What is Stable?

Stability is the first thing most people notice in a kayak. This has a lot to do with personal comfort level and plays a major role in boat selection. But aside from any stability characteristics of the boat, what is stable for one kayaker is not necessarily stable for another. A person's physical characteristics, experience and intended use create a lot of stability elements in their own right.

Starting with the boat, we can differentiate between initial stability, secondary stability, and final stability.

Initial stability is the amount of rolling resistance the boat offers in the first few degrees of heel. It is the amount of tippiness when you first get in -- more of a comfort level rather than anything else. For novices, initial stability often dominates their idea of stability.

Secondary stability is the point where the boat stops becoming more stable with increasing heel. Any further tilting would be more de-stabilizing. This deals with the boat's ability to recover from sudden leaning, fighting large fish or other upsetting movements. It is also significant in rougher waters where more lateral control of the boat is called for. In this case, too much is not necessarily a good thing.

Final stability is where the boat no longer has any resistance to capsizing.

Boat length, width, seat height and hull shape all have a great influence on elements of stability. They interact to such a degree that it would be misleading to make any blanket statements here, but can easily be fodder for another topic.

Effects of the kayaker: Heavier and taller kayakers tend to influence stability negatively by raising the center of gravity. So normally a small person would find any given boat more stable than a large person. A person's sense of balance and previous kayaking experience are also important in any consideration of stability.

Kayakers have some tools to improve stability with their boats. The paddle is used to help balance and brace with traditional kayaks, so transitions to a Mirage Drive Hobie can be disconcerting at first, even for experienced paddlers. On the other hand a relaxed, flexible upper body and the ability to lean or edge can make a major positive contribution, especially in rougher water. Handles to grab can keep you from sliding or getting tossed when faced with a beam swell. Let me also mention seat height. Some users employ a second seat pad on top of the standard seat, thus raising the center of gravity. On narrower boats like the Adventure, the difference can easily be felt with the boat's tendency to heel when sailing. As one who likes to ride boat wakes, I use the i-comfort seat in place of the pad and then let some air out to lower my position -- significant help when trying to keep the boat upright along the side of a swell.

The bottom line is, if you don't feel stable, you won't want to use your boat. When demonstrating a kayak, take the time to sit in it, move around, hang your legs over the side, and get the feel for the boat's limits. Get past the initial stability stage in shallow water, wiggle and rock the boat out to it's limits. Going for too much stability can be as big of mistake as too little, as you tend to lose the ability to lean your boat when necessary. Again, someone else's take on stability does not necessarily apply to your situation. Above all, you want to be comfortable with the boat you select and safe in the waters you cruise in.

A more comprehensive discussion, including design elements can be found in this article: http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/guillem ... _stability

Hi Roadrunner, thanks for the explanation.

I don't own a Hobie kayak, but I'm thinking about getting one in the future. Currently I paddle a closed kayak, narrower than the Hobies. I can brace my knees and feet in it, meaning that I can use my hips to control leaning or edging. In the past, I've paddled a sit-on-top with legstraps, giving similar control. My idea of stability is not a boat that never tilts, but one where I can control the tilt.

Legstraps clearly aren't an option if you want to peddle a Hobie. So I'm wondering how well you can "attach" to the boat. Do they all have hand-grips at a convenient location near the seat? Or is the seat itself solid enough to provide a grip? I haven't been able to find a photo showing that much detail, and I've never seen a Hobie "in the flesh".

I don't like the idea of being "perched" on top of a boat with nothing but gravity keeping me in the seat. Obviously it's not safe to be strapped in, but I'd like some form of attachment equivalent to knee braces or legstraps. If my legs are moving to peddle, then I'll use my hands. Any comments?

Thanks,

Mary

Roadrunner,
Best article on Stablilty I've read so far !

Mary,
There is really no reason to be attached at all. Being a senior (mid 60s) I was also going from a sit-in to a Hobie and was also (overly) concerned. However, with the Outback or Revo you would really have try and fall out. They are exceptionally stabile. Demo them somewhere safe and you'll see. I shook them side to side , sat side saddle, moved around to access all areas and all stabilty concerns vanished into thin air.

Happy Shopping,
Johnny

Stability is not an issue with Hobie Kayaks.

