Kayaks on Deck

[endoftheroad]

I see it everywhere.

I am a Key Wester and when I go into the back country I tow my 10.5' Caribe and 15hp outboard with my little Paceship 26.
I recently picked up this Kayak and haven't sailed with it on deck yet.

Is there anything that I should be concerned about?

Any comments or opinions about Kayaks on decks?

[psk125]

If the breeze picks up, you could worry about it blowing off. Or, if only one end got loose, the wind could swing it around twist the plastic into something Dunkin Donuts might be jealous of. Even without getting loose, the banging might get unnerving in a chop. A wave coming on deck could also catch it, wrench it from its lashings, and make it torque one of your stanchions off. It's essentially a 12' lever arm waiting to do some work on something. It will impact moving around on deck, too. From the photo it is hard to tell if it's a sit-in or sit-on. If the former, it could fill with water and slide around on deck for a while- perhaps doing a number on itself, and the shrouds and ports, besides. Unless it's pretty calm, like in your photos, you might want to see if it will fit below somehow. We're thinking an inflatable kayak might be an option for us.

[endoftheroad]

Will the Kayak block a cosiderable amount of wind from the Jib?

Thanks

[boatman61]

Sailed the Caribbean, crossed the Atlantic and paddled in the Azores.. then on to Portugal.. back to the Azores then up to the UK...
Time scale 30mths with it carried on stbd side foredeck, bow just aft the anchor locker and it reached to the shrouds... in all weathers... adds a bit of windage but lashed securely to the guardrails no worries...
Doubt it would survive a Rogue Wave but normal stormy stuff.. no prob's...

[boatman61]

[daddle]

A kayak on deck is 'all good' until it is not. Like all the rest of the junk lashed to the rails on 'cruising' boats you'll someday wish it was down below. Eventually Neptune will wash it away. Perhaps taking the lifelines with it. Hopefully it and the rest of the junk goes away quietly without dragging behind or wrapping in the prop.

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Sailed the Caribbean, crossed the Atlantic and paddled in the Azores.. then on to Portugal.. back to the Azores then up to the UK...
Time scale 30mths with it carried on stbd side foredeck, bow just aft the anchor locker and it reached to the shrouds... in all weathers... adds a bit of windage but lashed securely to the guardrails no worries...
Doubt it would survive a Rogue Wave but normal stormy stuff.. no prob's...

Sure makes me feel good about my kayak on deck because thats more than I expect to do with my PY26.

My boat is going to fly without lugging my Caribe RIB.

[Geoduck]

I've got a 17' inflatable kayak and I leave it on deck most of the time but when it gets ugly, I pull the plug and stash it below. I'VE GOT A SAIL RIG FOR IT TOO! More fun than a barrel of monkeys!

[endoftheroad]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

I've got a 17' inflatable kayak and I leave it on deck most of the time but when it gets ugly, I pull the plug and stash it below. I'VE GOT A SAIL RIG FOR IT TOO! More fun than a barrel of monkeys!

That's a new option to consider. Makes a much better life raft than my sit inside kayak.

[thomm225]

Another option is a foldable kayak. I have a Folbot Cooper which is 16'6" long (24" wide) and fits in a backpack when I don't want it on deck. These boats have air bladders in them. You can get aboard even with water in them then pump or bail it out. Mine doubles as a liferaft. There's plenty of room for food, water, etc. Folbot:

Folding Kayaks & Folding Boats from Folbot

For a high quality foldable check out Feathercraft:

Feathercraft*»*

Then there's the Klepper Foldable (german made). A Doctor back in the late 50's crossed the Atlantic in one.

http://www.klepperamerica.com/

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

I've got a 17' inflatable kayak and I leave it on deck most of the time but when it gets ugly, I pull the plug and stash it below. I'VE GOT A SAIL RIG FOR IT TOO! More fun than a barrel of monkeys!

With the sailing rig, does It have an ama (out-rigger) too? Pictures, pictures!!!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

With the sailing rig, does It have an ama (out-rigger) too? Pictures, pictures!!!

Yeah! Pictures!

[sbrin]

Have sailed for over 10 years with one on each side (12 footers). I lash them down securely both bow and stern. Usually they ride just fine (although we have been in 45 knot winds with waves coming over the bow - With this kind of weather, they do fill with water, but then the water splahes out again in the next crest!).
Loads of fun