Update on using a Kayak for a tender

Z

Zzzzzz

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Jun 19, 2014
30
Update on using a rigid tandem Kayak for a tender

I have looked in many places for using a kayak to get out to a mooring and then finding ways to climb into and out of the West Wight Potter 19 from the kayak(which would be left on the mooring while sailing).

After a lot of effort, I have discovered that there are kayak people who use them for stand up fishing. Can you imagine standing up in a kayak to cast a fishing line and the bring in fish, without rolling it into the water?

Well it can be done. For about $30 in parts you can put in a set of outriggers which stabilize the boat. If you have a tandem model, and you also attach it to the sailboat, and then provide a little two step ladder of out 2 x 6's or something similar, you can get in and out of the kayak as if it was a solid dock.

Additionally the outrigger keeps the kayak stable enough on the water so that its not swamped on the mooring after you return from a day of sailing.

Since there was no new update on this here since 2012, I thought perhaps people would want to know.
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Zurathu: I can stand up in my inflatable kayak and I weigh 200 lbs. Inflatables are far more stable than a regular plastic kayak, plus lower center of gravity. Chief
 
Z

Zzzzzz

.
Jun 19, 2014
30
Update on using a rigid tandem kayak for a tender

Chief RA said:
Zurathu: I can stand up in my inflatable kayak and I weigh 200 lbs. Inflatables are far more stable than a regular plastic kayak, plus lower center of gravity. Chief
Click to expand
Pehaps that is the case.

However, I was talking about a rigid kayak. I used to have an inflatable one(a Stern), and I got rid of it for a number of reasons, not the least of which was unpredictable, and difficult to find leaking and damn difficult to keep up with the people who had the rigid ones(at least at my elderly age of 65).

Additionally, the lower center of gravity made it higher for me to have to climb to get into the sailboat.
 
N

nolasafari

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Jul 19, 2013
186
Hunter 33 New Orleans
Zarathu, I belive Chief and I have the same model Kayak. The experience you had with the Stern would be nothing like you will have with an Advance Elements Kayak. The AE Kayak have inflatable floors and a back bone. They track well and will keep up the hard shell Kayaks. Nice try playing the I am 65 card, I am also 65 and you won't hear the word elderly out of my mouth to use for an excuse to cover the inability to accomplish a routine task, you may hear a lot of cussing and some jokes about youngesters in their fifties and how they can't keep up. Just saying 65 is not elderly.

The AE Kayaks are worth a look you can find them at http://AirKayajs.com
Remember they won't sink

This is a short video of the Admiral and myself using ours, remember they won't sink and the tandem version can be reconfigured for single and open. Found mine on Craigslist.

http://youtu.be/Eb2XuefQRrU

Check out all the videos on youtube of the AE Kayaks in use.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,819
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Kayak

I think a sit on top Kayak would work really well for getting to a sailboat
on a mooring and when tied to mooring ball won't fill up with water and can carry on or in your car or truck.
The sit in type Kayak would be very hard to get in and out and maybe a large cockpit may be a little better but could fill with water.
They make very nice sit on top and great for fishing too,they are very popular
here in Florida for fishing.
Nick
 
C

Chief RA

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Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
I have owned 4 inflatable kayaks and 7 inf. Dingys and never had a hole in any of them.
We fish the Colorado river for months each winter. Yes, the sit on's should work well for sailboat use.
Jim nice video. Our s/v Compass Rose will be berthed at Spud Point Marina, Bodega Bay in a couple weeks. Bring your kayaks!
Chief
 
Dean_Wilson

Dean_Wilson

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Jun 22, 2010
17
Bombardier 4.8, Alberg 22 (1/3) 0 Saint John
Zarathu,
I too have been interested in a convenient way to board a sailboat from a Kayak. Appreciate you mentioning the outriggers, any pictures from others, especially when next to a boat showing it in action?

One approach I was exploring is a rig that temporarily secures to the toe rail, and when pulled tight, hopefully stabilizes the kayak......haven't progressed beyond the note pad stage, will try when the project boat is in the water.
Dean
 

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Z

Zzzzzz

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Jun 19, 2014
30
I don't have options for inflatable kayaks or sit-upons due to both the conditions of the water wave height and the temperature for falling in, as well as the choice of the first mate for NOT wanting another inflatable kayak.

Attached is an example of a single kayak using adjustable flag holders bolted to the skin of the kayak, and attached to pVC tubing arms. This person used lobster buoys, but another person used plastic soda bottles spray painted the color of his boat.

In addition another set of arms could be used to attached directly to the sail boat. In a tandem yak there would be enough space for a small homemade step stool between the seats. With a stabilizing rope attached to the rail on the other side of the cockpit, climbing in would be quite easy. The boat and the yak would be moving at about the same rate, not at different rates. Also in a tandem, the outrigger stabilizers would be off the stern of the boat since the tandem is 14 feel long. This is a single and would require a bit of modification.
 

Attachments

fox islander

fox islander

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Jun 5, 2004
241
Catalina 30 MkII Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, WA
...I use a sit-on-top kayak as a tender during the summer...extremely stable, piece of cake transfering to and from the boat.
 
Z

Zzzzzz

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Jun 19, 2014
30
fox islander said:
...I use a sit-on-top kayak as a tender during the summer...extremely stable, piece of cake transferring to and from the boat.
Click to expand

Your mooring looks like pretty sheltered inland water. If you had your mooring out on the Strait Juan de Fuca it would be more like where I am.

Be that as it may, its not on the short list by the first mate who doesn't like sitting up on a kayak. It makes her feel "uncomfortable and exposed". I'm glad you don't get dunked or splashed since I'm betting the water is pretty cold up there.
 
