Kayak Ballast Weight - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Phaen · 07-05-2013, 06:31 PM

Are any of you fishing solo from a tandem yak? I have a tandem Hobie Outfitter and am comfortable in it by myself cruisin around the bay but curious as to how it reacts trying to break through the surf and in the swells. I am wondering how much weight is needed in the front to balance it out enough to perform somewhat normal?

I was thinking of putting a 5 gallon camp shower bag up in the front cockpit. Filled that will weigh around 42lbs. Looking for any pointers or ideas.

Thanks
Phaen

WildernessWanker · 07-05-2013, 09:05 PM

I'm wondering the same thing myself. I have a tandem Tarpon that I can ride in the middle solo, but then my gear is so far in the back. I would think it advantageous to ride in the back, but it's slower and doesn't feel like it handles as smoothly. Is it preference or is there a correct way to go about it?

FishNinjaY · 07-05-2013, 09:23 PM

there's been other post here also about this topic.. no clear "right" answer. Some people sit up front. I was thinking of trying this on my Hobie Oasis. The only issue is the rod holders, and my current fishfinder config. I was thinking of sitting up front, and having my bait tank on the floor in back, right above the rear mirage drive hole. I'll drop the inflow tubing down that hole.

Likewise, if I decide to stay in the rear seat, which is what I'm most used to when I kayak with my son, I'm considering putting my bait tank in the front seat for ballast. My tank can hold up to 8 gal, which is almost 72lbs! That'd be plenty of ballast up front. I would have it facing back, so I would reach forward to get bait out of the tank.

I'd also like to hear people's thoughts and advice on this. Right now, when I go solo in the back, with the bait tank behind me, my bow is way up and there's a ton of hull slap. I usually decrease my bait tank to about 4-5gals just to lessen the weight and the water sloshing around back there.

maui jim · 07-06-2013, 07:49 AM

I fish in a Cobra tandem, and have for ever, all I have ever know.
Its a very stable platform, but to each there own,
:cool

Phaen · 07-06-2013, 08:33 AM

Do you use any type of weight in the front Jim?

easyday · 07-06-2013, 07:22 PM

When I had my cobra tandem thats exactly where I had my seat and it was stable no ballast needed.

Cabbron · 07-06-2013, 09:54 PM

I have a hobie oasis and what I do is take an empty four gallon ice chest. If the wind and swell picks up I fill it with sea water and put it as far forward as I can. That really seems to help. I wouldn't want to use anything that's not easy to fill and empty quickly. I haven't tried it with my live well but I think I'll just set it to not fill as high as usual. Besides, it would only really be an issue on long moves when you pick up speed, not while fishing. I wouldn't really need it at all but I like to move fast through the white caps on the way back in, it's kinda fun.

FishNinjaY · 07-06-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabbron

I have a hobie oasis and what I do is take an empty four gallon ice chest. If the wind and swell picks up I fill it with sea water and put it as far forward as I can. That really seems to help. I wouldn't want to use anything that's not easy to fill and empty quickly. I haven't tried it with my live well but I think I'll just set it to not fill as high as usual. Besides, it would only really be an issue on long moves when you pick up speed, not while fishing. I wouldn't really need it at all but I like to move fast through the white caps on the way back in, it's kinda fun.

Welcome to BWE Cabbron!

That's a great idea! And, the ice chest would also be handy if you catch a lot of fish for ballast. I've also heard some people keep a large dry bag, that they can fill with a few gals of sea water quickly for ballast. That might be easier to pack and deploy if needed, like in the wind/swell situation you described.

Cabbron · 07-07-2013, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishNinjaY

Welcome to BWE Cabbron!

That's a great idea! And, the ice chest would also be handy if you catch a lot of fish for ballast. I've also heard some people keep a large dry bag, that they can fill with a few gals of sea water quickly for ballast. That might be easier to pack and deploy if needed, like in the wind/swell situation you described.

Hey man, thanks!

Yeah, that would be better because a bag would mold itself nicely to the bottom and your center of gravity would be even lower. I have been known to keep a few celebratory alcoholic beverages in that cooler which were eventually replaced with fish!

maui jim · 07-07-2013, 07:54 AM

No ballast ever needed. With all the gear an such,, plus your fish will need some room below, :-)

YakMedic · 07-07-2013, 08:52 PM

My dad also has an outfitter, I took him out last week for his first time solo and we found out a ballast is needed. Its an older outfitter and the rudder can only be controlled from the rear seat I'm not sure if it is different on the newer boats. While sitting in the rear seat the kayak was not on plane, we pulled on to the shoreline of the lake and threw a chunk of granite into the front seat and it made all the difference.

