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

easyday · 07-06-2013, 06:22 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, 08:54 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, 09:03 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, 03:40 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, 06:54 AM

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

YakMedic · 07-07-2013, 07:52 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, 08:12 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.

07-06-2013, 06:22 PM	#1
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, 06:54 AM	#5
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, :-) __________________

07-06-2013, 08:54 PM	#2
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, 07:52 PM	#6
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, 08:12 PM	#7
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,922	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.