Mary, your concerns are not unusual. Having pedaled for over 10 years, I'm quite comfortable in the Hobies, just as you are in yours. I've swapped boats with a lot of paddlers though and yes, some felt a little uneasy when first getting on a Mirage Drive boat with their feet in the air and nothing to hang on to. There can be an adjustment period as one becomes accustomed to the different feel. Confidence builds quickly though.

All the current single Hobie Mirage Drives have some sort of grab handle at the cockpit (the tandem Outfitter being the only exception I can think of). On our older tandem I installed some soft grips that worked equally as well. At times the handle can be a tremendous asset -- IMO, just as effective as leg bracing. I use the handles frequently.

There are times in a confused sea when you're bouncing around, not sure what's coming next from where. Taking your hand off the grip to take a picture is probably not a smart move!

But to give you a perspective, this pic was taken during a race in which there were 13 rescues -- all paddlers, no Hobies.

Well said. The Adventure is probably the best in that regard. It's the narrowest and the easiest to control in beam seas. And it has nice big grips on the 2011 and newer models.

Thanks for the replies. The outfit I was thinking of (subject to available cash, and a vehicle to transport it) was the Adventure, probably with the Sidekick amas as an extra safeguard if paddling alone on the sea. It looks to me as though the amas in "high" position will normally be out of the water and therefore not adding drag. But they should, I think, make it well-nigh impossible to capsize the boat, in any conditions I'm ever likely to go out in. And if I fell off, should make it easier to re-board, given that I'm not very agile at climbing out of the water.

I don't fish, and I don't do long-distance paddling expeditions. But I like to potter around in reasonably sheltered waters, stopping to look at birds, interesting rocks, or anything else catching my eye. And if I'm out with other people, I want to be able to keep up without working too hard.

Mary

Mary,

if that is your intended use then a Hobie Mirage Drive Kayak is probably the perfect solution for you. The Adventure is probably the quickest and most versatile of the kayaks but some people like the Revolution for its shorter length (easier to store) and slightly higher seating position, and you should find it almost as fast as an Adventure.

On any one of these boats you should easily be able to keep up with your paddling companions, your hands will be free (for taking photos or using binoculars) and I do not think you will find the boat unstable even without outriggers: they would not sell so well if buyers were falling out of them in droves.

I first kayaked in my teens in a painted canvas canoe - this felt terribly unstable when you first sat in it - your bottom wiggled frantically from side to side as you struggled to keep the boat from tipping because it felt like it was on the point of going over & taking you with it. In fact it was perfectly stable and after a few minutes you realised you were perfectly safe and off you went.

A Hobie kayak is nothing like this: they do not feel at all "tippy" even with your feet on the pedals and, while they can be tipped over (e.g. when surfing in to the beach and when sailing), I can honestly say that I have never "fallen" out of any of my Hobies... I have been capsized in surf and capsized when sailing (but that's all and usually when "pushing it") and I have gone on to learn some techniques to avoid these types of capsize.

I have been out in some pretty uncomfortable wind & wave conditions in my Hobies - on a couple of occasions I really have thought that I was going to get tipped out and possibly struggle to get back in/back to shore at all - but the boat has always seen me through. Now when I find myself out in marginal conditions I always reassure and motivate myself with the yachting "rule" that "the boat can take more punishment than the crew".

I think you should take heart from the thousands of satisfied Hobie pedallers of all ages and sizes, the professionalism of the Hobie company and its design team, and the above rule: if your intended use is as you describe you should have a blast without putting yourself into too much danger... and you might be surprised about just how far your Hobie will take you if you get well bitten by the Hobie bug.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Stobbo.

We own the Adventure (island) and a Revolution. I always refer to the Adventure as the sports car, and the Revolution as the barge. That's not a knock on the speed of the Revolution, it's just one way that I've used to describe the difference in the two boats. The Revolution stays nice and level to the water beneath it. Very secure feeling, especially for new users. The Adventure is more playful, you can control the side to side motions, and you have a closer "feel" of what's going on, like in a sports car.

Both are great, but I know my wife FAR prefers her Revo over the Adventure, and I love the playfulness of the Adventure.

EDIT: P.S. Great Article Roadrunner! I always enjoy reading your reviews, and other information!

_________________

Mary,
After reading how you intend to use your kayak, the Revo should be the right Hobie for you. Again, demo a couple differenet models no matter how convinced you think you are !

Good Luck,
Johnny