North Wind

[Graham]

Matt I sent you an e-mail yesterday, im not great at drawing on a pc but after two hours sent you my results. Hope thay may be some use to you if i get a chance over the festive period i will take a photo to support my not so good drawings.

[jem]

I got that. I saw the basics but didn't dive into it too much. Should get to it tonight.

From the brief look, it looks to be a nice set up. Maybe something I'll post up on the website if you don't mind.

[Graham]

Matt you can be my guest, anything to support your work. One thing i forgot to mention is that the support for the rudder skeg is housed into the bottom disc all will become clear when i can find the prototype and take a pickie of it.

[Kayak Jack]

When Verlen built boats, he experimented with everything. He tried paddling the Sea Wind with both canoe and kayak paddles, with and without a rudder. He found it faster with a canoe paddle and a rudder. A Sea Wind paddled thusly, will walk away and leave a kayak.

All that being said, I, personally, would use a kayak paddle and no rudder. I do not like moving parts on something which I want to be rugged and fail safe.

"Moving parts don't, but leak proof tanks do."

[Graham]

I can’t say I disagree, but Jack don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. For decades the design I have shared with Matt has proven lake and sea trials. Trust me it works well, when Matt works his magic on the drawings it will sure help the longer Kayak that need more lateral manoverability. It’s also a great help for those canoeists that have one arm stronger than the other or a side current to fight. To those that fish the use of a rudder is essential to direct the drift of your Kayak while sneaking up on the big ones.
So how did you manage before?

But as always it’s your choice, but it is nice to be able to share something I took for granted for the last three decades. Now I feel old

[tx river rat]

Graham
I ran a steel shop for 40 plus years and I steel have a lot of my equip so we can build it out of brass stainless aluminium or even wood.
Verlen Kruger was something else and you have to respect his opinions . Because this boat is a close design off his Sea Wind I really have been interested .
I use a kayak paddle 99% of the time in my area, for a couple reasons, its balanced simple and always ready on both sides. The other reason is shallow swift water, you can't dig a paddle in in those conditions , but a low shallow stroke with the yak paddle will still work.
I fish a lot out of a yak and so far in my area haven't needed a rudder. I can see where with a single blade a rudder could be an asset ,and if I build the North wind I want it set up where I can use one. I will say in my area it would stay up more than down because of the rocks and shallows.
Ron

[tx river rat]

Mick why do you think the Northwind would have a higher wind signature than the Southwind , Matt chime in on this to.
Ron

[jem]

I'd say they have about the same wind signature.

[Kayak Jack]

I bow to Verlen's practical wisdom on the single blade paddle and a rudder. I know it is faster; I see it every time I paddle along behind one.

I've managed all these years simply because I no longer fish. I slipped the slimy bonds of that pastime when I was a mere stripling of 14 years of age. Discovered girls and motorbikes in the same summer. Never looked back. That fishing pole is likely still sitting there beside the river. The gals, however, are still available (THANK GOD!)

I like a double ended paddle for the same reason Ron does. More paddle power can be delivered to the water, can still get some grip even in shallow water. Also, when I get clumsy I already have a paddle on the side to which I find myself falling or leaning over-generously. And, I'm a stubborn, olde coot. (So is Ronnie)

[hairymick]

Mick why do you think the Northwind would have a higher wind signature than the Southwind , Matt chime in on this to.
Ron

Mate,

Overall, South Wind sits in the water with about 2 inches in height above the waterline, less than Northwind. While being a little loinger than Northwind it still has a very similar load capacity.

What this means to me is a longer, leaner boat. I think one boat is probably as good as the other. It just boils down to which style you like best.

There is now doubting Mr Kruger's brilliance but the difference in performance between these two magnificent boats of Matt's would be only marginal.

Build either one mate - or both of them. You will never regret it.