: Skeg or rudder does effect the feeling when rocking the kayak sideways.
: Lowered skeg tries to prevent the motion. It might be the same for
: rolling, however the rudder should actually be in air half of the roll so
: how could it prevent rolling? Maybe the first part - capsizing is slower
: and the recovery but half of the roll should go fine with or without
: rudder.

The hip snap that everyone says is necessary to roll is really rolling the kayak to near upright under your butt using your hips before starting to brace your body upright with the paddle. During the hip snap the rudder is entering and traveling sideways through the water increasing effort. The hip snap is the portion of the roll that gives paddlers difficulty and adding to its effort makes the kayak harder to roll.