Even skeg stories should have a happy ending,a little drama and maybe a bit of friction between the main characters but after a few outings, things are working well.The seal launch on a sandy surf beach might have been asking too much but at least I got to enjoy the Petrel as it was intended and it is a very fine boat.I mangaed to unjam my sandy skeg afterwards very easily,but not on the water so:

Hopefully this cord, tied to the leading edge will help.
Then there was me forgetting I had a skeg let alone deployed when I plonked it on the grass after a fun paddle.I didn't notice and found the control balls not in the expected position later.The skeg attatchment ,being three cable ties in a row wrapped around the cord had slipped instead of some other worse thing.
I just forced the skeg back now knowing I had a bit of give for those logs ,reefs and big fish...
I wanted a nice actuation from my cord loop.effort was reduced dramatically when I rubbed a bar of soap on the skeg sides,the cord around the tubes going through the baulkheads etc.
I reckon a good result three paddles into it.

That's the soap.
Cheers from Paul.nz