Why don't your kayaks have rudders?

Most modern kayaks have rudders to help keep them on course and to steer. A canvas kayak can easily be steered with body weight and paddle, and the kayaks we build here stay on course by themselves, so rudders are unnecessary. Personally, I consider rudders to be not only unnecessary but also unsafe. They can easily be damaged or foul up rescues. In strong winds, a skeg is better for keeping the kayak on course than a rudder.

I have occasionally mounted rudders on canvas kayaks when the customer has requested it. It's possible, but I advise against it.

Courses 2019!

The course calendar has been updated. Check out this year's kayak building classes:here

Kayak building in the USA

From Autumn 2017, Delmarwa USA: Here:

Baidarka paddling

A video clip from summer of 2011's great baidarka adventure:here

Baidarka building

A video from a kayak building class in Vestfossen, Norway:here

New pages!

New, and well illustrated presentation of our beautiful new paddle types! More.

Traditional kayaking article

Jeff Allens article from Ocean Paddler:Les her: