Wild Turkey Paddlers

I'm having problems with my skeg, and I suspect that the problem is behind the controls. So I got in there today and was a little shocked by what I saw. I simply can't believe that they make the kayaks like this, but I really don't know. From what I can tell, the cable and assembly appear to be permanently fiberglassed and sealed to the hull of the boat.

Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Or was it done by the previous owner?

Before I started, it was covered with some thin foam that was glued to the hull interior. I scraped as much away as I could.

This could explain why I got it for such a good price.

Hey Pat,
I just checked my Cetus and the skeg control is glassed in like yours but there is a plastic tube coming out of the back with the skeg cord inside. Mine is a cord, not a metal cable. You could email the Kayak Centre of Rhode Island, Wickford.
http://www.kayakcentre.com/
They used to have Impex kayaks
Briggsy

When you say "the back", are you referring to the area close to the skeg itself? If it's glassed in, how do they possibly fix issues up there near the control?

On my NDK the control and cable in a tube is glassed back to the rear cockpit bulked. In the day and rear compartments it is just the cable in the sleeve.

Ok, so maybe this wasn't done by the previous owner.

I meant the skeg control slider is glassed in and at the rear of that slider assembly is a plastic tube protuding from the glass and the skeg cord is in that tube. I am assuming that with a solid wire skeg control cable you would probably need something more substantial than a thin plastic tube. I have never done any work on the skeg control box but if it was me I'd use a dremel tool or similar to cut it out.
Briggsy

Pat, I had a kink in my control cable and replaced it last year. It was an easy job. you can borrow my wire cable cutters if needed.

I'd like to say that I fixed it, but I believe that "fix" is too strong a word. Let's just say that it's operable again. It's still stiff, and this was causing a section of the cable to buckle. I duct taped that into place, and now I'm back in business.

One thing though is that I have to replace the foam that I scraped away in an attempt to get at the cable controls. Where can I get this, and what is it called? It's about 1/4" thick (maybe less).

pat wrote:I'd like to say that I fixed it, but I believe that "fix" is too strong a word. Let's just say that it's operable again. It's still stiff, and this was causing a section of the cable to buckle. I duct taped that into place, and now I'm back in business.

One thing though is that I have to replace the foam that I scraped away in an attempt to get at the cable controls. Where can I get this, and what is it called? It's about 1/4" thick (maybe less).

What size piece do you need ???
Briggsy

The piece that I scraped away was approximately 6" by maybe 15". I'll have to re-measure.

I have some small scraps but nothing near that large. Maybe the whitewater folks can get you some, they're more likely to be "outfitting" boats.
Briggsy