: When considering the addition of a skeg, it will help with
: tracking, but:

: How much drag does it produce when it's down?

: In choppy conditions, how often is the skeg out of the water and
: not doing any good?

: When the skeg is retracted, how much drag does the open slot in the
: hull produce?

: What is the best way to minimize these effects?

: m

Hi Mike

I am currently installing a Skeg in one of my boats for the first time. It is a retrofit so I will be in a good position to feel the difference, if any, regarding drag, etc.

Drag when down, I would say not a problem as you will be using it while going downwind and any negative effects will be offset by reduced need to correct using the paddle.

Drag while up...??? I am wondering too. I have kept the slot to the absolute minimum width and length that will accommodate the skeg. Time will tell.

I have a GRP Explorer in which the Skeg is a crude wobbly plastic wedge in a canyon of a slot that must have some effect on water flow. If production boats can get away with that kind of sloppy workmanship and still actually perform quite well then I guess we should be ok with the kind of tolerances we can achieve when custom building.

Et