Kayak Technique?

[shcubasteve]

So I have been paddling around in my scupper pro and have generated a few questions.
What do you other yakers do when you catch a big fish?
What do you all do with your paddle when fishing or diving? I have been dragging it with a coil cord I took off my BC, but I don’t trust it in current.

What about the damn anchor? I hate throwing it from the hip, and almost got flipped in strong current that way. Does any one have an idea to mount it to the bow or stern?? I was thinking like a pulley or something….

Scupper plugs?? Cheap ones are good. I have been using pool noodles cut into shape, but they aren’t very reliable….

Tips and insight would be appreciated.

[jeeper07]

So I have been paddling around in my scupper pro and have generated a few questions.
What do you other yakers do when you catch a big fish?
What do you all do with your paddle when fishing or diving? I have been dragging it with a coil cord I took off my BC, but I don’t trust it in current.

What about the damn anchor? I hate throwing it from the hip, and almost got flipped in strong current that way. Does any one have an idea to mount it to the bow or stern?? I was thinking like a pulley or something….

Scupper plugs?? Cheap ones are good. I have been using pool noodles cut into shape, but they aren’t very reliable….

Tips and insight would be appreciated.


I have a scupper pro as well. It's by far the best diving kayak I've tried.

You can do a couple different things with big fish......string them in the tank well behind the seat or actually put them in the kayak through the bow hatch are the 2 easiest ways.

For your paddle just get a paddle leash and throw it over the side. It'll never go anywhere. For the anchor there are 2 rules of thought. I mounted mine on the bow but you could do the same with the stern. Mount 2 padeyes, 1 on either side, and connect a rope to them. Allow enough room on the rope so it can go underneath the boat a little. This way the bow doesn't get pulled underwater by heavy surf and keeps your stuff drier. You can also make an attachment from the anchor line and tie it in back by the seat. This allows you to pull the line out of the water w/o having to straddle all the way to the bow.

If your looking for cheap quality scupper stoppers just go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a rubber drain plug. You can shave them down to size if they don't fit quite right and they'll stay in place. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[bayboy]

Can someone please tell me where to get one of these in miami(used), Craigslist only has two outdated responses, i want one so bad.

[Fis_Hunter]

This website has a bunch if info about kayak diving and setting up your yak. Take a look it has a lot of good info.

http://www.kayakdiving.com/

[shcubasteve]

Any ideas on how to protect the hull from the inevitable drag-over-rocks/concrete? I wonder if 5200 would work….I’ve got a few scratches and I don’t want them to get worse.

[cmburch]

Plugs at REI
http://www.rei.com/category/4500271/q/Kayak+Accessories

My sit-on-top had ball valves on the holes. I have also use rubber or silicon stoppers that I put a screw into and tied, so I would not lose.

I use a large stainless steel hoop stringer tied to a line so it dangles in the water.

I have bungie deck webbing that I jam my paddle into.

I can clip the anchor to the front or rear grab handle. I also have a plastic quick release cleat near the cockpit for the anchor.

[jeeper07]

Any ideas on how to protect the hull from the inevitable drag-over-rocks/concrete? I wonder if 5200 would work….I’ve got a few scratches and I don’t want them to get worse.

An Ocean Kayak dealer once told me that it's inevitable that you'll get those scratches and dings in the hull. He said that you can use a heat gun or hair dryer and a putty knife to smooth out those scratches. I've yet to try it out but it sounds good on paper.

[yaudon]

buy a plastic welding machine. look it up on you tube!
and the anchor, you can use a 5 pound dumbell and tie it u to a rope and throw it from the front or the back. and the scupper plugs. Just don't be so damm cheap man! go to bass pro and get them. you'll be spending what, $20? instead of going to the homo depot and cutting those plugs to fit!

[jeeper07]

and the scupper plugs. Just don't be so damm cheap man! go to bass pro and get them. you'll be spending what, $20? instead of going to the homo depot and cutting those plugs to fit!

