: I live on the coast of South Carolina and I am building a Night Heron. I am
: debating whether or not to install a retractable skeg(time/money). Does
: the Night Heron need one?

It depends a lot of the conditions you are going to paddle in and what you expect from the kayak.

I paddled a Night Heron for a few years, mostly on lakes and rivers and a few times on the open ocean. I often paddled in windy conditions and I was perfectly happy with the Night Heron without a skeg or rudder and I would never have contemplated fitting one.

That does not mean that I am blind to the differences a skeg can make. I am just saying that I didn't feel a need for one.