: When I built My boat I was looking at the kari-tek products.

: The hydroskeg is a fluid system and the big plus is that if you hit
: somthing the skeg will retract (only head on though)

: it appears that the Hydroskeg has the saftey of a rope skeg IE the
: blade will retract if hit (only head on though!!!) and it has
: the Fine control of a Cable skeg.

: But $300+ was out of the question not to mention you can still side
: swipe /break the blade, get stones caught in the housing (it
: will stick with little bitty stones regardless if its $300.00+
: USD>) and at some point Im sure (it would happen to me) one
: has to get a leak or two during a long paddle.

: Also having to carry tubing , fittings,extra piston/s and Hyd/brake
: fluid if your touring would be a pain. cables and ropes are
: simple.

: I went with a Kajak sport SKEG -Kit last year from Newfound Boat
: supply. it installed very easy , well made, works smooth
: (without stones) and less than $100.00

: hope this helped.

: "John"

Would love to see the details about how that's supposed to work, hydrallic fluid is mostly incompressable, would have to have a relief valve of some sort adding to the complexity.

Bill H.