added flotation for hull?

whats ur take on adding some flotation material to inside of yak like a couple floaties or?.... or nothing?

I have some pool noodles stuffed in the front and back. I also have the ama floaties I picked up about a month ago. I might try to see how those fit in there...

Fred "True" Trujillo

Yup, pool noodles.

I don't currently but may if I try my experiment this summer and it sinks like a brick....

Minor hijack (I hope you don't mind, dampainter ): Out of curiosity, anyone ever flooded their hull on purpose to see how well it floats with lots of water on board? 

how many noodles? are they crammed in place? cut up? just throw em in there any which way? so ....they are not an interference with control lines?=(hobie owners). maybe over thinking this and have flipped my yak in the lake practicing self rescue,  which was not loaded up with all my gear. i like to take the kitchen sink when am on the salt i wonder how hard it would be with all my crap on it to flip right side up? worse yet if my line is out and gets snagged up in process of trying to flip right side up oh and than crap that line or other gets wrapped in the rudder or the mirage......LOL! knock on friggen wood!!! so in that case can see poential for bit of water in the hull, throw weight of gear in there... anyway , back to these floaties/ stuff the hull? 

Minor hijack (I hope you don't mind, dampainter ): Out of curiosity, anyone ever flooded their hull on purpose to see how well it floats with lots of water on board? 

I may try that in a safer environment AFTER the ORC.

dampainter, they're about 5' long and stuffed under the leg rests on the left and right and just under the seat. I don't cut them up - just slide them in from the front hatch toward the back.

Fred "True" Trujillo

I cut and glued pool noodles inside the front hatch to act as a bulkhead to prevent stored crap from sliding to the back of the yak.

I picked up a pool noodle at Safeway the other day for the exact reason as boxofrain mentioned. A bulkhead for the front hatch and also the rear hatch. I like to keep a small first aid/repair kit in the back hatch, but it always just slides forward. What us the perfected method if choosing a permanent install? I was planning on cutting the noodle to shape and adhering using aquamarine goop.

You can also use pool noodles to keep gear from sliding into inaccessible areas inside your sit-on-top kayak, such as the area under the cargo area behind your seat. 

I have some sections 3/4 inch pipe insulation in the bottom of my hull to keep my tackle boxes and gear from sliding out of reach.  Keeps everything close to the hatch.

As for flotation, my other kayak is a sit in kayak with no front hatch.  I bought a $10 fitness ball at the store for flotation.  it's thick and won't puncture.  I partially inflated it and shoved it up into the hull, then inflated it more until it firmed up and filled in the entire front of the hull.  It doesn't come out, even in transport, and gives a ton of flotation, should that kayak flip over or fill with water.

Still not fit for the salt, but it  works great in the rivers and in the bays.

I have foam noodles stuffed into my kayak.  I also just throw gatorade bottles and such after I drink them down into the hull.  That way I always have something to fill the foam puck with water for my transducer and a bit more flotation.

Might have to try a test on a lake regarding the with and without.  I figure my A1 buoy for halibut keeps a 60 pound halibut floating.  I doubt you need much to keep from completely sinking under water.  I know it s not quite the same but it makes me feel a little bit safer when on the water.  Worth it to me...though pool noodles are like 10 bucks each here in Alaska no thanks to the shipping!