Wenonah Fusion 13' Foot Rudder

[mic]

http://www.wenonah.c...a9dae612d7652fe

Anyone tried out the Wenonah Fusion 13'? I curious how well the foot rudder works.

[MoSportsmen]

I ran a rudder in my race canoe. Any rudder is good when you are moving. If you are in moving water you basically need to be going faster than the water for it to work very well. If you are going to use it in lakes and ponds it is probably a good thing.....maybe.

Don't have much experience using one for fishing. Mostly rudders are for keeping you straight when you are going, not so much for turning although they work for that too. They do reduce the effort it take to get across the lake. You don't have to waste strokes on course correction. Then flip it up when you are fishing and use a little skull paddle to position the boat. Double blade to get across the lake.

Tom

[mic]

Yea, wanted to know how it worked for getting from spot a to b. I read you will paddle yourself in circle on these short canoes (with a single paddle). I was curious if the rudder helped. I also like to troll while paddling to find fish (and exercise) so I thought this might help keep one going straight.

Anyone else?

[MoSportsmen]

You can learn to keep it straight with a single blade, especially if you get a nice bent shaft. I just prefer a double blade. Yea a rudder helps.

[mic]

You can learn to keep it straight with a single blade, especially if you get a nice bent shaft. I just prefer a double blade. Yea a rudder helps.

Never used a bent shaft... How does it help?

[Stoneroller]

bent shaft reduces paddling effort. similar in principle to the shape of a kayak blade. once you move your arms past the front of your body you lose a tremendous amount of force and leverage. the bent shaft canoe paddle and swept tip of a kayak paddle reduce the effort needed. it also reduces efficiency at that point, but the idea is to reduce fatigue.

From a kayak perspective, the rudder makes a huge difference when lake fishing. I use a drag chain, when allowed, in rivers. But on a lake and in wind, the rudder rocks. Not only does it make your transits more efficient, as has been noted. it also makes it easy to drift with a light wind and keep yourself oriented in the proper casting position. I imagine it would be a really big deal on a canoe where wind affects it more.

and for trolling. i wouldn't bother trolling without my rudder. with it the subtle side to side motion of the double bladed paddle strokes allows each trolled lure to alternately speed up and slow down slightly. i usually troll floating crankbaits though. that way if you hook up and slow or stop to fight the fish your lure doesn't hang up.

[tjulianc]

Here is a good explanation on the benefits of using a bent shaft paddle, its a lot easier to explain with visuals:

[Stoneroller]

there you go. I tried explain it from a different prepective ie you aren't wasting energy on moving water upwards at the peak of power.(and failed) but its much easier to understand the way he explains and shows it.

and unlike what I incorrectly said, the bent shaft actually increases efficiency throughout the stroke.

.

[mic]

Thanks got it.

[MoSportsmen]

I found a bent shaft of only about 16 oz for only 45.00 on ebay last year, hand made. Just search bent shaft paddle on ebay there are a few makers that sell their wares there.

There is also a commercial manufacturer that is now making aluminum shaft plastic blade bent shafts now.

Tom

BTW....a bent shaft paddle is properly fitted with a shorter shaft than you may have used in the past. I am 6'2" and I like my 48" paddle. My race boat sits quite low in the water though.