Confession

Bill - Interesting.  When I went "hobie" I didn't even consider the addy because it looked tippy to me.  So, for you to indicate you feel that the the T-13 are really similar makes me think I should have at least considered it.  I also felt very stable in my T-13... even with a big breaking swell behind me (not an actual wave)... but in the Outback it feels like it is getting ready to kick me sideways and roll me.

Im with Bill on that one. When I went from the T13 to the Revo, I found it is pretty close to the same getting back in, with a slight advantage to the Trident. The Trident is a bit flatter and the Hobies have a little bit more gunwale to it. An Outback has even more gunwale. The trick for me is to remember to "get horizontal" and reach pull across instead of pulling down on the gunwale to pull yourself up. If you picture that, in your head with relation to the shape of the hull gunwale you can see why the Addy or Revo is near the same to get back in as a Trident and not so much an Outback.

It's actually easier to get back into a wider kayak from the water, because the far side of the kayak doesn't kick up as much when you heave yourself over the near gunwale.  A wide kayak like an Outback will tend to lay flatter on the water while you're climbing back in than a narrower kayak.

On nice warm days, after you're done fishing and you've taken your gear off your kayak, occasionally practice flipping your kayak upside down, flipping it back upright, and climbing back into it, so the process becomes second nature.  Then if you end up in the water on a cold nasty day in the surf zone, you'll be prepared to climb back into your kayak in seconds without even thinking about it.

During a day of spearfishing, I climb back into my kayak repeatedly while wearing a drysuit, 13-16 pounds of weight on my back, and about 3.5 pounds of weight on each ankle.  If I ever end up in the water while fishing (and it hasn't happened yet), getting back on my kayak will be a snap.

Just don't jump all the way to the other side of the kayak if your not wearing all the weights there Pete.

Bill - Interesting.  When I went "hobie" I didn't even consider the addy because it looked tippy to me.  So, for you to indicate you feel that the the T-13 are really similar makes me think I should have at least considered it.  I also felt very stable in my T-13... even with a big breaking swell behind me (not an actual wave)... but in the Outback it feels like it is getting ready to kick me sideways and roll me.

When on top of the boat the Addy is definitely twitchier. So the primary stability is less but the secondary stability is pretty awesome. You can lean way over and come back to center pretty easy.
I still think the T-13 is the single best ocean hull on the market.

.........
I still think the T-13 is the single best ocean hull on the market.

+1

I wish that my Revo had the same shaped hull as my T-13.  It paddles like a bowling ball on ice without the rudder down.   
The Outback is even worse for paddling!   

I miss my t-13. I don't miss paddling.

I have to admit that the Outback sits higher in the water and takes a little practice to reenter.  I have practiced with the Outback so many times that it seems like second nature. The surprise came when I took the Revo out. I jumped in the water, grabbed the near side gunwale, brought my feet to the surface and launched myself nearly over the kayak. my knees ended up in the seat. 

I guess the moral of the story is to practice, practice, practice in the kayak that you are using.  There is nothing so frustratingly awesome as  watching someone casually perform a skill that you know to be extremely difficult. The fluid ease that comes with practice is easy to identify.

Wobbler

Getting back on the kayak has never been my problem.  Getting my butt back into the seat is where I'm awkward.

I have a little different problem reboarding my OK Prowler Big Game 2. I'm 74 years old 6'3" 220 lbs and with a couple shoulder surgeries in the recent past the upper body strength just is not there any more.

The Big game is a 34" wide high sided boat. I have a 1/4 acre bluegill pond on my place so last summer I put the boat in the pond and flipped it over about 15 times. The usual crawl over the side was pretty tough so I made a couple rope loops to slide the paddle in and got a  NRS paddle float, it works pretty good and I'm able to crawl up the paddle shaft, it's a pretty good grunt but doable.

Then I found the perfect solution for me to get back in the 'yak fast. I put a pair of SCUBA flippers under the rear bungies and adjusted them to fit over my footwear. With the flippers I can rocket over the side like a seal jumping up on a dock. Real easy to do and fast to get them on with little struggle.

All my 'yaking is on small local flat water lakes so rollers and big waves are not a issue.

The Prowler Big Game is a great local boat, I think you would fall out of it before flipping it, also real easy to right it if flipped over, just have to be careful not to get hit in the head when doing it!..lol..

I have a little different problem reboarding my OK Prowler Big Game 2. I'm 74 years old 6'3" 220 lbs and with a couple shoulder surgeries in the recent past the upper body strength just is not there any more.

The Big game is a 34" wide high sided boat. I have a 1/4 acre bluegill pond on my place so last summer I put the boat in the pond and flipped it over about 15 times. The usual crawl over the side was pretty tough so I made a couple rope loops to slide the paddle in and got a  NRS paddle float, it works pretty good and I'm able to crawl up the paddle shaft, it's a pretty good grunt but doable.

Then I found the perfect solution for me to get back in the 'yak fast. I put a pair of SCUBA flippers under the rear bungies and adjusted them to fit over my footwear. With the flippers I can rocket over the side like a seal jumping up on a dock. Real easy to do and fast to get them on with little struggle.

All my 'yaking is on small local flat water lakes so rollers and big waves are not a issue.

The Prowler Big Game is a great local boat, I think you would fall out of it before flipping it, also real easy to right it if flipped over, just have to be careful not to get hit in the head when doing it!..lol..

You are 74 and still kayaking I tip my hat to you! The fact that you practiced your self rescue and are confident in your ability is even more remarkable. 

Thanks for the compliment!.. I try to stay in decent shape, most all of my kayaking is bass fishing in lakes for pike, smallies and largemouth so I'm usually within 40-50 yds from the beach so that helps in the safe dept. I can always swim the boat to the beach.

Most of my fishing trips are 5-8 miles of gentle paddleing and casting and don't have any shoulder or arm problems after a day on the water.

Wish there were more 'yak fisherman in my area,  have only run into one person on the water fishing from a kayak so most all of my trips are just me alone on somewhat remote lakes with no cell service so one must be a bit careful and that's why being able to get back  on the yak is pretty important to me. I also carry a dry bag with a complete change of warm dry clothing, better safe than sorry..

Getting back on the kayak has never been my problem.  Getting my butt back into the seat is where I'm awkward.

Never had that issue as you saw me climb all over mine