Well, I look at every mod as a stepping stone to the next mod.
Unfortunately, I cannot see exactly what is happening behind me. However, my feeling, given the increased directional assistance from the rudder..... is.... that it is doing its job just fine. The cutting board is heavy. It certainly could have some lead weights added to bring it down even further, but, for my purposes...I won't be doing that until I feel it isn't efficient enough.
I have some sailing experience and recognize that, at speed, a rudder will want to lift up. My paddling doesn't add much speed. Ha Ha
A few things that don't show...may address a some of your issues. I have rigged up two balancing bungees that keep the skeg/rudder in a straight position, and the bungees are over-come by my pulley system, when needed.
The pulley system, which could be pedal powered easily enough, consists of two lines that pull sideways on the aluminum. They give me directional control. They terminate in two stoppers at the helm...whoops, I mean my seat.
My perceived need, other than the straightening effect of the "skeg"..... is to be able to set a shore-line drift with sufficient compensation to overcome any slight wind-driven variances.
This evening, I took her out and was able to shore-line drift, about twenty feet out,...the entire length of my little 8 acre lake. An occasional pull on the starboard or port lines adjusted the drift. I caught a half dozen bass and missed an equal number more.
When the wind was abaft the beam...whooops, ....sideways,..... I had to give up trying to fish and paddle like H$$$.
My needs are simple. My approach is, I think, simple. I don't worry about "wearing out the lines due to lack of roller bearings." I do have pulleys at all direction-changing points. I won't live long enough to wear out any lines on this yak. If I did, I'd just replace them before any issues arose.
I am always willing to change and modify. In fact, my long-suffering wife (who is off on a cruise! ) says "I never found ANYTHING that was designed properly" when I bought it.
Just a tinkerer at heart, I am!
Ha Ha Keep in touch. Regards, rich