: The comment about the composite tube glassed into the boat is
: right. It's simple and light and as long as the top end is above
: waterline it doesn't leak (with a reasonably close fit or an
: O-ring fitted somewhere).
: My rudders on the TNR break off once or twice a season when I
: paddle over shallow rocks but the boat can take it. The TNR
: actually has a flat transom that is intended for a retractable
: rudder for some river runs (Fraser River). Look at Nick's
: Mystery photos for an example of a do it yourself retractable.

: In the 2010 US surfski championship video you can hear Dawid Mocke
: run over a rock. That would be one tough rudder. He went on to
: win.
: Mine would have been gone.
I have been thinking of a light weight retractable rudder with as few of moving parts as possible. I have a idea. I will have to make a model.
: I've only seen wing blade paddles used with surfskis BTW.