: Looking at building a B&B Diva Kayak. Reportedly it has very good tracking as
: designed. I would use the boat a lot in smaller creeks and harbors where
: maneuverability is more important that tracking. It will also be used on a
: large lake which can have big waves and wind where tracking is more
: important.

: I am thinking I would rather have a looser boat and just add a retractable
: skeg. Then when I need it I could simply lower the skeg when I need more
: tracking. I just don't care for a rudder. Of course I can't help but
: wonder if I am missing something. If this is a bad idea and I am not
: seeing it.

Unless you are racing or going over rapids, where you must make sharp turns in a time dictated by the speed of the water, don't worry about adding rocker.

You can turn almost any boat (including oean liners) in a space slightly larger than the length of the boat if you apply enough force in the proper direction, and allow enough time for the boat to respond. With ocean liners you would need a couple of tugboats. With a rowboat you use one oar going forward, and one going backward. With paddle-powered craft you use draw, push or sweep strokes.

Build the boat as is, and learn to take an extra draw stroke or two to speed your turns. If you learn to lean, most kayaks respond faster in turns when laid on their side.

I can't see why you have qualms about a rudder (which you can raise or lower) while you are in favor of a skeg (which you can raise or lower). Generally any paddled boat is an effort to accelerate, and takes more effort to maintain speed. When you go for a design which is inherently slower, you add to the required effort, and this is at all times. Far better to go with a craft which goes with less effort, and then apply some resistance which helps it to turn, only when needed. Then you can get that resistance out of the way. With a boat with some significant rocker you'll have a shorter waterline (lower top speed) and expend more effort and time on course corrections. When you lower a skeg you may help the boat go straighter, but you've added more drag. Rudders are more exposed, and are a bit easier to add to a boat, and more accessible for maintenance. A retractable skeg requires a watertight "box" into which the skeg can retratct. That adds weight to your boat, complexity to the build, and reduces your available storage area.

You may be familiar with the initialism K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) I don't mean any insult, so please forget the last "S". That makes the message more concise. "Keep it simple". If you like the design, build it as it is. Then, if you find you need some assistance in making faster turns, (and odds are you won't) add a rudder.

That's all just my opinion, of course.

PGJ