Use of Rudders

Many sea kayakers think it is "bad" to use a rudder. They are concerned that:

1. A rudder will create more drag and slow the kayak down.
2. The rudder is a crutch, and any good paddler should be able to paddle without one.
3. The pedal system used with a rudder prevents the proper use of legs while paddling.
4. The rudder can potentially break.

Let's examine these claims one by one, and then discuss when a rudder is important.

First, it is true that a rudder creates drag in the water. However this drag is greatly overestimated by many. A well-designed rudder will add less than 2% total drag to a kayak. In comparison, modifying your stroke to correct or maintain your course results in anywhere from 30% to 70% forward power loss! Very minor corrections will result in 5% to 10% less power than a fully efficient forward stroke. Even good paddlers in calm water are subconsciously making very minor corrections on many of their strokes. Thus it is actually much more efficient to take a consistent 2% drag increase than to be losing an average of 5% or more forward power on your stroke. All the top paddlers in flatwater and open-ocean racing use rudders as they have proven time and time again in competitions to be more efficient than a skeg or going without a rudder. Olympic sprint races are held on a straight course in calm water and ruddders are optional. However, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody paddling without a rudder in high-level competitions. They know that the fastest way to paddle is to put maximum focus on an efficient forward stroke and let the rudder ensure they are traveling in a straight line. In the same way, engineers have found it much more efficient to use a rudder on an airplane, rather than attempt to turn the engines for directional control.

1. Everybody should learn to paddle with and without a rudder. This will teach you how to lean the kayak and use your paddle to steer. These techniques in combination with a rudder will give you even more precise control. If you want to paddle without a rudder to experience the "purity" of paddling without help, that's fine. However, most people will find that a rudder will help them paddle more easily and efficiently in all conditions.
2. In the old days of push-pull steering systems, point number 3 was a valid concern. An efficient forward stroke involves pushing your leg on the same side you are paddling. With an old-style pedal system, this results in unintentionally oversteering the boat on each stroke. However, new steering systems have pedals that are independent of the footbrace. A paddler can push with the main part of their foot, and use their toes when necessary for steering. Modern efficient pedal systems allow proper use of leg drive and control of a rudder at the same time.
3. The final point is yes, a rudder can break. However, a well-designed and maintained rudder system will rarely cause problems. You should check your rudder, lines, and pedals from time to time to ensure they are in good working order and replace anything that is worn. This is especially true before a long trip or important race. At Epic, we're working on new steering systems that will be even more reliable and trouble-free in the future.

When is a rudder most important? A rudder becomes even more helpful as kayaks get longer and conditions get rougher. While a rudder is a convenience for calm-water paddling, it will definitely change your experience for the better in rough or windy conditions. A good paddler travelling downwind with waves can cut back and forth to find the best wave positions, maximizing their surfing gains — while those without a rudder or using a skeg often find themselves fighting a sideways broach. Experienced ocean paddlers such as Oscar Chalupsky are masters at this and will leave anybody paddling without a rudder in their wakes!

Shorter boats are easier to paddle without a rudder, and can correct their course with much less effort. A rudder is not as necessary with well-designed kayaks under 13 feet in length. Our touring kayaks were designed to perform well with or without a rudder. Our Epic V10 surf ski was specifically designed for use with a rudder. For a 21-foot boat, it is amazingly agile when turning with a rudder. However, this boat was designed to maximize performance with a rudder, and is a real challenge to paddle if the rudder is removed.

At Epic Kayaks our aim is to use technology to give you a better, more efficient and more enjoyable paddling experience. We challenge the outdated theory held by many that because early Aleutian and Greenland kayaks did not have rudders, there is no place for them on modern kayaks. Early automobiles had hand-crank starters and wooden wheels. You rarely see people driving these today, as technology advances have made driving a car much easier, safer, and more accessible for everybody. Likewise there is nothing wrong with using an efficient rudder to help you enjoy your paddling experience. Most people will find that a rudder will help them paddle more easily and efficiently in all conditions. Ultimately, the choice of whether and when to use a rudder is up to you.

See you on the water!
Greg Barton