Bilge pump

A kayak with free moving water in it is less stable than one that is dry. In fact, the stability rapidly goes to zero with only a few inches of water in the kayak. See Stability and Free-surface effects.

[edit] Hand Pumps

A good hand operated bilge pump costs around $35, is easy to store either under a bungee on your deck, or secured inside your cockpit. Some kayaks have enough room between the side of the seat and the inside of the hull to stuff a hand pump.

• Advantages are: the cost, easy to store, simple technology is less likely to fail, transferable from one boat to another.

• Disadvantages are: they require 2 hands to operate so paddle bracing in rough seas cannot be done. Also you need to have your spray skirt off or partly open to pump.

It is possible to stick your paddle under the deck paddle park that you use for a paddle float self rescue. If it is unfeathered and the blade is kept just under the water's surface, it will stabilize the kayak somewhat and dampen rolling. The paddle should be inserted on the side from which waves are coming. In addition, some folks will stick the pump tube down the tunnel of their skirt or just peel off one side of the skirt from the coaming. The latter works better on some skirts than others and allows you to pump without getting a lot of water in the kayak if you're hit by a wave.

Built-in hand pumps are mounted on the deck and require only one hand to operate. See Built-in pump.

[edit] Foot Pumps

There are foot operated bilge pumps that can be installed as an after market add-on. They are best used with fixed footpegs, not sliding rudder controls.

• Advantages: being able to hold onto the paddle to brace in rough seas while simultaneously pumping the water out of the cockpit. You can use the pump with your spray skirt in place.

• Disadvantages: one of your feet will be pumping and off of the footpegs during the maneuver, another is that you also should have a hand pump along as a back-up.

[edit] Electric Pumps

For the really fancy lads you can add an electric bilge pump so all you have to do is flip the switch and watch it pump away.

• Advantages: are obvious...they are COOL!!!! No hands and no muscles tiring out.

• Disadvantages: cost, the weight of a battery, electical components in salt water, and the need to also carry a manual pump or bailer as a back-up.

See Built-in pump.