Yak Rigging

Rockport, Texas

Sometimes things do not go as planned but still end up ok. The plan was to rig out the yak in about an hour and go paddle. The rigging went on until a bit after three pm and still is not finished. Everything had choices to make and some things will have to wait. A reason this yak was chosen was because there is nearly no built in storage and none inside the hull. So everything will be in the cockpit.

On my mini-x there was a hatch to allow storage inside the hull. These types of yaks do not have foam flotation in them. They rely on the inner and outer hull staying intact so the inner hull will not flood and allow the boat to sink. This is not acceptable to me. In the mini-x to get to some of your gear on the water you would have to open the hatch exposing the inner volume to water entry. That opening was about ten by fourteen and could catch a lot of water from a wave splashing aboard. The concept of the yaks is that the cockpit floor is slightly above the water line with scupper holes through the cockpit floor and out the bottom of the boat. That way the yak is self bailing if water splashes aboard.

It works great, but out on the water opening a hatch can get you to sinking if water comes aboard. My mini-x had had some pool noodles put inside the hulls for positive foam flotation so that even in the event of a hatch getting flooded, the yak would stay afloat. The yaks with hatches tend to have the cockpit full of intrusions to allow room for storage between the cockpit and the hull. This yak has only one small hatch and it is located where it would be nearly impossible to while on the water. This is a much safer design to me. However as soon as some pool noodles are spotted, they will be purchased and added to yak to make my mind feel better.

Other choices on rigging will have to wait until some water time is under the keel. Then more rational decisions can be made. An example is where to carry my fishing rod. Most folks carry them in a vertical holder that causes the rod to add to the wind resistance and chance of tangling with trees. Since my yak will be a fresh and salt water rig, trees do have to be considered for fresh water.

Another concern is that for now, the expectation is that the rig will do a lot more touring than fishing. So the yak has to be rigged for more than one use. Those folks that only do one thing with their yak are missing out on some of the fun available.
The yak seems like it will carry the paddle on the right side very well. If not then the paddle can normally just be dropped over the side to flat along with the yak and attached with it’s tether.
After researching a lot on the internet, it was decided to try using bags on the front and back of the seat. Searching through all the spare parts and bags in the Castle yielded two bags that will work and some buckles. Wire ties were used to attach the buckles to the seat and the whole assembly fits nicely.


Carrying my water bottles will be another chore to solve. Carrying the fishing rod and water bottles will be part of the on water decisions to be made. The hope is to get the yak on the water in the morning since all the required safety stuff has been done. Then decisions and options can be figured out while trying to have tooooo much fun. TheOFM.