stabilizers
try this link -
keywestpaddlesports.com. Large stabilizers, but they do have the benefit of being inexpensive as these things go - @100.00.
based on that . . .
– Last Updated: Mar-24-06 5:44 PM EST –
Looking at their illustration, I wonder if cooldoctor could just use an I-shaped pvc pipe rig secured somewhere behind the cockpit, with pool noodles over the two ends of the I.
The cross piece would be a straight piece of pvc pipe with a T fitting on each end. A short piece of pvc pipe, plugged on each end, would be glued into each end of the T. The pool noodle would go over those pieces. If the T shape would put the noodles in the way of his stroke, he'd have to go with an elbow and run the pieces back. If he went with that option, he'd have to put a T in the middle of the rig and run a short pice of pipe forward to keep the rig from rotating.
It's been a while since I've been in a Barracuda, but I think something like that might work. It would be out of the water under normal paddling conditions, but would provide some support if he started to go over.
Just one air tank is required…
– Last Updated: Mar-25-06 1:36 AM EST –
for submersion (opps fixed.) But lead weights are needed for sinking. Plus a BCD for floating. Plus a regulator for breathing. Plus mask for seeing and fins for swimming. Plus a really big pointy knife, for fending off great white sharks. Plus a dive camera for documenting my conquest of same. Wait, this is getting to be a lot of gear, almost as much as I need for Kayaking.
I think I'll just go for a walk around the block.
:Don
tippy kayak
– Last Updated: Mar-24-06 8:26 PM EST –
I think a tippy kayak is one that is not paddled very much.
Start paddling cooldoctor!
then paddle some more.
"You don't need no stinkin sponsons..."
just like a bicycle or a horse..gotta get right back in (or on in the case of bicycle and horse)
If it's cold then you will remember that and not want to fall back in making you concentrate on keeping yourself upright and before you know it it is no longer an issue.
hehehe
Paul
I had that problem…
…at first. I solved it with a rudder. The
rudder was kind of like training wheels!
After I got used to the boat, I no longer use
it.
Try this…
Drill a hole in the bottom of the hull, then put a lag-bolt through that into the handle of a sledge hammer–hanging straight down.
That sucker won’t flip over then.
If I remember correctly
from another thread, cooldoctor1 already has a hole drilled through the hull. something about a drain plug or something if I recall. should be simple to hang the sledgehammer then…
Paul
Pool noodle
– Last Updated: Mar-24-06 11:02 PM EST –
Get a large round pool noodle and slice it in half lengthwise. Angle cut the ends to reduce drag and double face tape it to the sides of your kayak above the waterline. If you tip the foam will supply extra bouyancy. Cheap and readily removable. Kinda like training wheels. They do this on canoes so it should work on kayaks.
Wow, thanks for so many great ideas.
– Last Updated: Mar-25-06 12:17 AM EST –
I knew you'd all have good ideas for me. Ditch the "steenkin sponsons" seems to be the call (I don't own any yet, thankfully). I can see from the Sea Kayaker 2003 review of the Prijon Barracuda, even the testers said the kayak had much improved stability with an extra 40 lbs in it, like schizopak and others mention. So that is a must try. And the lower seat idea I am considering, but it seems pretty low in there now. It would be nice to make a stabilizer out of pool noodles and PVC, if necessary... hmm. And rroberts, I did buy the rudder as you suggested, just waiting for a warm day to work in my yard to put it on. And of course there is always learning to paddle the boat and getting seat time.
The reason this question came up for me is that I did a nice long 4+ hour paddle a week ago in my 25 inch beamed Calabria, and although I loved every minute of it and obviously felt very stable, I did not feel that I was going as fast as I could in the narrower beamed boat and thus did not get to the outermost reaches of the area that I was paddling. Several large freshwater lakes near me of 5000-11000 acre size, so I would like the efficiency. Just not looking forward to a winter dunk, and would even consider bringing my camera and things if i knew I'd be dunkless. The question, and your replies, are my effort to have this peace of mind in the winter waters.
