Pool noodles?

Inflatable bags can puncture... from hooks or TEETH

If a shark takes a bite, my hope is that it'll fill up on the noodles and go away. If it chomps down on a air bag, it's sure to still be hungry...

Shark hit?   Seriously, is there a significant sample size for this fear?  Yikes!

Yes.  In the NCKA "territory" of members about 1x/year

Wow, one per year is way more than I would have guessed.   Ok, pool noodles make sense.   I'm not a freshwater fisher at all, so the mussel factor not a factor.   Just squeeze in as many as will fit?

Inflatable bags can puncture... from hooks or TEETH

If a shark takes a bite, my hope is that it'll fill up on the noodles and go away. If it chomps down on a air bag, it's sure to still be hungry...

Shark hit?   Seriously, is there a significant sample size for this fear?  Yikes!

Yes.  In the NCKA "territory" of members about 1x/year

Wow, one per year is way more than I would have guessed.   Ok, pool noodles make sense.   I'm not a freshwater fisher at all, so the mussel factor not a factor.   Just squeeze in as many as will fit?

Basically

They weigh practically nothing, so shove a bunch in there.  Peace of mind = Priceless!  We have had a couple boats sink completely away from people before!

noodles are cheap..    im cheap..

+1  Usually found at the dollar store this time of year.

Just pulled the ones out of my X-Factor and washed them    They are still good, but i'm going to pickup another 20 to shove in there.  Seems I have stolen a few out of there over the last 4 years for other projects

I got one at the 99 cent store thing they were cheaper then a whole dollar.   Got rung out and he said its 1.99..  Hello "99c Store"..   I guess their theory is its still has "99" on the tag with other numbers before it..   Walmart also has them at 1.88 each..   

BTW I am on the fence about putting noodles inside my kayak.  Due to the cons mentioned above.. I have to lift my yak over my head to secure on the roof of my 4runner.. Given its 80lbs which dont seem heavy, but after a day of paddling and odd carrying handles it can get a bit heavy..   I was thinking pool noodles would retain water and make it heavier.

If I do spring a slight leak. I figure I would grab a glob of electrical duct that I use for my transducer and smear the hole somehow.  May not be the perfect plan, since I have not tested it.

They will trap condensation between them, not water absorption/weight.

Yeah, they are not sponges, they are closed cell foam.  They get moist, but so does the inside of the yak.  Pump out any water, and I doubt you can notice a difference.  For inspections, I use a different kayak 

Just squeeze in as many as will fit?

Somebody on the Hobie newsgroup did some research:

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=13583&view=previous

According to this, surprisingly little is needed to keep your kayak from sinking.

Most kayaks wont sink entirely due to air pockets getting trapped inside.  But if they have a hole to vent the air out of, say rudder lines, it's possible that it could sink.

Where is that video of Eric paddling around in his swamped kayak full of noodles?  That was some scientific $hit right there! 

Here's a first hand account of BloodBaths kayak sinking.  Having Pool noodles was highly recommended.
"The kayak flipped upside down and started to nose dive, no shit. I even asked Sledge if he ever seen a kayak sink, me neither."
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=33791.45

When my Revo was hit by a GWS, a boater towed it back to Capitola Wharf about a mile.  When I got it out of the water it was half full of water from puncture bites.  I had it stuffed with pool noodles.  It kept it afloat.  Cheap insurance that can save your life and kayak.  These are facts and first hand accounts.

Here's a first hand account of BloodBaths kayak sinking.  Having Pool noodles was highly recommended.
"The kayak flipped upside down and started to nose dive, no shit. I even asked Sledge if he ever seen a kayak sink, me neither."
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=33791.45

When my Revo was hit by a GWS, a boater towed it back to Capitola Wharf about a mile.  When I got it out of the water it was half full of water from puncture bites.  I had it stuffed with pool noodles.  It kept it afloat.  Cheap insurance that can save your life and kayak.  These are facts and first hand accounts.

Awesome, my wife will be thrilled to recover my boat when I've been eaten alive.   Thanks for the info guys!

Here's a first hand account of BloodBaths kayak sinking.  Having Pool noodles was highly recommended.
"The kayak flipped upside down and started to nose dive, no shit. I even asked Sledge if he ever seen a kayak sink, me neither."
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=33791.45

When my Revo was hit by a GWS, a boater towed it back to Capitola Wharf about a mile.  When I got it out of the water it was half full of water from puncture bites.  I had it stuffed with pool noodles.  It kept it afloat.  Cheap insurance that can save your life and kayak.  These are facts and first hand accounts.

How many noodles did you stuff in there?  Was it compact?

Makes us floating 'Cup O Noodles'

Glad someone else said it [emoji3] my boat is chicken flavored

Makes us floating 'Cup O Noodles'

Glad someone else said it [emoji3] my boat is chicken flavored

If my kayak got hit by a shark, it would be poo poo flavored...

Here's a first hand account of BloodBaths kayak sinking.  Having Pool noodles was highly recommended.
"The kayak flipped upside down and started to nose dive, no shit. I even asked Sledge if he ever seen a kayak sink, me neither."
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=33791.45

When my Revo was hit by a GWS, a boater towed it back to Capitola Wharf about a mile.  When I got it out of the water it was half full of water from puncture bites.  I had it stuffed with pool noodles.  It kept it afloat.  Cheap insurance that can save your life and kayak.  These are facts and first hand accounts.

How many noodles did you stuff in there?  Was it compact?

Put as much pool noodles as you can.  Always have a good quality bilge pump with you.  You should have quick access to the bilge pump during an emergency.  I carry an Aqua-Bound Bilge Master Pump. 

That sounds like a good idea. Going to have to try that