I like to use the rudder when I'm out to have a lazy day paddle and don't want to fight to keep the boat from turning into the wind. For rougher seas I try not to depend too much on the rudder especially (like you said) when surfing large waves. I will probably build the boat, try it out and then retrofit it if need be. Cutting out the way Tom did is probably the best way to get a tight fit anyways so it can wait...

I haven't had a rudder fail on me yet but for added insurance I use a closed cell foam block up against the forward bulkhead to brace my feet against and use my toes with very little pressure to steer the rudder. That way if the cable breaks I still can brace. For the wooden boats without rudders we use just the foam blocks which keeps us from drilling holes in the boat for foot pedals. I velcro a couple pieces together to form the brace so the footbrace can be adjusted for either Judy or myself and velcro the whole thing to the bulkhead to keep it from coming out of the boat in case of an upset. Someday I will probably glue a footbrace system in but for now this works great.

> My only concern with the integrated rudder is it will tend to spend a lot
> of the time out of the water. Going down wind on waves, the stern will
> consistently be lifted clear of the water. Obviously, this is a potential
> problem with all rudders, but the standard rudder extends well below the
> deepest point of the boat. The Dagger style rudder at least reaches the
> keel so has the best chance. Tom's rudder has an exaggerated potential for
> being lifted free because it does not even reach the keel.

> My bias is generally anti-rudder because moving parts are more likely to
> fail than non-moving, so if the boat can be designed to handle well
> without moving parts, that would be my preferance. If a rudder is required
> I like the idea of the integrated rudder because: it looks cleaner, there
> is less stuff exposed to potential damaging forces, its a cool gadget.
> But, it needs to be in the water to be worth the effort.

> I am currently leaning towards retractable skegs as a good solution that
> provides most of the benefit of a rudder with fewer moving parts and more
> chance of being in the water. I haven't felt the need to install a skeg on
> any of my boats yet, but I might soon, just to see if they are useful. I
> have put one on a friend's boat, but I haven't tried the boat yet.