I'm rereading your answers now and appreciate them greatly.
lowering the seat
I’d suggest holding off on lowering the seat until you get some time in the boat. It feels pretty tender at first, but it doesn’t take very many outings to get used to it. I think by my third or fourth time out I was feeling pretty happy with the boat.
kayaking 202…outgunning your peers
Your previous worry won’t be much of issue with sponsons on your kayak.
Excellent point
I can see it now…pool noodle outriggers and the sweet strutter white water helmet.
Very good point Jill.
K.I.S.S., easy, and cheap!
Use small pool noodles. Strap them on with flat straps. Mount them high as a safety, confidence builder. If you mount them low you will depend on them too much, not be learning to balance your hull as you should be, and might as well switch to a John Boat…
My first reaction was you do not need them and should not be using a crutch like floats. But then most all of us did use training wheels of some sort at one time. You were quite brave to post a sponson question on this site! ;^)
Happy Paddl’n!
:^)
Mick
The hardest part…
…about putting the rudder in was getting the
nerve to drill the hole.
we’ve all been there…
Heck just a couple years ago, I was on P-net asking about sponsons as well. It took me a couple months to feel comfortable paddling my then Perception Sonoma 13.5 without fear of capsize. Once you develop better balance and control, it’s no longer a concern but I defintely remember when going out in 1-2 foot swells meant whiteknuckling my paddle as I dangerously teetered side to side.
confusion
Ok… I am getting really confused here. I like the sledgehammer idea… it is basically a heavy duty skeglike device- I could even see putting a rope on it so it is retractable in calmer seas. The others say get a rudder put on… it acts much like training wheels. That sounds good to me- I have them on my bike as well.
so which is better? the rudder or the skeg? Are there any opinions on this anywhere?
Would he be twice as seaworthy if he did both?
thanks
badjer
I am curious…
Why would you want to paddle in a “tippy” kayak even if the water temperature was 80 degrees?
Cheers,
JackL
No angst, no gain
– Last Updated: Mar-25-06 11:27 AM EST –
I can easily see paddling a boat that seems a little challenging at first. I've owned two boats that had way less primary stability than I had been accustomed to before, but because they had such great secondary I figured I could work it out. And I have been very happy to have gotten each of those boats - they not only taught me a lot but turned out to be a ton of fun as well.
That said, I can see his point. I have some uncertainty about how well I'd do if I were to capsize in 35 degree water without face mask and nose plugs. Even with a drysuit and neo hood(s), my face is usually exposed while paddling. Hopefully I'd react real fast and hit a brace or a scull before I had to worry about cold water shock, but until it happens I don't know. I've sculled full over in that stuff, but haven't done a full roll in less than the low 40's yet. (I am a wus.)
The best advice may be to just keep working sculling and bracing until they are thoughtless. The best test I have of what could happen in really cold water is going over in a pool without my noseplugs, and so far I have the fastest brace in the west the moment I realize I am about to get a snootful of chorinataed H2O.
Yes, celia pretty much has my sentiment.
– Last Updated: Mar-25-06 12:13 PM EST –
I have heard of others... and is this true of any of you?... that tend to put away their high performance, aka "tippy", boats for the winter and paddle something with more primary stablity but much less efficiency. Even experienced kayakers, I read about on pnet and books like Deep Trouble, occasionally are overcome by unexpected waves or chop and capsize (heck, even that boat of senior citizens suffered an unfortunate capsize on Lake George this past summer, and that ain't nothin' like my 21 inch Barracuda).
Even if I develop a bombproof roll (I will try this summer, schizopak), do I really want to take that off chance of dunking -- even with a successful roll-- when I go out and the air temp is 35F and the water temp is close to that. I think, regardless of gear, I'd roll back up and then freeze my *ss off -- if not die --- because I am two hours from my vehicle. Would be nice to still use the performance kayak, but have that little extra insurance (that only "pool noodles" could get me, maybe like mcfleet says? Maybe yes).
This post is looking for the "insurance", and you all have great ideas.
I don’t. I paddle…
…my Barracuda all year long as long as the
lake isn’t frozen over.
(I didn’t this winter because I was down for
parts with shulder surgery.)
If it’s REAL cold, I stay close enough to the
shore to get a bottom brace and I paddle only
in single digit winds.