Hi Todd-

Orgen Karlsen posted some photos of one of his qajaqs on the Qajaq USA web site last fall, and he had a skeg with a keyhole-type snap-on skeg. It would be an easy retrofit for a strip boat. Not as convenient as the "side skeg" with straps, but carbon fiber notwithstanding, a bit more elegant.

Here's a photo from Orgen's webshots gallery:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2547602530096862906MdQAsK

He gets the stainless steel keyhole hardware from a local (to him) SOF boatshop in Norway, but it would not be too difficult to machine out of a marine metal here in the states.

And if you read Norwegian, here is a link to a description on his club's site:

http://kajakkspesialisten.no/annet_tips.php

He says he's never had junk gum up the keyholes to make them inoperable, but that his launch/landing sites are rock. If you went with this you may consider a cap for the slots depending on your paddling environment and usage. I tend to view preparations like this like a boy scout with an anxiety disorder, so I'd probably cap it while it was sitting in storage...

m

: Figuring many will consider this sacrilege (sorry), but curious if anyone has
: attempted a temporary/removable skeg for the Guillemots?

: The wife and I continue to gain comfort and improve our handling skills each
: time we go out, and no doubt this will continue. At this point, we have no
: problem getting the boats pretty much anywhere we want them to be, so long
: as that place isn't straight in front of us! Our edging skills for going
: dead-on forward still need quite a bit of work and practice. We have plans
: for a multi-day outing in a couple weeks that will include a couple of +/-
: 5 mile open water crossings. Pondering the concoction of a simple
: 'strap-on' skeg that could be mounted to aid us in tracking just on the
: straight open water runs.

: Never used a skeg before. From what I understand, ideally you want to be able
: to trim the drop depth to balance weather-cocking. I've no desire to make
: anything complicated or adjustable. It would simply be a fixed depth skeg
: with a couple of straps to secure it.

: I expect there will come a time when our edging skills are such that we'll
: laugh at ourselves for the thought that we needed 'training wheels' for
: our boats, but for now, we could use the help. The notion of my wife's
: potential frustration at a couple miles from any shore is something I care
: not to endure.

: Have no idea whether or not this would actually assist us in tracking
: straight, what size/shape the skeg ought to be, how far aft it should be
: placed, etc. If you know this to be simply a bad idea, please tell me that
: so I don't waste my time. Any advise or experience to share in this regard
: would be appreciated.

: Todd