S

skeet

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Feb 26, 2013
10
Macgregor 26X Slidell
Thanks for that link, Nola... been looking at kayaks for a while now...
I'll more consider the inflatables now...
Quick typo fix on the link here: http://www.airkayaks.com/

Skeet





nolasafari said:
Zarathu, I belive Chief and I have the same model Kayak. The experience you had with the Stern would be nothing like you will have with an Advance Elements Kayak. The AE Kayak have inflatable floors and a back bone. They track well and will keep up the hard shell Kayaks. Nice try playing the I am 65 card, I am also 65 and you won't hear the word elderly out of my mouth to use for an excuse to cover the inability to accomplish a routine task, you may hear a lot of cussing and some jokes about youngesters in their fifties and how they can't keep up. Just saying 65 is not elderly.

The AE Kayaks are worth a look you can find them at http://AirKayajs.com
Remember they won't sink

This is a short video of the Admiral and myself using ours, remember they won't sink and the tandem version can be reconfigured for single and open. Found mine on Craigslist.

http://youtu.be/Eb2XuefQRrU

Check out all the videos on youtube of the AE Kayaks in use.
Click to expand
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,680
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
A contrarian view.

I've paddled sit-on and inflatable kayaks, and they are basically poor all-around kayaks. In the case of inflatables they are slow, tiring, uncomfortable (poor back support) and fear sharp rocks and shells. In the case of sit-on kayaks, they are slow, heavy, wet (cold), and have a higher CG; perhaps fun in warm climates, but less versitile in cold climates. Yes, they both require less balance for transfer. Stability underway is very adequate for all good designs.

As for transfering from a sit-in kayak:
1. Attach a long painter to the mother ship; one less thing to consentrate on.
2. Practice standing up. It's really not that hard if you keep your feet together.
3. Don't hestitate. When sitting down, just aim your fanny at the seat. When standing up you should have a good grip on something; just lift off.

As for reboarding from the water, some suggest it's impossible, but it's really not even difficult with good technique. Flop across the bow, slide back, hips over the hull, and then roll into the seat when you get there. Bail the boat out first, of course, and make certain the seat is up.

----

So, get rid of the training wheels and get a kayak!

The Impulse and Aspire are 2 of my favorites for sailing use. For tender use, the Aspire would be my top shoise, for simplicity, speed, and light weight.

----

a. I'm not sure why you need to stand up to fish. Folks land BIG rockfish on the Chesapeake from kayaks all the time; we never feel the need to stand up.

b. I suspect outriggers of that sort are a hazard in truly rough water. It is well know amoung multihull sailors that low bouancy floats are a hazard in breaking waves; they get caught and pull you under.
 
Brian S

Brian S

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Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
I used to know someone who could do a headstand in a 19" wide low volume Greenland kayak replica.

Yep, here's photo proof! She had, errr, balance, I suppose…





Zarathu said:
After a lot of effort, I have discovered that there are kayak people who use them for stand up fishing. Can you imagine standing up in a kayak to cast a fishing line and the bring in fish, without rolling it into the water?
Click to expand
 
Brian S

Brian S

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Nov 9, 2012
2,500
Oday 192 Lake Nockamixon
Second to what Thinwater says, I tow my skinny kayak behind the boat, and get in and out of it at anchor. I admit that my 192 is lower freeboard than a WWP19, and I also do not have mobility issues. I paddle this skinny, low volume kayak, and practice stuff like bracing and rolling in rough water (including surfing this boat over sandbars in the inlet), and climb in and out of it off docks. So, let's just say I'm experienced… But, hey, learning proper techniques will allow you to use a kayak with a sailboat. Take some good kayak classes, and discuss your goals with the instructor. When I was asked by students, I would take a few minutes to go over dock boarding/debarking, as opposed to only teaching beach launches.



thinwater said:
A contrarian view.

I've paddled sit-on and inflatable kayaks, and they are basically poor all-around kayaks. In the case of inflatables they are slow, tiring, uncomfortable (poor back support) and fear sharp rocks and shells. In the case of sit-on kayaks, they are slow, heavy, wet (cold), and have a higher CG; perhaps fun in warm climates, but less versitile in cold climates. Yes, they both require less balance for transfer. Stability underway is very adequate for all good designs.

As for transfering from a sit-in kayak:
1. Attach a long painter to the mother ship; one less thing to consentrate on.
2. Practice standing up. It's really not that hard if you keep your feet together.
3. Don't hestitate. When sitting down, just aim your fanny at the seat. When standing up you should have a good grip on something; just lift off.

As for reboarding from the water, some suggest it's impossible, but it's really not even difficult with good technique. Flop across the bow, slide back, hips over the hull, and then roll into the seat when you get there. Bail the boat out first, of course, and make certain the seat is up.

----

So, get rid of the training wheels and get a kayak!

The Impulse and Aspire are 2 of my favorites for sailing use. For tender use, the Aspire would be my top shoise, for simplicity, speed, and light weight.

----

a. I'm not sure why you need to stand up to fish. Folks land BIG rockfish on the Chesapeake from kayaks all the time; we never feel the need to stand up.

b. I suspect outriggers of that sort are a hazard in truly rough water. It is well know amoung multihull sailors that low bouancy floats are a hazard in breaking waves; they get caught and pull you under.
Click to expand
 

Attachments

Z

Zzzzzz

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Jun 19, 2014
30
Will I need to paint my toenails purple to get it right, do you think?

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm sure my eife appreciates it.
 
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