I guess you can't really go wrong with the rudder deployment system on the Sea Wind. A small rope in a jam cleat that holds the rudder up, when you release it, the rudder falls down into the water, and if you hit anything, it will simply kick the rudder up, and it will fall back down when it has passed over the obstacle. If you wanted a positive deployment setup I know Necky kayaks had a loop of rope and a jam cleat, you would pull one side of the loop to deploy and one side to raise the rudder. I prefer the Sea Wind method, the Necky rudders don't "give" when they hit something.

The Seal Line rudders on the QCC kayaks employ a coil spring to deploy the rudder, and hold it in the water, and a rope and cleat to raise it. I still think the Sea Wind rudder is better, I have got fine mud and silt in my Seal Line rudder that has prevented it from lowering.

Pete,

I built my own rudder. The down/up haul rotates around the top of the rudder blade. I used Parachute cord. The cord is a continuous loop with an inexpensive jam cleat and deck loop by the cockpit. On the Downhaul side I formed two slip not loops ~ one foot apart. In between the two loops I tied a bungee cord. When I lock the rudder in the down position the bungee acts as a shock absorber allowing the rudder to kick up if I run into something but keeps enough pressure on the blade to keep it from pivoting underway...

Paul