I’ve been kayak fishing for some time with friends who also fish from various brands of kayaks, who all have different skill sets and styles of fishing. But one thing I’ve found that we all have in common is that we feel the need to constantly upgrade our kayaks. Whether it’s the simple addition of a crate to hold our rods, tackle, and other items, or a major change like upgrading a rudder, I understand the feeling. I own and use kayaks, and like a lot of fishing kayaks they track through the water like a two-by-12 piece of lumber. Most fishing kayaks are designed with a priority on providing you with as stable a platform to fish from as possible, so it’s understandable that they handle the way they do. Still, as for steering and handling, most anglers want more control to turn in tight spaces, improved tracking from point A to point B, and better control in windy conditions.
An upgrade can come in the form of a drop-down rudder, an extended rudder, or an addition to the kayak’s existing rudder. You can also upgrade to the same style of rudder the kayak came with but is one made of aluminum rather than plastic. These won’t bend under the stress of turning, providing you with a little more control. Then there are larger replacement rudders that will give you additional control. These are usually built similar to the stock rudder but have a few more inches in length to provide better tracking and steerage.
The first kayak that I bought had a stock rudder and steering mechanism. After a couple of years I replaced the stock rudder with an aftermarket rudder made by Boonedox. Although the replacement rudder was still a horizontal rudder it is made of aluminum, and it extends further beyond the transom of the boat. This additional length provides a bit more control in steering and tracking, so the replacement did what I wanted and it benefited me.
My second kayak came with a drop-down rudder, a rudder you can run as a conventional type of horizontal rudder or drop down vertically. Dropping the rudder down provides better steering and tracking. Running the rudder in the horizontal position helps prevent fouling or running aground when encountering heavily weeded or shallow water.
Upgrading a rudder is an easy process, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. It may be as simple as removing a few screws and swapping the rudders out, but if you have to install and attach new control cables the job is a bit more involved. You can find aftermarket rudders designed specifically for most of the major brand kayaks like Hobie, Native Watercraft, Old Town, etc., and there are also some designed to accept electric motors or to match with steering upgrades. Upgrades can cost as little as $29 to well over $300. A quick search on Google will take you to numerous options, or to gain some insight into which might work best for you and your needs, talk with your local dealer. He or she will usually be very familiar with the kayak models they sell and what upgrades work best with them. And if they don’t steer you wrong, there’s probably a rudder upgrade in your future.
See you on the water, and remember that a cast not taken is a fish not caught. So, take that cast!
-By Eric Packard