> 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.

> 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

I have been paddling a Coho for 2 years and I have not yet paddled in conditions I wished I had a skeg I would advise anyone building a Coho to paddle for a season before deciding you need a skeg. Shawn is right that almost any kayak could benefit from a skeg as well as a pickup truck could benefit from an automatic transmission but I haven't found the need for one those yet either.

Larry C.