added boyancy question

[fishyyak]

if yaks sink when the hull is full of water,why are they sold to us in shops with no added internal boyancy???

[ZEBRA]

i have filled 2 different kayaks with water and both sank was only in knee deep water but 4 of us could not lift it when full to empty it .

[BUDDY]

They shouldnt fill with water. Even when you capsize the hatches should be closed so in theory there is nowhere for water to get in.
Some kayaks take in a slight ammount but even out in a choppy sea i have never had more than abour 1/2 pint of water to drain out.
One test to do if your yak takes on water is to remove the hatches and fill it with water. If it leaks it will be a gasket or rivits on the fittings.

[fishyyak]

thanks guys.

[[adb1256-DAVE]]

Hi FY I have just fitted a car inner tube inside my Tarpon 16 directly under the seat this also acts as a restraint for the centre hatch, the tube encircles the opening, place and inflate ......i have a couple of smaller tubes to fit, which need repairing, as i got them from a local Tyre Fitting Bay........i was going to fit these vertically inside then inflate so to create a bulkhead [using a little silicone sealant ] will make a water tight dry store......Dave

[BUDDY]

Dont inflate the tubes vertically as the pressure top and bottom of the yak could distort or permanantly damage the hull.

[sarge]

I have a number of inflated bags from old wine boxes inside my yak just in case I get flooded.

It's a great excuse to get the vino finished !

"It's for my safety dear"

[manxkipper]

Hi guys, Just to add to this. I have purchased 6 pool noodles "the long thin high density foam sausages used to help kids swim" only a couple of quid each and they are extremely buoyant. They fit snugly down the sides of my X factor between the scupper holes and the hull. Could fit 4 or 5 each side. I picked the idea up from a Yank yak site. You don't lose any storage space as you probably wouldn't use this area anyway. They are also useful for making home-made buoys/ floats for drogues etc .....

[izzetafox]

If you use bottled water then get the 5ltr bottles and when empty just slip them through the bow hatch and push them down the cavity, cost nothing and as you fill it up you are creating extra floatation at no cost at all

[snakey]

your not creating any extra flotation at all. maximum flotation is when your hull is full of air ,not plastic bottles

[BUDDY]

Hi
Full bottles sink. Empty bottles(sealed) will float.
If the hull is full of something boyant and a hatch leaks or your kayak gets a hole on it, be it bottles or air bags or any other boyancy aid it will stop the hull filling with water and stop it sinking.
Without boyancy in it, it will eventually fill and sink.
Steve

[izzetafox]

As buddy says .....hull has extra air in sealed containers which cannot be replaced by water.
i.e. hull capacity is say 200 litres, no bottles 200 litres of water can enter it.
hull contains 10 5 litre bottle of air it can only fill with15o litres of water.

Thus surely there is more floatation/bouyancy?