He now has a couple of filled sand bags he plans on throwing in the front seat the next time he uses it solo.

steveooo · 07-07-2013, 09:12 PM

On my Hobie Oasis, I filled the extra mirage drive plug with lead shot. Worked good to balance the kayak out.

I lost that one day and started just throwing a dry-bag filled with water up in the front. That worked a little bit better, because if I got a nice fish, I could just empty out the dry bag and toss the fish up front.

One thing I did like, was having no ballast up front during surf landings. Having the bow that high in the air made it nearly impossible to flip the yak in the surf on the way in.

07-05-2013, 06:31 PM	#1
Phaen Junior Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 22	Kayak Ballast Weight Are any of you fishing solo from a tandem yak? I have a tandem Hobie Outfitter and am comfortable in it by myself cruisin around the bay but curious as to how it reacts trying to break through the surf and in the swells. I am wondering how much weight is needed in the front to balance it out enough to perform somewhat normal? I was thinking of putting a 5 gallon camp shower bag up in the front cockpit. Filled that will weigh around 42lbs. Looking for any pointers or ideas. Thanks Phaen

07-06-2013, 07:22 PM	#6
easyday Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,470	When I had my cobra tandem thats exactly where I had my seat and it was stable no ballast needed. __________________

07-07-2013, 07:54 AM	#10
maui jim Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cypress, CA Posts: 789	No ballast ever needed. With all the gear an such,, plus your fish will need some room below, :-) __________________

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07-05-2013, 09:05 PM	#2
WildernessWanker WildernessWanker Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 345	I'm wondering the same thing myself. I have a tandem Tarpon that I can ride in the middle solo, but then my gear is so far in the back. I would think it advantageous to ride in the back, but it's slower and doesn't feel like it handles as smoothly. Is it preference or is there a correct way to go about it?

07-05-2013, 09:23 PM	#3
FishNinjaY Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 428	there's been other post here also about this topic.. no clear "right" answer. Some people sit up front. I was thinking of trying this on my Hobie Oasis. The only issue is the rod holders, and my current fishfinder config. I was thinking of sitting up front, and having my bait tank on the floor in back, right above the rear mirage drive hole. I'll drop the inflow tubing down that hole. Likewise, if I decide to stay in the rear seat, which is what I'm most used to when I kayak with my son, I'm considering putting my bait tank in the front seat for ballast. My tank can hold up to 8 gal, which is almost 72lbs! That'd be plenty of ballast up front. I would have it facing back, so I would reach forward to get bait out of the tank. I'd also like to hear people's thoughts and advice on this. Right now, when I go solo in the back, with the bait tank behind me, my bow is way up and there's a ton of hull slap. I usually decrease my bait tank to about 4-5gals just to lessen the weight and the water sloshing around back there.

07-06-2013, 08:33 AM	#5
Phaen Junior Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 22	Do you use any type of weight in the front Jim?

07-06-2013, 09:54 PM	#7
Cabbron Junior Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 2	I have a hobie oasis and what I do is take an empty four gallon ice chest. If the wind and swell picks up I fill it with sea water and put it as far forward as I can. That really seems to help. I wouldn't want to use anything that's not easy to fill and empty quickly. I haven't tried it with my live well but I think I'll just set it to not fill as high as usual. Besides, it would only really be an issue on long moves when you pick up speed, not while fishing. I wouldn't really need it at all but I like to move fast through the white caps on the way back in, it's kinda fun.

07-07-2013, 08:52 PM	#11
YakMedic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wrightwood Posts: 623	My dad also has an outfitter, I took him out last week for his first time solo and we found out a ballast is needed. Its an older outfitter and the rudder can only be controlled from the rear seat I'm not sure if it is different on the newer boats. While sitting in the rear seat the kayak was not on plane, we pulled on to the shoreline of the lake and threw a chunk of granite into the front seat and it made all the difference. He now has a couple of filled sand bags he plans on throwing in the front seat the next time he uses it solo.

07-07-2013, 09:12 PM	#12
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	On my Hobie Oasis, I filled the extra mirage drive plug with lead shot. Worked good to balance the kayak out. I lost that one day and started just throwing a dry-bag filled with water up in the front. That worked a little bit better, because if I got a nice fish, I could just empty out the dry bag and toss the fish up front. One thing I did like, was having no ballast up front during surf landings. Having the bow that high in the air made it nearly impossible to flip the yak in the surf on the way in.