There is a certain school of thought among seasoned kayakers that using a ballast in your kayak for stability is a shortcut solution to be avoided. A ballast is a weight which sits in the bottom of a kayak and lowers the center of gravity, making the kayak more stable, and giving it a tendency to right itself, similar to a child’s pop up boxing toy. In a properly sized kayak, a skilled paddler will have no problems balancing and will not want the extra weight a ballast provides. In an ideal situation this holds true, but in the real world, there are plenty of reasons why a kayaker – even a seasoned pro – would want a ballast in their kayak. Some reasons are just to feel more comfortable while taking pictures, resting on the water, taking a day trip without gear, owning a kayak which is slightly larger, enjoying the ride of a longer kayak, waiving at a passing boat, watching a plane or flock of birds fly overhead, or just taming a lively boat.

The ideal ballast takes up little space and sits very low and securely in the center of the kayak. The lower the ballast, the more effectively it lowers the center of gravity. The more secure, the more stable the kayak and the less likely it is to come loose severely inhibiting kayak stability. There is a product, called the Paddling Partner™ which effectively increases kayak stability while minimizing the negative effects associated with loosely fitted ballasts. Because it weighs a mere 9.5 pounds, the Paddling Partner™ does not have the detrimental effects heavier homemade solutions such as lead weights, rocks and dromedary bags and because the optimal way the weighted canister sits in the kayak, it effectively lowers the center of gravity. The weighted portable canister locks securely into the kayak body, so it is not a danger to come loose and destabilize the kayak.

If you are looking to increase stability or versatility of your kayak, Buy the Paddling Partner™ right now!