: Recently saw an article by Paul Caffy wherein he mentioned a temporary skeg
: attached to a sleeve which was slid over the stern and could be rotated to
: the side when starting out. I find my Guillemot weathercocks in the
: extreme, which is probably more my paddling technique that the kayak.
: Nonetheless I would rather not retrofit a permanent skeg as I anticipate
: my paddling technique will improve with time. Being committed to a rather
: lengthy trip on the open waters of Georgian Bay, I'm going to need some
: help in tracking.

Is the issue weathercocking or tracking? They're not the same thing.

Weathercocking is the tendency for a boat to turn into the wind and it's a function of the boat design and the fore-aft loading of the boat. You can "compensate" with paddle technique and leaning, but you cannot eliminate the problem with it.

Tracking is a subjective measure of how well a boat follows a straight line and it's easiest to determine in flat calm water with no wind. Although boat design definitely plays a part in tracking, paddle technique can have a large impact on tracking. With a the proper stroke, almost any boat can be made to track well.

Skegs are designed to compensate for wind and wave conditions, though many people use them as a crutch to improve tracking (I did when I first started paddling). If tracking is the issue, working on your stroke will help. Specifically, using a shorter, more vertical stroke will reduce the amount that the boat wanders. You may find you need a shorter paddle to do this comfortably.

If weathercocking is the issue, you can do two things:

1) Add some weight in the stern of the boat to see if it reduces the problem. A liter or two of water (in bottles) is a commonly used weight. If this helps, you can try shifting your seat back an inch or two, which will have the same effect

2) Install a skeg. I'd suggest installing a retractable skeg, as it allows you to fine-tune the trim of the boat and you can get it out of your way for launching, landing and transporting your kayak. If you make a removeable, sleeve mounted skeg as you describe, you will not be able to use it when paddling alone, as you need someone else to rotate it into position after you launch. Either that, or you have to learn to enter and exit your boat in deep enough water to avoid hitting the skeg on the bottom.

For the amount of effort involved in making a removeable skeg, you can probably make a retractable skeg and have it always at the ready when you need it.