Riding the bus out of town, a winter boy mounted his hiriser bicycle on the rack, got on smug n grinning.’

By chance, I watched him ride. Not me ! 5’ off the ground isnot within my bicycling tolerance levels.

Next time he got on the bus without mounting a cycle. He was cut bashed n bruised.

Probabbly nothing to be with that bicycle.

Carl offers a well thought out analysis. I figured out why the skeg is generally less friction than the rudder even in the less turbulent area. Why because it isn’t turned against the flow to impede for turning or trimming ! DUH

I feel badly about the Jersey paddler but ….? One could say the cyclist ‘assumed’ or ‘affected’ or ‘pretended’ but insult was not the intention. Small intellectual humor.

For my part, I’m involved with basic cutting edge field research from a kayak with animal behavior…apparently from Jersey and the Sea. No assuming allowed.

Carl would be a lucky find for first use buyers. Could be that level analysis would size the buyer for providing use able advice.

When looking for my first kayak, I found bad advice, lies, misrepresentation, threats ! obfuscation, affectation from the tsunami raiders, and subtle ignorance. If I had taken West Coast Advice, I would be miserable with their idea of hull effectiveness.

So in the beginning, my analysis was a go for DOWN RUDDER….!!ZX#$%!!..I forgot to unhook it or that F!!ZX345Q! sea lion’s got his teeth on it.

MY OPINION: all beginners boats should have a rudder and track with just enough edging for allowing practice into a ear in the water turn but not requiring constant balancing activity for staying upright. And a 2 part wetsuit with gloves and booties by law as with scuba regulation.

BTW, I work with hurricane prediction nailing yours within city limits. What you perceive is irrelevant.