Understanding Weather-Cocking and Skegs
This article can be found in Adventure Kayak Magazine
Have you ever wondered what weather-cocking is and how the skeg works in relation to it?
By use of these diagrams, I will explain what is happening to your kayak when it “weather-cocks”.
This is the reason skegs are adjustable, they can be fine tuned to equal the pressure of the bow wake. The rule of thumb for skeg adjustment is – If you find yourself turning into the wind, you can compensate for this by locking the stern in tighter and deploying the skeg deeper. On the same note if you find you’re turning away from the wind give it less skeg to decrease the hold on the stern and bring you back on course
I have only mentioned skegs, but a rudder works the same way. The more turn of the rudder, the more lock on the rear of the boat.
With the knowledge in this article, you should be able to identify how the kayak will respond to the wind when you are out paddling in different conditions. Keep in mind that skegs are adjustable and can be fine-tuned to the position needed for the amount of wind, direction, and your paddling speed.