Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 5:38 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [VFB] Kayak question > > Jerry > I thought you were supposed to lift the skeg when you turn. I don't > always > do that and it does make it more difficult to turn.
[jerry goldsmith] Deb, I thought from the conversation that you were talking about a molded skeg on a SOT (very prominent on Heritage Kayaks for instance) not a drop down. I much pefer a drop down skeg to a rudder. I usually realize my > error right away. I use it a lot in the Narrow river because the current > kept pushing me to the side. It does help me. I use my kayak 90% of the > time in saltwater and it's very rocky here so I like the control in > keeping > it tracking straight. I don't have a rudder on the kayak I use but we do > have rudders on the Norkapp and the Cape Horn we have. I don't use them [jerry goldsmith] Which Nordkapp do you have- both the Jubilee and the H20 are great boats. Fabulous ocean touring boats, but I thought both of them were skegged, not ruddered. Is the cape horn the 150 or 170. Also very good boats but not in the same class as the Nordkapp , > I stick to my Perception America because I take Brendan with me so I'm more of a recreational yakker at this point. We had to add the skeg kit to it. [jerry goldsmith] Are you talking about the little 11 foot sit-inside ?? How did you add a skeg to it ?? I have never heard of an add on skeg ?? > I have never rolled my kayak. I've come close to tipping it a few times but> never lost it. It isn't a totally flat bottom but it is a wider profile.> I just feel like I sit too low in it for fishing. [jerry goldsmith] If you are taking those boats in Saltwater you HAVE to LEARN to ESKIMO ROLL and SELF RESCUE. And then practice it when you have someone else with you to be safe. As for sitting low, you do sit a but higher in a SOT, but remember, as you go up, the fulcrum for rolling the yak becomes greater. I fish 98% of the time out my kestrel 120, A 12 ft SIT-INSIDE. I just love this boat. even thought it means I sometimes have to paddle aways to get shallow enough to get in and out of it. Can't get much lower. jg
