NOODLE Up

great idea, I might try this. i see guys with foam braces on their rods, are they done with noodles as well? or just a sheet of foam fastened with duct tape or something

Noodle parts or pipe insulation zip tied on usually. Commercial rod floats tend to be too small for a lot of the rods used along the coasts.

FFTW did a pool noodle expose some time back. Might want to search his posts. It had something to do with turning his redfish into a submarine....

Prefer float bags mice elf. A T13 or 15 will require a large canoe bag on the bow and two large rec stern bags in the back for example. Spent a lot of time researching and comparing costs. Went with what i felt more comfortable with.

I had a ton (not really that would be A LOT) of bubble wrap.  I roll it up and put that inside where it isn't in the way.  I also use those air pillows from Amazon.  Best of all, it was all free.

What types of stores carry pool noodles?, only pool stores or? I looked around In a Wally world but didn't see any.

Most of the dollar stores in our area have them.

I also have a beach ball in the T13.

What types of stores carry pool noodles?, only pool stores or? I looked around In a Wally world but didn't see any.

Most of the dollar stores in our area have them.

Indeed, I just picked up a bunch from the dollar store on the Westside of Olympia

I also have a beach ball in the T13.

You put that in the nose or the tail? After the expense on the big bags for the T 15 that seems like a very cheap alternative for stern bags. I have another yak to do very soon. If i will have the time at home to do so.

Seems that if the landlord comes a bitin' then a safety float made by float bag, beach ball or other inflatable is at risk of toothy demise as well.  A heaping helping of bubble wrap or foam float toys seems more post taste test sustainable.

I also have a beach ball in the T13.

You put that in the nose or the tail? After the expense on the big bags for the T 15 that seems like a very cheap alternative for stern bags. I have another yak to do very soon. If i will have the time at home to do so.

Under the tank well.  The bow hatch had the battery bag and held the Wheelez wheels which provided some flotation.  I also have pool noodles along the sides. 

I have a small tire tube under my tank well in the Revo.  This provides safety floatation and support for right-side-up transport on the lumber rack carriers.  I've been hesitant to insert pool noodles into the Revo because of all the internal lines for the rudder.  I suppose a pool noodle can't really hurt braided dacron line.  Perhaps I'll create a bundle of noodles with tie wraps to keep a handle on the internal chaos.

Most of the lines in my revo have a stiff plastic tubing over them.  Does yours not have that?

Seems that if the landlord comes a bitin' then a safety float made by float bag, beach ball or other inflatable is at risk of toothy demise as well.  A heaping helping of bubble wrap or foam float toys seems more post taste test sustainable.

@Ed,
After reading the 3 most recent accounts and talking to all three participants via email I'm pretty confident my choice of flotation will work just fine. Add in, my choices add only a fraction of the poundage the foam noodles do.

While the incidents are major attention getters i do not spend that much time out on the big blue. Am more worried about rogue waves, drunken pleasure boaters, and out of control charter"captains" who would more than likely be the cause of capsize or collision.

Not saying it could not ever happen to me anything possible at any time. But bear in mind, those who have been hit by sharks are all aware of the local histories of each area and took their chancez anyway.

Most of the lines in my revo have a stiff plastic tubing over them.  Does yours not have that?

My tubes only extend from the stern where the control and up/down lines enter to forward just past the brackets on either side of the rear hatch.  That's only about 30".  Everything else is either naked lines or bungies.  When the "down" pull is not locked in the cleat the line lays on the bottom of the hull. 

BTW I replaced the eyepads attached at only one end Hobie used as brackets on either side of the rear hatch to hold the tubes with nylon pipe clamps.   See posts #10 and #15 in this thread:  http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,4553.msg52211.html#msg52211   Ignore everything else

And just as a note, I bought 50' of spare rudder line I carry in my repair kit. 

Seems that if the landlord comes a bitin' then a safety float made by float bag, beach ball or other inflatable is at risk of toothy demise as well.  A heaping helping of bubble wrap or foam float toys seems more post taste test sustainable.

@Ed,
After reading the 3 most recent accounts and talking to all three participants via email I'm pretty confident my choice of flotation will work just fine. Add in, my choices add only a fraction of the poundage the foam noodles do.

While the incidents are major attention getters i do not spend that much time out on the big blue. Am more worried about rogue waves, drunken pleasure boaters, and out of control charter"captains" who would more than likely be the cause of capsize or collision.

Not saying it could not ever happen to me anything possible at any time. But bear in mind, those who have been hit by sharks are all aware of the local histories of each area and took their chancez anyway.

WR, I hear you!  I realizde while going through the shed that the couple that sold me our Bayliner last year gave me a huge tote full of inflatable stuff.  Four bow/stern bags were there.  I'm going to see if I can slide them into the sides of the Ride 135 outside the sucpper towers.  This will give me some very lightweight floatation added, keep the entire boat from filling and still leave the center portion of the boat free for storage.  Your post got me thinking about what was in that tote, glad you posted it and glad I went and dug it up.  Thanks.

Ed
glad to help. Not too familiar with the interior layout of that boat but i needed a blunt object to push and prod and i used corn starch as a dry lubricant to help slide them in place. Add in patience and the willingness to get into an awkward position to see and work, and you will have your rear bags or your side bags in place.   

Thanks WR. Overnight the two larger ones lost a bit of air, smaller ones are still firm. Figure I might have to inflate them regularly before salt outings if I can't get them to hold air better.