To skeg or not to skeg that is th equestion

**deejaybee** · 9th April 2007, 06:49 PM

Now that I am even closer to looking at the design of my Danish piroques I have a another question, As the craft is essentially flat bottomed should it or should it not incorporate a small skeg. Will this help in currents or will it make the craft difficult to turn?
On a 4metre hull which comes to a fairly sharp v at either end I recognise that this will produce a bow and and aft section whereas at the moment the pirogue is essentially a pushme-pullyou.

If I do incorporate one, how deem should it be. My guestimate woule be something of around 450mm long with a taper down do around 25-30mm

Or am I way off the beam.

Essentially this will be a lake and river craft with Yarra providing the most difficult currents( read very little)

**bitingmidge** · 9th April 2007, 07:07 PM

DJB,

I suspect it will make it more difficult to turn. Of course how difficult "more difficult" is, is open to some conjecture.

If the boat is big enough and has sufficiently little displacement that the ends are barely in the water, then it may be of some advantage to you I would have thought, however if (as I suspect) the ends are submerged a good few inches, you may well find that it tracks well enough already.

Please understand that the above is simply conjecture, not advice or even the words of one experienced with the above.... I just thought it would be a shame if no one answered your post!

I look forward to proper words of wisdom, but in the meantime, why not launch without, then add the skeg with temporary screws so you can report back to us as to the ACTUAL impact?

Cheers,

P

**onthebeachalone** · 9th April 2007, 07:42 PM

Hi DJ,

Well, I never knew what a Pirogue was until I saw your post and looked it up. Thanks!

I designed a couple of boats like that for the Caloundra Calssic Boat Regatta - Rough 'n Ready boat building competition. Basically just 2 sheets of ply.

Story here - www.profitworks.com.au/Rough&Ready/

The boats had to be raced around a triangular course. In the 2006 event we managed (just) to turn round each buoy. From memory it required the second and third paddlers to reverse paddle on the inside of the turn and the first and fourth (the skipper) to paddle forward on the outside. I think the skipper ended up actually paddling sideways to bring the stern around. She didn't want to turn.

I'd go easy on the skeg. I doubt if you will find any benefit and, if necessary, you can always add it later.

**Boatmik** · 11th April 2007, 07:59 PM

I agree with onthebeach.

It's easy enough to add later. Don't the plans say?

MIK

**TK1** · 13th April 2007, 11:15 AM

Hi DJB,

If you haven't seen it, have a look at www.southernpaddler.com as the forum has a section devoted to pirogues.

I suspect, as they're like flat-bottomed canoes, you wouldn't need one. However, as an option, have a look at "Stitch & Glue Boatbuilding" by Kulczycki, he shows plans for a small retractable skeg for a kayak, you could adapt something like this for the pirogue perhaps, for use on lakes, etc when you have a bit of cross-wind. Just a thought, generally I don't think you'd need one as most of the length should be in the water and this will provide enough tracking.

Regards,
Darren

**deejaybee** · 15th April 2007, 12:19 AM

Thanks fro the suggestion. It seesm I am not the only one who has asked this.
The southernpaddler forum was helpful.

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