> As many of you know I am just starting a Chesapeake 17' that I intend on
> taking for a three week expedition from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron
> (Georgian Bay) through the Trent Severn Waterway. It seems many, let's
> called them purists, frown on the use of a Rudder. Proper paddling
> technique eliminates the need for a rudder. However, I'm going on a fairly
> long trip and if a rudder will save energy I will install one. The
> question is, as a novice builder and paddler, should I install a rudder?

I'm not sure people frown on USING a rudder as much as they think it is a waste of money to buy, and a waste of time to install. If you have one you will probably use it. If you don`t have one you will either never regret it, or complain until you get one. If you have ANY question at all about the need or usefulness then DO NOT buy one until you have assembled the boat and used it a bit. If it works fine, think of the money you have saved. If your boat desperately needs a rudder, you'll fine ample justification for shelling out the money after a few trial runs.

If the issue is still debatable after you have gotten used to the handling differences when the boat is loaded in various fashions (you WILL do a test paddle, fully loaded to see where you store all your gear, at least a week before your trip won't you?) then you can bolt on a rudder in an afternoon. Fully loaded with gear for a three week trip your boat will be much lower in the water. Plan on this, and also on the `usual' depth (just you) so that you mount the thing so it will work well at both extremes.

A rudder seems mandatory if you plan to add a sail rig. Otherwise, I can't think of a canoe or kayak that needs one. Will a rudder make paddling a long distance (your proposed trip) go any better? Probably not. A few years ago ther was a 1000 mile race from Chicago to New York, through the Great Lakes. I can't remember seeing rudders on those boats. On the other hand, when I was in the Minnesota Boundary Waters the couple in our group who were paddling a Klepper kayak had a rudder (it came with the sail rig, which they did not use) and the husband told us that he enjoyed the rudder. I suspect this is partly because he could still have some control on the steering when his wife was doing the paddling from the front cockpit, and he was sloughing off aft.

Build the boat first. Sweat the rudder later.

Just my rambling opinion on this.

Paul Jacobson