Stability questions - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 03-14-2012, 10:20 AM

There are marine engeneer's publications discussing primary and secondary stability. Kayaks follow these rules as well. Some yaks feel tippy but will recover. Like the old weebles, maybe your not that old, they woble but will not fall over. Other yaks are super stable and resist tipping but have a sort of break point after which they will not recover. Each has it's strengths. You might want to hit a pool or bay with no gear and tip your kayak too see and feel where the recover and point of no return are. And like Jimmyz123 said, being centered on the kayak is vital. Be deliberate in your motions. When you turn to get some thing behind you keep your head, shoulders, and spine straight over your hips. If you do feel tippy theres nothing wrong with bending forward and lowering your center of gravity, or even putting one leg out each side of the kayak to help you ballance. I do this some times when it's rough and I need to look down for a while to tie a knot or unhook a fish. Mike

Jimmyz123 · 03-14-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

or even putting one leg out each side of the kayak to help you ballance. I do this some times when it's rough and I need to look down for a while to tie a knot or unhook a fish. Mike

That right there is a great way to increase your stability. Like I said before it's like sitting on a Surfboard or boogie board. You learn to shift your weight to roll with the waves and not roll under them. Obviously when paddling out you're not going to do this, but when bobbing around on the water I'll put my legs out just for the heck of it, not even for balance. Practice, Practice, Practice.

sdfishbagger · 03-14-2012, 09:18 PM

Thank you all for the encouraging words

Also thank you all for not rubbing me in nub sauce...LOL

Im going back out this Saturday if the weather doesnt really go crazy as planned =/ I do surf as well...Now I can see what you mean about being on one =) I guess the big difference is being afraid of getting wet.

Another thing that gave me a different feeling was the burning in my legs from peddling (even short distance). Im wondering if there is a certain posture to sit in to peddle it as intended...Or If I will be getting used to this too? Or should I take the turbo fins off and use the stock ones....

Rambo · 03-14-2012, 09:54 PM

I've had my fair share of tipping over by leaning too much. Then again the navigator is quite narrow and light. What I can suggest is learn your kayak, knows its capability by testing how far you can lean or twist your body with no gears on your kayak so you don't have to worry about gears lost.

bigbarrels · 03-14-2012, 11:08 PM

did someone say tippy?

I went from an XFActor to an X-13 and it felt way tippy at first but within a couple trips out I was use to it and it paddled like a dream.

Now on a Revo and it was an easy transition from X-13 to the REVO

Good luck getting use to your new ride and hopefully some sleigh rides are in your near future......the Revo feels plenty stable when hooked into a nice fish.

03-14-2012, 11:08 PM	#5
bigbarrels Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vista Posts: 1,111	did someone say tippy? I went from an XFActor to an X-13 and it felt way tippy at first but within a couple trips out I was use to it and it paddled like a dream. Now on a Revo and it was an easy transition from X-13 to the REVO Good luck getting use to your new ride and hopefully some sleigh rides are in your near future......the Revo feels plenty stable when hooked into a nice fish. __________________ The shorter you are, the bigger your fish appear

03-14-2012, 10:20 AM	#1
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	There are marine engeneer's publications discussing primary and secondary stability. Kayaks follow these rules as well. Some yaks feel tippy but will recover. Like the old weebles, maybe your not that old, they woble but will not fall over. Other yaks are super stable and resist tipping but have a sort of break point after which they will not recover. Each has it's strengths. You might want to hit a pool or bay with no gear and tip your kayak too see and feel where the recover and point of no return are. And like Jimmyz123 said, being centered on the kayak is vital. Be deliberate in your motions. When you turn to get some thing behind you keep your head, shoulders, and spine straight over your hips. If you do feel tippy theres nothing wrong with bending forward and lowering your center of gravity, or even putting one leg out each side of the kayak to help you ballance. I do this some times when it's rough and I need to look down for a while to tie a knot or unhook a fish. Mike

03-14-2012, 09:18 PM	#3
sdfishbagger Junior Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 23	Thank you all for the encouraging words Also thank you all for not rubbing me in nub sauce...LOL Im going back out this Saturday if the weather doesnt really go crazy as planned =/ I do surf as well...Now I can see what you mean about being on one =) I guess the big difference is being afraid of getting wet. Another thing that gave me a different feeling was the burning in my legs from peddling (even short distance). Im wondering if there is a certain posture to sit in to peddle it as intended...Or If I will be getting used to this too? Or should I take the turbo fins off and use the stock ones....

03-14-2012, 09:54 PM	#4
Rambo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Covina, CA Posts: 434	I've had my fair share of tipping over by leaning too much. Then again the navigator is quite narrow and light. What I can suggest is learn your kayak, knows its capability by testing how far you can lean or twist your body with no gears on your kayak so you don't have to worry about gears lost.