Hello and how straight should the PA track?

Hello all, new to the forum though have been using a lot for information as I bought myself a second hand PA14!

Having now had the kayak for a month or so and having had a good number of trips on the water I wanted to ask about the rudder here and how the boat should handle when the hand is not on the rudder control to actively steer.

So the yak seems to handle fine when actively steering, but the moment the hand comes off it will track off in another direction almost instantly. I havent noticed if it is tracking in any particular direction, and is especially noticeable if I am trying to pull in a lure for weed etc, or if I have a fish on (although I expect it is normal for a fish to pull the boat about a bit).

Just checking in to see if this is normal or not. I do not typically use the skeg, and at the times I have, it hasnt really made much difference (at least that I have noticed). The yak doesnt seem to track straight even without lures in the water, for instance if I am trying to make a bee-line for an area and want to peddle and use two hands for something, the boat will definitely turn and not stay on a straight line. 

Thanks in advance!

Hand not on the rudder control causes wandering and this is normal.

I am surprised deploying the skeg does not help tracking as that's why Hobie made the change.

My 2013 PA-14 does not have a skeg and I down rig fish 90% of the time. Until I installed the sailing rudder, I had trouble keeping on track.

You can also check the rudder centering by placing the hull on sawhorses. If the rudder handle is not quire right, uncover the rudder housing and adjust the spectra lines. Hobie has a detailed set of instructions to accomplish this starting on page 28 below.
https://media.hobie.com/digital_assets/ ... 140429.pdf

Are you using the rudder BOA to take slop out of the rudder lines when the hull is cool and then loosing it when the hull warms up and expands?
Also, make sure the skeg is fully deployed while you are at it.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Tighten up the left and right rudder lines. The looser they are the more likely it is the steering will stray when your hand isn't on the steering handle. New Pro Anglers have Boa steering line adjustment, which counters this nicely.

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Kayak Fishing Specialist: SLH
https://slhobie.com.au

The rudder BOA on PA's was introduced with the 2014 model.

_________________
Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR