Thanks for all the info! Got some things to think about now. I figured it would be easier to install with the deck off. But you're right I'll probably know what I want exactly after paddling it for a while.

Thanks again
Mike

: That's good advice to wait before adding anything. I paddled my
: Night Heron with nothing the first year then almost another full
: year with a skeg similar to what Jim put on his boat (a little
: longer and a little further forward). Had I not had plans to
: cross the lake I probably wouldn't have added the rudder, though
: now that I have I'm glad I have for other windy, wavy days. It
: does boil down to personal preference and where and when you
: paddle. If you decide you would like a skeg or rudder later it
: isn't that much harder to retrofit one than it is to build it in
: from the beginning.