Kayak Cart and Pool Noodle

Another free source of flotation, if you or your significant other shop online a lot, is bubble wrap and those air pillows.  I jammed the rear of my Outback full of bubble wrap and created bulkheads with it to keep tackle trays from sliding back to far. It is very durable. 

If I remember right, in transducer threads we established that roto-molded plastic is basically the same density as water. Hence the ability to mount the transducer inside the hull. Using that same argument, wouldn't that give a swamped kayak a 0 factor in buoyancy(neither positive or negative). Any weight would then cause the kayak to sink. Conversely, any buoyancy (or floatation) would cause the kayak to float.

I use a PFD to make sure that I am buoyant in the water. Because I am pretty sure that I will sink eventually. I put noodles and empty liter bottles (and as I just read above bubble wrap) in my kayak to make sure it floats if I do encounter that scenario of getting swamped. Something about sitting in the ocean without my kayak makes me nervous.

Wobbler

Thanks DWB for the link to that story.  So, it seems like a shark attack and perhaps a cracked boat would be the main risks.  I guess the open hatch would be a risk as well.  I never open mine on the water.

Thanks DWB for the link to that story.  So, it seems like a shark attack and perhaps a cracked boat would be the main risks.  I guess the open hatch would be a risk as well.  I never open mine on the water.

Even closed hatches are a risk.  I've been in some kayaks that have taken on gallons of water through hatches that don't seal correctly.

-Allen

Another source of flotation is a cheap beach ball. If placed carefully they can be inflated in place and seal well with some silicon grease on the plug.

You're not going to want to sit in or on top of any kayak that is filled with water regardless of how many kids toys you throw in the hatch.
If indeed you are in the ocean and a big wave swamps you and fills your boat, you plan on hopping out and bailing while said waves are crashing over you.
At 8 pounds per gallon the water will take out any floatation you have. There is always going to be an air pocket trapped in a sit on top. After the first 50 gallons the kayak is a bear to move 400lbs. pool noodles, extra life jackets, beach balls will all need to be removed for cleaning if your boat leeks at all.
If you don't open your hatch on the water how can you tell if you're taking on water.

I had a close-call 2 miles out in lake michigan last year when I forgot to close my drain plug, was solo, couldn't reach it to close it, and the inside started filling up quick (and bailing wasn't an option b/c the plug was below the waterline), I've become paranoid enough to open my center-hatch while on the water every hour or so to make sure water's not getting in, either from an open drainplug, hairline crack, whatever.

You're not going to want to sit in or on top of any kayak that is filled with water regardless of how many kids toys you throw in the hatch.
If indeed you are in the ocean and a big wave swamps you and fills your boat, you plan on hopping out and bailing while said waves are crashing over you.
At 8 pounds per gallon the water will take out any floatation you have. There is always going to be an air pocket trapped in a sit on top. After the first 50 gallons the kayak is a bear to move 400lbs. pool noodles, extra life jackets, beach balls will all need to be removed for cleaning if your boat leeks at all.
If you don't open your hatch on the water how can you tell if you're taking on water.

What they do buy you, is time.  Time to think, time to react, time to call for help, time to figure out how to save yourself, more time that you probably otherwise would have had.

-Allen

You're not going to want to sit in or on top of any kayak that is filled with water regardless of how many kids toys you throw in the hatch.
If indeed you are in the ocean and a big wave swamps you and fills your boat, you plan on hopping out and bailing while said waves are crashing over you.
At 8 pounds per gallon the water will take out any floatation you have. There is always going to be an air pocket trapped in a sit on top. After the first 50 gallons the kayak is a bear to move 400lbs. pool noodles, extra life jackets, beach balls will all need to be removed for cleaning if your boat leeks at all.
If you don't open your hatch on the water how can you tell if you're taking on water.

What they do buy you, is time.  Time to think, time to react, time to call for help, time to figure out how to save yourself, more time that you probably otherwise would have had.


-Allen

I don't think it buys you time, no matter how light a floatation device is, unless its submerged it does not provide floatation, it just adds weight. Couple that with the extra sense of security. The kayak wont sink, it will have an air pocket trapped. With or without the extra floatation you're not going to be able to paddle or peddle a full kayak to shore, nor sit on it.
At the point where it goes under and the conditions that create the problem will keep you from bailing it out.
The kayak floating evenly do to the disbursement of the floatation, with it already sitting in the water low will keep the air pocket from saving you.
However Allen, You have more experience in kayak fishing than I do. Lets say a hobie holds 150 gallons of water a boat  full of water would weigh 1200lbs, how many pool noodles is that? I can see why you would do it I just can't see when it would be used?

I weigh 240 lbs , just one " child's toy" pool noodle can keep me afloat while horsing around with my kids in the pool I have also seen kids in the 100 lb weight stand on them in the pool getting most of there upper body out of the pool, it's really a matter of personal preference , I for one am going to shove as many of those cheep tubes in my big tuna because it's better safe then sorry , BTW my yak weighs almost 100 lbs and often load it my self. Out of curiosity what's one noodle weigh? Also let's strap two of them together and see how much weight it takes to sink them, I bet you will be surprised with how much they hold with no air pockets to help.

I've become paranoid enough to open my center-hatch while on the water every hour or so to make sure water's not getting in, either from an open drainplug, hairline crack, whatever.

After hearing about the Mairage drive hull failures I too check my center hatch for water leakage throughout the day while I am out.

The purpose of the pool noodles isn't so you can sit on a boat full of water and still use it, it's just to keep it from sinking all the way.  Most likely so another craft can come and salvage it.  While you are most likely going to have a bubble of air at one end or another, a pool noodle guarantees positive buoyancy in a worst case scenario, you know, sprung a leak, then hit a rock with the nose and now that air pocket you were counting on is leaking away.

Not trying to be contentious, but your boat will float either way.
Pool noodles will float a 200 pound man, tie a 200lb weight onto it and it will sink to the bottom.
I'm not trying to say don't do it, I was trying to think of a practical situation where it would be worth the effort of pulling it out and cleaning them off every trip.
Who knows I may convert to the noodle like the rest of you guys? Just like the only other voice of discontent I was wondering of one practical situation where this would have an advantage?

I never cleaned mine in my tarpon and had no issues.  I left the large squared foam chunks in my Hobies and they don't get cleaned either.  I just hose out the inside and bilge it every third trip or so.

However Allen, You have more experience in kayak fishing than I do. Lets say a hobie holds 150 gallons of water a boat  full of water would weigh 1200lbs, how many pool noodles is that? I can see why you would do it I just can't see when it would be used?

There is a flaw in this thinking.  The 1200 pounds of water is neutral buoyancy.   You only need the floatation of enough pool noodles to offset the load that the kayak is carrying.

I come from a similar white water background as pmmpete.  I've seen countless times where floatation had only positive impact on a "situation".

But I will admit ... I don't have pool noodles in my kayak.   

-Allen