kayak in swells

Hi fellow kayakers,

I have an OK prowler 15.  After a morning of fishing out of santa cruz, I am usually returning with the wind and swell, often times with the swells starting to break.  My problem is as the swell picks up the stern and starts to push it to one side and the bow wants to perl.  It makes for some pretty scary rides back to the harbor.  Is it because the 15 ft kayak is too long, would a shorter kayak such as the FND work better? or is there another solution?
Thanks!
Rich

The breaking swell is most likely just white caps. I've paddled my p15 in pretty bad stuff off SC too so I know what your talkin about.   Get a rudder or make the propper paddle strokes to adjust your boats position as it gets pushed.  I've never had a rudder so I had to paddle deeper to one side to keep straight.  The pearling, lean back and just punch through it.  Sometimes the best exit strategy is to just paddle into the protection of the bay and take the scenic route back to the harbor.  Can't comment on the shorter boat. 

Hi Rich,
I paddle a tarpon 140, so its similar in length to your 15' prowler. I think agarcia's comment is good advice. I'd add using the paddle to slow your forward progress in time with the swell as another trick.  As the swell lifts the kayak, drag your paddle and the swell should pass beneath you without the pearling effect. It's really a question of swell and kayak speed. Leaning back is the another way to avoid pearling, as it changes the weight distribution to the rear, dragging the kayak and slowing it while lightening the bow and allowing it to rise. All this does slow your forward progress, but steep swells and wind can make kayak handling tough.
-Sean

Thanks for the tips on handling the swells.  All of them make sense and I will try them next time I'm on the water.
Rich

I've owned the p15 for 3 years now and have fished all over Northen California; Ocean, River, Lakes and the SF Bay.  My experience with the p15 is that it handles all types of conditions fairly well.  Like these guys have said,  when you have a swell coming under you, you want to back paddle to get off it.  These p15's are not designed to surf swells or waves.  They will have a tendancy to lean to one side and if on a wave, game over. If you paddle in at an angle to the swells/waves this will also help with the bow wanting to perl.  Practice your technique on the water and you will find out more about what the p15 can handle.  Other than a wet seat,  I've been very happy with this kayak.

John