> One of the advantages of the stern-mounted kick-up rudder is that if you
> paddle over shallow water, the rudder will swing up over any obstruction
> without damage no matter what the orientation as long as you are going
> forward. If your system needs to be straight to retract, you run the risk
> of it breaking off. You might want to make it strong enough that it won't
> break or flexible enough that it can absorb an impact.

> The picture did not come through on my browser, probably because it is a
> BMP file instead of a GIF of JPEG.

I'll try to repost the picture in a different format. If the system is set up properly (specifically with a reduced upper tail on the rudder blade) the rudder should force itself straight and retract if it hits something. This is an important consideration.

Mark