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Learning how to safely roll a kayak is a fundamental skill. Most kayaks are determined for secondary stability, not primary stability, anyway.

This means that, while kayaks are a bit frisky (that’s primary stability) they’re extremely seaworthy and difficult to sink (that’s secondary stability).

It’s rare to have both in a single vessel, although some fishing kayaks do a standup job of toeing that line.

At any rate - two skills to master when learning to captain a kayak are how to perform a wet exit (how to get out of the thing while it’s turtled) and how to right it once it rolls.

But the thing about fishing kayaks is that, one, they are designed for primary stability, two, they’re sit-on-top models (so it’s not hard to extricate yourself from the cockpit), and three, they’re full of your gear.

So with one of these, you really don’t even want to be imagining a situation in which you roll the thing.

And therefore, on that note, here are several tips and tricks to help prevent you from ever flipping your kayak in the first place.

1. Start with a stable kayak

The first step towards keeping your kayak stable is getting a model that’s stable to begin with. The good news is that most of the fishing kayaks we sell are inherently stable.

And not just stable like “if you flip the thing it’s easy to right.” We’re talking good primary stability, which means the things are engineered to ride comfortably as it is.

In fact, most of the fishing kayaks we sell are so stable that you can stand in them. Most of these manufacturers are so confident in this stability that they’ve outfitted their cockpits with deck pads that provide a non-slip standing surface.

2. Get familiar with it before you go fishing the first time

Before you load up your new fishing kayak and take it out in earnest, take it out on the water without your gear so if you do roll you have nothing to lose.

Practice different paddling techniques, turns, and bracing maneuvers (such as slapping the water with the flat of your paddle’s blade) to see how the kayak handles.

Lean a little and self-correct so you can get used to how the kayak responds. The better you know your kayak, the more skillfully you’ll be able to pilot it when you’re out there in search of fish.

3. Keep low and keep your head centered

Keeping a kayak on course is not so different from keeping to the old football maxim that “the lowest man wins.” The lower your center of gravity, the harder it will be to roll the kayak.

Old salts also have this practice of keeping the head centered - meaning, if your head is right about the keel, so too will be most of your mass, so your center of gravity should be right about the centerline of the vessel.

Just keeping your head in the middle of the boat should help keep it stable.

4. Never stand on the gunwale

So let’s talk about an inconvenient truth for a minute. Some kayakers are more athletic, and more seaworthy, than others. This is just a fact of life.

When you stand, you make things worse. Therefore, one of the best bits of wisdom we have for you, whether you are confident standing in your yak or not, is never to stand on the gunwale.

Think about it, if you stand on the gunwale, you will be putting pressure on the part of the yak that’s literally as far away from the keel as possible. You will be trying to make it roll.

And trust us, if you stand on the gunwale of even a very stable fishing kayak, you can capsize it. Just don’t try.

5. If you’re not comfortable, just don’t stand at all

Let’s back up a few steps. If you’re not comfortable standing in your kayak, just don’t do it, ever. The truth is, most of the sit-on-top kayaks we sell are overall so stable that it’s actually pretty hard to roll them if you stay sitting - so just stay seated in the cockpit and you should never have a problem as long as you are careful.

6. Learn how to brace yourself

Learning how to brace yourself is another good technique for keeping stable in a kayak, but the truth is you won’t really be able to practice a proper brace in a heavy, stable fishing kayak. They’re just too stable.

Nonetheless, if you feel yourself starting to roll, slap the water on the side that you’re rolling to with the flat side of your paddle, while simultaneously leaning to the other side with your hips and shoulders to correct the imbalance.

Tips for Improving Stability

While the tips mentioned here will help prevent you from rolling your fishing kayak (or any kayak), here are a few other things you can do to improve stability.

1. Keep the load centered

When you load your fishing kayak, the most important thing you can do to improve stability is to make sure you load your gear in the center of the kayak - at least the heavy stuff.

Tackle boxes, coolers, packs - put them in the center of the kayak over the keel.

2. Keep the load low

One more note on the heavy stuff. Make sure you put it low in the kayak. You don’t want it riding high. A good rule of thumb is to place heavy stuff at the bottom of your gear wells or deep in the hatches.

3. Invest in outriggers for your kayak

Here’s the best tip of the day. Get outriggers for your kayak. Outriggers for your kayak are basically pontoons that ride over the side and create a catamaran or a tri-hull, making it effectively impossible for you to roll the thing. This is one of the best things you can do to improve kayak stability because when equipped with an outrigger a kayak will be more than stable enough to stand in, especially leaning onto the side that has the outrigger.

Questions About Kayak Stability? Contact Us

Want a specific, personalized recommendation for a new fishing kayak that’s ultra stable and which will have enough room for all your gear? Get in touch with us and we would be more than happy to help!