Rudders are a critical part of any boat’s design – and in my opinion many of the rudders on surfskis are sub-optimal, to put it mildly.  But at last a manufacturer has got off their butt to offer a wide range of rudders for different conditions.

When retired teacher Gerard de Gannes joined the Trinidad surfski club after recovering from a stroke, he found that the constant swimming and remounting wasn’t as much fun as he’d been lead to believe…

[Editor: we quite often hear from smaller paddlers (especially women) that skis are too long and difficult to handle.  Is there place for a “450 Class”  in our sport?]

[Editor: Phillip Nye writes to say that Johan van Blerk’s rudder may well work – but it’s not a “Positive Caster” rudder]

Jamii Hamlin loves the Red7 Surf70 Pro and has made a number of customisations to his ski: footplate, rudders, wave deflector and seat have all been modified.

"Nel" posted a comment to my review of the EOS to the affect that it would be good if we did an article of rudder design.  The topic being an area of interest to me and having experimented with rudders and fins over many years I needed no second invitation.

From deck lines to a head mounted drinking system...  Here are some ideas and mods sent in by Didier "Pimp my Ski" Plouhinec and David Grainger.

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One of my favorite skits from the Not the 9 o’clock News UK TV Comedy Series involves an earnest-looking social worker being asked for her opinion on what needs to be done about soccer hooligans. “I know these kids,” she says, “I know their homes, their parents…” “… and the only thing to do is to cut their goolies off. Cut them off!”

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Polish your surfski and go faster – or not? 

Dr. Shawn Burke Ph.D. looks at the science of hull surfaces, turbulence and drag reduction…