Almost every kayak made could benefit from a skeg. Not all the time, but there are some conditions where they would be valuable. Depends on the conditions you're likely to paddle in. In following/quartering seas, almost all boats weathercock to some degree. Some boats (more maneuverable) are easier to correct with corrective strokes. Hard-tracking boats can actually be a liability if the hydrodynamic side pressure doesn't balance with the aerodynamic side pressure, as Erez stated, because they're more difficult to bring back to your bearing with a corrective stroke or two.

If you're always paddling in calm conditions or paddling into the wind, you probably don't need a rudder or skeg. If you don't mind doing a few to many (depending on your boat's design) you probably don't need a rudder or skeg. I don't like the look of rudders, but I experienced 20 kt winds and 2-3' quartering seas that convinced me that some directional correctability would be an asset.

> Does the Coho really need a skeg, i was thinking about buying the kit
> based on all the "reviews" touting it's tracking ability... Are
> you paddling in extreme conditions or is there a lot of hype over this
> design. MarkB

Sure, it paddles nicely. It's one of the better boats out there for its blend of maneuverability and tracking, but it's still succeptible to the effects of quartering seas. Not as much as some other boats, but still affected. I don't think the Coho is severely "hyped". A lot of the praise given this boat is earned. You don't need to experience "extreme" conditions to want a skeg, but you don't necessarily need the skeg in extreme contidions either. A question of want vs. need....

Shawn