What is a drop-down skeg on a kayak?

Question

What is a drop-down skeg on a kayak?

Answer 1

It refers to a rudder that you can raise and lower using lines from the cockpit.

Answer 2

A rudder and a skeg are two different things.

While both are intended to help you control the direction of your boat, the rudder can actually be turned and will actually cause the BOAT to turn.  The skeg cannot be turned, and therefore can only help to keep you tracking in whatever direction you point the bow of the boat.    

A skeg is like the centerboard on a small sailboat - and a drop down skeg can be deployed or retracted, depending on whether you need it.  Some are at the rear of the boat and are externally mounted, some are internal, and drop down from a slot in the bottom of the hull.

Rudders are often used as steering wheels - and instead of using good paddling technique to turn the boat, the paddler relies on them to do the job for them.  In reality both rudder and skeg are intended to help you with "tracking."  The paddler is supposed to be the one doing the actual turning via edging and proper stroke technique.

This might help explain:

http://www.kayakshops.com/waterwalker_ar...

http://www.rutabaga.com/page.asp?pgid=13...