I didn't feel foolish enough spending a week making a mesh kayak seat, so instead of doing something useful I fiddled around designing a retractable surf ski rudder for a kayak like the Mystery I may never finish building.

It's basically a retractable skeg (rudder) housed in rotating cylinder (Can), which is itself inserted into a Tube that goes from hull to deck. The hull cut out rotates with the cylinder--its fair when the rudder is aligned with the keel, the 'V' of the keel impedes water when turning. The whole idea is 1. Retractable rudder, 2. Sealed so it doesn't take on water. 3. With a few modifications to make it durable and reliable.

As soon as I post this I'm going to do what I should have done first, Google Retractable Surf Ski Rudder -- and find the page I probably saw two years ago with a better design.......

I was interested when I read the recent post about surf ski rudders. I know after a helpful exchange of messages with Pat at Onno how little rocker the long Mystery which makes it a bit harder to turn. A skeg rudder should be ideal.

W

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/7571279662_e5e7815308_b.jpg