I'll be the heretic here--I installed a rudder on my strip-built Night Heron. With nothing on it I was happy 95% of the time, mostly just those rear-quartering seas that vexed me. I put a small fixed skeg on it and that helped in most conditions, but I lost manuverability while surfing. On one trip in particular I spent a good part of the day fighting wind and waves to hold course. Can I make it go straight by leaning and/or holding the greenland paddle off-center? Yes. But losing 1/3 of my efficiency just to hold course takes the fun out of it for me. I cut off the skeg and put a rudder on when some friends and I were planning a crossing of Lake Ontario. I figured if conditions turn bad I won't have that much extra energy to burn holding course. I pretty much exclusively paddle in conditions you describe, Lake Ontario, wind and waves preferred. I only use the rudder 10-15% of the time, but when I want it I really like having it--enough so I don't mind hauling it around the rest of the time. I used the Sealline rudder and fixed footpegs, which I like very much. YMMV
Mark

: Just getting some information prior to building a Night Heron. I
: plan to use the boat in great lakes with rough water. Does
: anyone think a Rudder or Skeg is a good idea. The reason I'm
: asking I was out in very rough water in my 14 foot Perception
: Carolina with following seas(lakes). When the waves were going
: faster than I was I had to fight to keep the thing going
: straight without broaching. It wore me out. I'm sure the Night
: Heron will track better, but if I'm going to add something I'm
: guessing its best to plan it from the start. I see that a lot of
: thermoformed kayaks (like the Hurricane Tracer) has the skeg
: built in (nice slide lever near the cockpit). Is there something
: made like that for wooden boat installation?

: Thanks
: Mike