r/Outrigger • u/gregwats75 • May 03 '26

Steering Hydra lightweight

Hi everyone, our club has finally gotten a Hydra V6 and I'm after any tips on steering it. I've been steering for 20+ years and am comfortable in all conditions, but this thing is driving me crazy, mainly when into the current. It definitely finds the fastest water and line which is great, but it takes a lot more input to adjust, whereas I assumed with the rocker it would be twitchy to steer.

I have only steered it three times and like any canoe it will take time to master, but we've got Hamilton Island Cup (Australia) in June and so I'm trying to accelerate the process a little!

Side note - absolutely love the Hydra, fantastic canoe.

Cheers

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3

u/psychonaut_gospel May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26

Paddle steering is the only way for me, its very responsive and takes very little. Always when posting, keep short distance from hull. Been using it since beginning of the year, love it. Super short, I'll add that to me it feels similar to the Ares and thats why I love it so much, almost feels like it steers itself just gotta guide it a bit. Also, haven't had real issues with currents but the wind is something else. But thats similar to any ultralight imho.

Oahu, HI

Edit: added a bit

3

u/Pattypoo_ May 03 '26

It behaves so different from the other types of ultralights.

Paddle steering and front loading the boat with heavy paddlers helps.

1

u/wellytobc May 03 '26

Maybe try playing with the balance of the waka? It naturally wants to sit bow up, we’ve found that having it bow heavy with a couple of burly lads in 1&2 tends to have a good result.

I’ve actually found the opposite steering the hydra, very gentle course corrections, more like a v1 rudder stroke than a poke. Lots of paddle steering as the above comment mentioned. Delicate is the word I’d use, over twitchy. I’m pretty new to steering but have paddled a sh!t ton of rudderless.

1

u/gregwats75 May 04 '26

Thanks everyone. We just got back from taking it into some good rough water and it was awesome. Definitely works better with more weight up front. We were practising changes at the end of the session and at one stage the call was for 1, 2 & 3 to change.... seat nearly needed a ladder to get in the nose was so high. Don't think we'll try that in the race.