Kayak ballast??

Recently reading up on kayak ballast when paddling helping you to edge without tipping. Thinking here about revo 16. It occurred to me that when used in paddle mode i install the drive plug..which is hollow and floats.Would this be an ideal opportunity to swap it out with a weighted plug as ballast, then used with thigh braces it could make edging all that more easy enabling greater use of the revos secondary stability.

A weighted plug wouldn't shift and stays dead centre at the lowest point. Probably further forward than ideal, but easier than trying to fix something in the hull.

Any thoughts?

Interesting, the Revo 16 has been the only Hobie that I couldn't get to edge. The others, possibly because they have asymmetric hulls, seem to edge reasonably well.

Regarding weights, Most of the Hobies (including the Revo 16) pick up some hydrodynamic lift in the forward half with speed. (usually above about 4 MPH). If the bow is allowed to lift clear of the water, it limits hull speed by effectively shortening the water line length. Accordingly I almost always use weights in the bows of the boats to counter the lift. The Revo 16 gets about 5# to 8# (rubber coated dumbells work well/ my friend uses a 7# rock wrapped in a towel); the Revo 11 usually gets 10# to 13#, depending on expected speed. If seems counter intuitive, but adding weight to maintain LWL actually adds speed. To calibrate this, you need a partner to spot your bow at different cruise speeds to establish the best weight.

I have a lead filled drivewell plug (buckshot stabilized in a slurry -- weighs about 25#) for soloing in the back seat in the tandem Oasis. I notice that the very low placement does add a noticeable element of stability to an already stable boat when sailing. You can adjust the weight by your choice of fill materials; if not for stability, a bag or other container of water can be used and doesn't have to be carried beyond the water's edge.

In all cases, adding appropriate amount of weight to keep the boat "on its lines" is advantageous. Maintaining the proper hull posture more than compensates for the small weight penalty. Whether adding weight to increase edging is possible or worthwhile, I would be a little doubtful but haven't tried it.

PS If adding weight to the drivewell plug, making a simple rope handle on top makes it much easier to carry and insert / remove.

Note -- if you carry much gear, where you place it affects your boat's stability and speed. Stowing some items forward can be beneficial in that way.

Thanks.

I can only get it to edge using thigh braces ( a couple of cam straps), and really lifting with one knee. Once i fitted those it completely changed the paddling experience. Main purpose is to turn the boat without resorting to a rudder where possible. Water ballasting appeals due to not having to cart extra weight to and from water, also to fill or empty while on the water.

I guess using ballast for edging is simply adding a buffer while you are learning. I guess the limit is when the freeboard starts getting close the water level, which I guess is sooner in the 16 than in others

If it starts to weathercock I can always add weight in the back.

Lots to experiment with, first time i have really tried paddling without using a rudder. Feels like learning real kayaking skills at last, without those skills its a beast to turn without a rudder.

We are kayak sailers and sometimes add a weighted keel to our kayak to make it un-tippable.



This is the swinging keel version that we can lower down in deeper water and swing to one side or the other for additional weight.


Another one that we used on our Revos is 2 ft of PVC filled with lead shot (weight belt lead), with just caps on each end and suspended by spectra string. When you shore the boat it just pushes out of the way to one side. Makes it pretty much impossible to tip the boat over when kayak sailing (like a monohull). The drag it creates is minimal, unless your going thru a weedy area, it picks up all weeds (just like the mirage drives do).
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The weight is suspended behind and below the mirage fins. I made mine adjustable depthwise.

15 lbs works on a revo 13
maybe 25 lbs on an Oasis or Revo16

Just fun stuff to do with your Hobie.

FE

Ingenious set up there, would be useful for someone sailing without amas.

Yea our TI fully rigged and hardened for offshore with it's massive sailsets and twin big ole outboards is a little overkill for lakes rivers and kayaking so we usually all the extras ,(ama's, motors, big sails,etc) back at the campsite. Then just kayak sail with a keel weight. I have a 33sq ft furlable wing sail I strap th the side of the kayak just in case I find any wind, (really no different from regular hobie kayak sailing, which is our favorite pastime).
FE