Lateral balance is extremely important in any boat. I recall renting a kayak to take part in a short cruise; it was uncontrollable, at any kind of speed it would turn one way or the other so I had to do all the paddling on one side to keep it straight. I could keep it on course going slow but there was no way to keep up with the group. I left them and returned to the starting point and had a look at the stern: there was provision for a rudder but it was missing. The rental guy said he removes all the rudders as they invariably get broken. With some kayaks that renders them useless except for taking pretty pictures.

What actually happens in cases like that is the bow digs and and the stern skids out to the side. Once the turn has started the centrifugal forces keeps pushing the stern out. All you can do then is try to pull the bow in line but you end up going partly sideways if the condition is bad enough. A front skeg could result in this condition.