Hobie Kayak Owners: Pros and Cons

[buddha]

Question for the PA users.

If you flip the kayak how easy is it to bring it right side up?

[ful-rac]

Originally Posted by buddha

Question for the PA users.

If you flip the kayak how easy is it to bring it right side up?

Thankfully it's pretty difficult to flip a PA, I can say that I never have, at least in open water. I have practiced flipping my PA over and then tried righting it, and it was pretty easy with the help of my bow line I always have tied to the front.

The bow line is just looped around the front handle, and in the event of an open water capsize, I would just unloop the handle from the front and loop it around the side handles, flip the rope around to the other side and flip the PA back over.

[Raskal311]

Originally Posted by ful-rac

Thankfully it's pretty difficult to flip a PA, I can say that I never have, at least in open water. I have practiced flipping my PA over and then tried righting it, and it was pretty easy with the help of my bow line I always have tied to the front.

The bow line is just looped around the front handle, and in the event of an open water capsize, I would just unloop the handle from the front and loop it around the side handles, flip the rope around to the other side and flip the PA back over.

That's a dam good ideal... I think ill do that too!

[svendawg]

Originally Posted by buddha

Question for the PA users.

If you flip the kayak how easy is it to bring it right side up?

Once you turn over in your PA it is very difficult to flip it upright if you have all of your gear, without a line like Ful Rac mentioned. I have a dedicated line tucked in the web pocket below the side handle on my PA.
I used a 6" piece of 1/2 PVC to make a handle. The other end stays looped/tied on the handle so it readily available when need. I used 700 lbs para cord for cord because it rolls up nicely around the PVC handle and easily fits in the pocket under the handle without sticking out. This is so compact I never have to remove it, even when transporting it on top of my SUV.
So if I flip I know exacatly where the line is, it's already attached. Just pull it out and throw it over the PA, get on the other side a flip it back over.
This is just my version of what others have already done using different materials.