Debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City in early August,  epic kayaks launched a prototype of the new rudder for the epic 16x and epic 18x / 18x sport:

(Given that this is a prototype the finishing details are not perfect; they will be when the rudder is in production.)

The new version doesn’t have a small fixed fin protruding from the rudder. This was a hindrance on landing and launching, especially with a fully loaded boat. Now the rudder can be locked on place so that paddling (or launching) backwards is easy to do

Only when the paddler unlocks the rudder from the cockpit, it can be moved fully from side to side.

This is what it looks like when it’s released.

(Rumors said the pivoting stern piece will be possible to be locked as well when the scondary rudder is fully down, to have a British style "skeg only" option…but these were just rumors 🙂  )

This May I paddled the epic 18x with the new rudder system from the island of Molokai to Oahu — a 32-mile rough water crossing in a race popularly known as Molokai . I was quite pleased with its performance.

This new nifty rudder system is scheduled to be available early in 2009 and can be purchased separately and installed on your current 18x.

I’ll paddle a modified expedition version of the epic 18x sport in my "Race around Australia 2009" expedition. Details of the complete new boat will soon be posted! Please stay tuned!