Ownership

In other kayaking news, I need to repair my boat.

It's nothing catastrophic. The boat is still seaworthy. Basically there is a cable I am going to have to replace in order to control the skeg.

A skeg is a retractable find that drops down in the back of the boat. In strong winds or currents, it helps keep the boat straight. A sliding lever to the left of the cockpit allows me to raise and lower it while under way. The lever pushes and pulls a steel cable that adjusts the position of the skeg. Fully extended, it does about eight inches out of the boat.

It really makes a difference in controlling the boat, and I used it extensively in my trips over the weekend. But, sure enough, I broke it. I left the skeg in the down position when I brought it out of the water at one point. The skeg got pushed back into the boat, crimping the cable. I can't retract it fully into the boat; it only comes about three quarters of the way in.

Like I said, not catastrophic. It's in enough that I'm not going to break it any further, but I am careful about handling it on a hard surface. From what I've learned, I have to replace the entire cable. That will be an adventure - but something new to learn, which is always, in the long term, a good thing.