Flipping over Hobie Pro Angler 14

Hi everyone,

I have a 2015 Hobie Pro Angler 14".  So yesterday I went out to Hagg Lake with a buddy to paddle around and decided to do self rescues.  I rocked the Kayak trying find the tipping point of the PA 14, and finally managed to flip it upside down. After being submerged in water, I got back to the PA 14 and flipped it back to it's proper side (took about a few minutes).  After getting back on the Kayak, it became very unstable and realized there is a large amount of water in the front hatch liner and in the hull. Due to the instability, it flipped over again.   I was able to get hauled back to the shore by a boatman. 

So it seems that water gets in the PA14 through the front hatch when it's flipped over.  Anyone with/or familiar with the PA, what are your experiences flipping it over on self rescues? or water going through the front hatch? Has anyone tried modding or sealing the hatch?

Thanks!!

On the bright side of things, my dry suit kept me completely dry and my pfd kept me afloat 😊

-Veasna

3 options

Carry a stirrup to make it easier to flip back over before it can fill up

Learn how to flip it quicker

Carry a bilge pump, manual bilge pumps can pump a lot of water out quickly.

Thanks for the tip Lee,  much appreciated!!

tighten the straps on the front hatch so the lid is tighter.  did you have anything heavy in the front hatch?  that can allow more water in when boat is flipped.

I get water toy sprayers like these at the Dollar Store, work great for pumping out water...

Check your rod holders.  My PA12 had a cracked rod holder, and in big swells I was taking water over the bow and it was draining down the rod holders into the hull.

I'll double check the tightness of the front straps as well as the rod holders.  As far as I can tell, they are Actually pretty tight.  I didn't have anything in the hatch except a dry bag with a towel and cap.  I'm going to get a bilge pump to be on the safer side.  Also reading on Hobie forums, a few owners seem to have the same issue on older models too.  But you really do have to make a big effort and lean to tip it over though.  After doing my checks and recons, I'll tip it again on a nice sunny day and see how it goes. 

Thanks!!

Yeah water comes into the boat through the front hatch pretty bad for mine as well.   Keep a hand bilge on board somewhere.   This video for self rescue isn't bad. 

Yeah water comes into the boat through the front hatch pretty bad for mine as well.   Keep a hand bilge on board somewhere.   This video for self rescue isn't bad. 

That's a great video.  I watched it during summer, and learned a lot when I did my self rescue.  Yeah part of problem is the removable hatch liner; its heavy and a little too big. The lip of the liner interferes with the seal of the hatch, therefor it prevents the hatch to completely shut tight.  When I go out, I take out the liner out of the hatch and leave it at home. 

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Another thing I would recommend is to practice your self rescue closer to shore if you are doing it for the first time in a new kayak.

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Great job getting back in.  Looks like the wind was pushing really hard.  Really sorry about your ci4 Raranium  . Really sucks to lose something like that.  To make you feel better, I've recently lost a Curado E that flew off my yak on a drive home.