: What is the crosshatched area on the skeg?

I have no idea ! let me know when you know.

: Is this skeg controlled by a sheathed push/pull cable?

yes.

: Have you thought about any way to downspring it so you could control it with
: tension line, secured with a simple cam cleat? What are your thoughts?

yes. I have considered this option. using any kind of metal spring was out of the question due to rust & also the long soft movement that is needed from such spring. I did donsider using rubber, knowing i will need to replace it frequently due to its short life span in salt water/sun/hightemp/low temp/etc'.
I also considered downspring vs upspring but couldn't find any pros or cons, I guess the down/up spring is just personal preference.

after all these thoughts I gave it all up for the sheeted push/pul cable
because it's more reliable & the cable doesn't need to be under tension like
a thread would need to be when holding the skeg against the spring.
I also realised it's easier to make the push/pull thing.

as I mentioned, my skeg is already made, but isn't installed on the kayak yet.

: Am I being paranoid about the Guillemot not being a strong tracking boat and
: is the skeg worth the extra weight and complexity on this boat?

dunno nuthin bout the guillemot. I only have a coho. while doing the reaserch
for the skeg few people told me (here & also "real people" in kayaks stores)
that any skeg would have a major influence on the behavior of the kayak & that
there are days that I would cry for a skeg no matter how experienced I am.
...so I decided to install skeg.....

I didn't build the exact skeg on the drawing. I went to a kayak shop and
took measurements of few skegs. I just posted this drawing to explain the hook
type shaft which solves the maintenance problem many skegs have.

: Thanks

don't mention.

Erez