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.

A new apprentice!

This is the blog of my new apprentice: Here:

Finally!

A video clip from last summers great baidarka adventure:here

Baidarka building

A video from a kayak building class this winter:here

Courses 2013!

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

New pages!

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

New movie clips!

Kayak building, rolling, paddling and more!Kayak building, Paddling and Old movie clips.