river using a paddle, and no rudder now.
Hobie makes it way too easy to focus on the feel of the bottom, and less on maneuvering the yak.  
This equals more enjoyable fishing time on the water for me.  

The problem I have with rudders in sea kayaks is that they make the foot pegs "soft". In rough water, solid foot contact is a big part of stability. If my footpegs slide forward and back a foot, they don't give the support I need. In rough water, the rudder comes out of the water half the time anyways and is ineffective. Also, you end up dragging the entire kelp forest with you.

Well, at least now I know.  I borrowed a SINK for this coming weekend, and it has a rudder installed.  I spent 30min with my head stuck in a yak trying to figure out how to stop the foot rests from moving.

Dillon what boat are you bringing? you can definitely use the SOT for fishing, but it will be easier to learn boating skills in the SINK. Were you able to get into any of the surf classes?

Sorry for the thread jack....I digress. maybe PM me your reply.

I say rudder in the PT-13!  I use it constantly for course correction while paddling.  I use it when fighting the fish to get him to the right side of the kayak to land the fish.  I use it to turn myself broadside to the wind when trying to slow my drift.  I am a sh*t paddler and just use it to go straight!

When I am in the Pygmy Borealis XL it never needs a rudder.  The shape of the boat lends itself to straight tracking and can be edged over to prevent weather cocking or to simply make a  turn.
 

I tried out the paddling tech that Nanook suggested and it works really well in the Hobie. Thanks N. My paddling time is gonna be a lot funner from now on. I'd be interested to hear how wider SOT's like Cobras and Malibus do since you need to really roll the yak.. As to using while fishing.. I don't see it as a safe option. You really need the yak to be cocked at an angle to get a good response and I can't imagine doing it for a long period of time. You'll also need to look out for chop bumps etc. and focus much less on fishing. I think the reason why a lot of us are on SOT's is so we don't have to watch out so much and fish more. Anyhow that's what I got from it. The paddlers w/o rudders are gonna love this one.


Z

I say rudder in the PT-13!  I use it constantly for course correction while paddling.  I use it when fighting the fish to get him to the right side of the kayak to land the fish.  I use it to turn myself broadside to the wind when trying to slow my drift.  I am a sh*t paddler and just use it to go straight!



When I am in the Pygmy Borealis XL it never needs a rudder.  The shape of the boat lends itself to straight tracking and can be edged over to prevent weather cocking or to simply make a  turn.
 

I agree - weather cock is annoying with the T-13.  I instinctively align myself with the waves and wind but the boat is always fighting it and wants to go sideways.  I am probably not good at it, but $%SS cheek leaning doesn't seem to do much on this kayak.

Wind used to drive me nuts too, but if I pull my rudder up, and use my feet, I can keep the boat steering into the wind most of the time.  I alternate feet to get drag and keep it straight.

still drives me nuts. T15's weather cock horrendously 'cause they're so light in the azz. only solution I've come up with that works to keep me balanced and straight is to add some weight into the tank well or slide a tethered dry bag of gear back there under the deck.

been talking to the Smart Track guys and think a rudder may be in the future for this Bic Banana i got hanging outside. heck, it's cheaper, has more features and is easier to install than the OK ones.

once a few years ago i said i'd share my lessons learned on the T15 with the group.

Lesson # 3: Tridents paddle better with a load on them and balanced fore to aft.

I balance out my P13 by plunking my 240 pound carcass in the seat !!

i'm 250 or so, and used to only have stuff in the bow hatch and as far back as the seat i'm on,under the decks. but i always had weather cock issues, no matter what. only by experimenting did i find out that my stern was lighter than the  rest of the boat and i could stop the maddening tendency to weather cock by putting just 5-10 lbs there.. might not be an issue with that tubby 13 you have, but it is for the 15.figger it another way; your mass in the seat acts like an old school ground see saw, and the boat swings around it. if there is uneven weight on one end, you are going to have weather cock issues. but whadda i know? i'm just a 3 year newbie.

I tie my gear bag down right behind me too so that puts the weight a little further back too. And the P13 is a sleek narrow machine. It is the tubby Tridents that are pushing 30" 
In all seriousness I have found that the boat like to spin away from where ever I want to fish.... I just thought it hated me.