Kayak camouflage...

Happen to run across this video where they talked about redesigning the appearance of the wetsuit for a more stealthy look against sharks.  Has anyone considered adding zebra stripes across the bottom of their hull to create the same affect?

One of our member designed his kayak with graphics below resembles the same pattern. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to deter the shark.

Yeah there's a great picture of the kayak with bite marks across the bottom stripes...

Here's another video I saw regarding testing of the Shark Shield freedom 7 and a new application for surfboards.  It is from 2018 so don't know the current status.  In the video they also discuss the effectiveness of camouflaged designs and striped surf boards and wetsuits.

My friend Marc has the stripes running down his stealth.  He is confident with it as a deterrent and is a long journey Monterey bay kayaker.  His kayak is also 18.5 long so the size and shape does not fit the profile of being prey. 

 

MythBusters time 

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2516.msg134064.html#msg134064

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=31604.0

I remember this one..... that was a story and a half...

This topic has been discussed for several years at this point, and most people seem to agree (from my fuzzy memory) that a shark seeing a silhouette from down below cannot see the patterns.  And if it's already in a missile attack mode, your strips wont do anything to deter it.  On a drive by, maybe it's useful in convincing a shark that your kayak is not food.  But they aren't reasonable, they are instinctual animals, with big stomachs to fill.