Flipping a Stealth with the fish hatch open? Fear not!

I will be replacing pool noodles with float bags, probably extra large heavy duty trash double bags.  The idea is to replace the space with air and not giving any chance for water to occupy the space.

Is there a reason you are planning to use trash bags instead of kayak-specific float bags?

Even if you use bags, the pool noodles are still great for places the bags won't fit.

In theory, you can occupy put more air volume and cover all the contour that are typically not reachable by pool noodles.  Plus, this is probably nitpicking, bag+air is lighter than 20+ noodles.  It is also easier to pull out for cleaning and stuff.  When I do, I will post the result.

South Africa marine vessel laws require double hull construction on everything right down to the humble kayak

Double hull is a no brainer as long as the construction is sound. My first yak was a Mulderboard which a few old people here will know about. I still have mine and it would still be watertight except that it took a ride through a rock garden in enormous long period swell somewhere between Pigeon Point and Ano Nuevo. In the process it took something like 11 substantial holes in much thicker fiberglass than what is used now and ripped off the hatch which was on a long and very sturdy stainless hinge

Long way round to saying double hull is good as long as there’s no leak between the interior and exterior hulls

My 575 has had issues from birth which translated to the inner hull filling with water. I believe KPD was with me one day when I paddled it from up around the Pacifica pier down to the south end of Linda Mar where it rolled and we pulled it up the beach and drained many gallons of water from the hull. Recollection is that conditions were small or medium wind swell and one of the remarkable things about the yak is that I was able to keep the yak upright and paddle it in fairly gracefully despite it having all that water in the inner hull. Coming into the south end of Linda Mar it rolled and had to be dragged up the beach and drained.

Similar prior experience it rolled off of the south end of Stinson Beach and I was able to paddle it down to Muir with the inner hull full of water.

Any test of kayak and the person on it is incomplete without real world ocean conditions

It might sound like I’m dissing Stealths here but actually not

If I have to deal with any yak in extreme conditions Stealth is at the top of the list. I’ve had similar situations on my T160 and it was doable, but nowhere close to how easy it was to get things under control on the 575

Hatch should always be closed tight in rough water

Correction: maybe it was AlexB who was with me at Linda Mar?

nice write up BK...thanks for the input

It might sound like I’m dissing Stealths here but actually not

All I read was confidence inspiring experience of being able to ride out adverse conditions to safety.  My wallet burns even more.  I'm glad I don't have anywhere to store another kayak (yet).

In theory, you can occupy put more air volume and cover all the contour that are typically not reachable by pool noodles.  Plus, this is probably nitpicking, bag+air is lighter than 20+ noodles.  It is also easier to pull out for cleaning and stuff.  When I do, I will post the result.

I'm not seeing any advantage of air over pool noodles. The weight difference is insignificant (unless you fill your air bags with helium...), and I don't see how air bags fit the contours any better unless they are mostly deflated, in which case they won't displace more water than noodles. I could picture air bags getting deflated for any number of reasons, which means you have one more thing that you ought to verify before launching...

In theory, you can occupy put more air volume and cover all the contour that are typically not reachable by pool noodles.  Plus, this is probably nitpicking, bag+air is lighter than 20+ noodles.  It is also easier to pull out for cleaning and stuff.  When I do, I will post the result.

I'm not seeing any advantage of air over pool noodles. The weight difference is insignificant (unless you fill your air bags with helium...), and I don't see how air bags fit the contours any better unless they are mostly deflated, in which case they won't displace more water than noodles. I could picture air bags getting deflated for any number of reasons, which means you have one more thing that you ought to verify before launching...

Inflated & deflated enough to fill more space than what pool noodles can't.  As far as checking for deflation, that's why you use double heavy duty bags.  I havent tried it yet, but will at the end of the season.  I will leave the inflated bag untouched until the beginning of the season and see the deflation rate.  Good question though and keep it coming.

It might sound like I’m dissing Stealths here but actually not

All I read was confidence inspiring experience of being able to ride out adverse conditions to safety.  My wallet burns even more.  I'm glad I don't have anywhere to store another kayak (yet).

I thought HMB Kayak has lots of space.😎

It might sound like I’m dissing Stealths here but actually not

All I read was confidence inspiring experience of being able to ride out adverse conditions to safety.  My wallet burns even more.  I'm glad I don't have anywhere to store another kayak (yet).

I thought HMB Kayak has lots of space.😎

That makes the physical space problem into a budget space problem