Batten down the hatches!! <-saying comes from a hard truth. kayak danger

[Darth-Baiter]

i have a Hobie Outback kayak.  it has a storage box right at my feet.  it has become somewhat my "junk drawer".  i need to change that. 

 

yesterday i was fishing Clearlake (1st time 2025!!) and we had meandered into a cove that didnt suck.   (more on this later in another thread).   i was pulling baits to try from the junk-drawer, and i heard a bass boat go by in the distant main lake body,  we could hear it slapping waves.  WAVES?  we both look out and it is whitecaps.  we headed in before it was to get worse.   i entered the main lake and we nose dipped waves all the way back.  it was went i took a right turn to head to the ramp, i noticed my boat was kinda sluggish....i get back, drag it out and i can hear water sloshing.  

 

i got it home and tilted it to drain to the nose.  i noticed immediately.  i never latched the hatch door!!  i was taking on water!  if the ramp was further, i would have been in real trouble.  the 20 minute run, put about 1.5 gallons into my kayak.  double or triple that distance,,, capsize city.

 

lessoned learned.    dont make the hatch a main storage area, and if i use it lock the d**n door.  hahahha..

[TnRiver46]

Always keep a Taco Bell cup for bailing water 

[Standard]

Sometimes I wish my kayak had hatches, but never having to worry about a situation like that is nice.  Water can get in the hull through screw holes and such, but I've had maybe a cup or two of water in there after a full season of use.

[Darth-Baiter]

I sealed everything on mine.  Moot point if I leave the door opened:)

[Koz]

The new Wilderness Systems kayak has two hatches on the deck. I’ve been waiting a few years for someone to do this.

 

We all make mistakes, but I’m of the mind that proper maintenance and planning eliminates most potential problems.

 

My kayak is due for a spring maintenance overhaul. I’ll go as far to pull and inspect all of the wiring. I also have a lighted, fiber optic camera to inspect inside the dark recesses of the hull.

[FishTax]

I'm being forced into maintenance on mine right now because some of my electronics aren't working so I'm pulling wires. In the process, I found a rod holder from the previous owner jammed down in the hull and stuck to some of the foam. I've yet to get it out (time) but very soon I need to pull everything and get it back in good shape. Wasn't expecting much maintenance on the yak and there really hasn't been, but hidden hull wiring was only a matter of time I guess. And the quality of the work was less than good... so now I'm wanting to redo it all.