Does Anyone Make A Flat Bottomed Sot Kayak?

[gotmuddy]

I want to change 'yaks to a flatbottomed one. Nice and smooth on the bottom. my FS12 doesnt track work a crap in current. I didnt know how bad until I used my canoe last weekend.

[Smalliebigs]

I want to change 'yaks to a flatbottomed one. Nice and smooth on the bottom. my FS12 doesnt track work a crap in current. I didnt know how bad until I used my canoe last weekend.

The Jackson Coosa, The Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120, all of my paddle boards have a flat bottom.

[gotmuddy]

I was hoping you would say that

[Al Agnew]

Flat bottom won't help you track, though. I don't quite know what you mean about tracking in current...but in tracking (going straight) in slow or flat water, it's all a matter of the length of your boat, the width, and the shape of the ends (the part of the ends that's underwater). The longer the boat the better it tracks. The narrower the boat the better it tracks. And the pointier the ends the better it tracks. Flatter bottoms have little to do with tracking. Some kayaks have ruddered ends, fairly flat vertical extensions of the keel line, that aid considerably in tracking but also make it more difficult to turn. Tracking ability in current allows you to stay at the angle you happen to be in the current whether backpaddling or forward paddling, and also helps you slow or stop in current as long as you're parallel to the flow.

[Zack Hoyt]

Wilderness Systems is coming out with a 11.5ft Ride. It has a tri-hull design so it is extremely stable and tracks very well. Here is a link to the 13.5ft model.

http://www.wildernesssystems.com/product_subcategory/index/angling/angling_kayaks/angler_ride

[Wayne SW/MO]

My Tarpon isn't flat. It does have runnels, think reverse keels, that help it track and they protect the scupper outlets from catching on rocks. . The 120 tracks well and I would imagine the 140 does also.

Flat bottom generally means less secondary stability and little maneuverability.

Jack the Ride has been around for awhile and it does have a reputation for stability, even for standing.

[gotmuddy]

When I say tracking what I mean is when i come out of a shoal the back end of the boat will turn around because the keel catches the current

[eric1978]

When I say tracking what I mean is when i come out of a shoal the back end of the boat will turn around because the keel catches the current

That happens in any boat. You have to overcome that with a paddle, not a different shaped craft.

[gotmuddy]

I noticed that my buffalo canoe handles it far better than my yak.

[Wayne SW/MO]

You would be better off with a solo canoe, one with rocker such as a Mohawk Solo. Anything with a flat bottom will catch current at the stern, but something with a rocker bottom will have the stern lifted.