As he said in his original message he wanted to go cheap with products that work. What's the matter with taking a little time and doing it yourself and in the process saving yourself 75% of the retail cost at Bass Pro Shops???

[shcubasteve]

buy a plastic welding machine. look it up on you tube!
and the anchor, you can use a 5 pound dumbell and tie it u to a rope and throw it from the front or the back. and the scupper plugs. Just don't be so damm cheap man! go to bass pro and get them. you'll be spending what, $20? instead of going to the homo depot and cutting those plugs to fit!


I already have an anchor and am looking for a better way to deploy it. I hate sitting broadside to the waves and current. Its funny that you suggest afro-engineering an anchor out of dumbells, but then hate on the homemade scupper plugs... Internet firestorming...

[jeeper07]

I already have an anchor and am looking for a better way to deploy it. I hate sitting broadside to the waves and current. Its funny that you suggest afro-engineering an anchor out of dumbells, but then hate on the homemade scupper plugs... Internet firestorming...

Good point.......totally overlooked that one!

[yaudon]

yes I know, but the scupper plug is something that when done "home made" they hardly ever work; and their mark up ain't that much. I get them straight from ocean kayaks for $8 and they go for $10 at bass pro. not much of a big diff. there are somethings that are better bought than done!

[shcubasteve]

...there are somethings that are better bought than done!

But that takes away half the fun!

Does anyone have experience with accessory bars? Here are a few pics of what I want to do… Might be sweet to have everything mounted in one place. I have access through the hatch on my Scupper Pro, so I was thinking if thru-bolting a 3/4” aluminum bar as a mount point for rod holders, GPS mount or whatever else. My problem is how to make a strong and secure connection that wont leak… Any thoughts?

[jeeper07]

Follow that diagram and whatever you do.......silicone the holes where you drill! Other than that......happy drilling!

[shcubasteve]

5200 (I think 3M makes it) was highly recommended as an above and below the waterline sealant... So far it works great on the other modifications I have done...

[riobuster]

Some of the Ace Hardware/True Value stores sell soft rubber balls with attached line to hang in your garage to let you know when your car is in the right spot, but I found they make great scupper plugs and they already have the line attached to them to tie them to your yak. $2 each.

[yaudon]

that I can help you out with! use 3/4" pvc or the size that fits your scupper holes and make it out of pvc. also, check out the following links

http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeromain?id=1 go under the no motor zone and also, search for kayak accessories

www.reelkayaking.com

I made mines out of pvc and have from camera mounts, rod holders, gps and light. some pvc with some 90's. It will set you back about $10 @ homo depot!
Also check on www.youtube.com for kayak accessories

[shcubasteve]

that I can help you out with! use 3/4" pvc or the size that fits your scupper holes and make it out of pvc. also, check out the following links

http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeromain?id=1 go under the no motor zone and also, search for kayak accessories

www.reelkayaking.com

I made mines out of pvc and have from camera mounts, rod holders, gps and light. some pvc with some 90's. It will set you back about $10 @ homo depot!
Also check on www.youtube.com for kayak accessories



Sweet! Any Pictures??

[greg]

i have seen anchor puley system described with pictures on one of the kayak sites it shouldnt be too hard to find

[la_chihuahua]

We have a three-person kayak. My bf and I go out and we've been kayak diving for quite some time now. We can do 5-? miles if we want to, especially if we've been well rested the night before.

As for our paddles, our kayak has this rope all around and we just secure our paddles in them. We bought a rope for about $3 bucks and tie the front to a big rock that we find under water. We usually stay out there for the entire day so by the time the afternoon rolls in, I'm tired and I volunteer to (wo)man the kayak. I just paddle around and follow the bf so he could just throw in the fish he catches. That way, he's not attracting the sea lions and I could start scaling the fish while waiting. Sometimes, he likes to gut the fish asap and he has done it a few times on board while I paddle us back to shore. Kinda ghetto but it saves time :thumps:

Sometimes we're around a jetty and we tie the kayak to a rock by it. We're not worried about a few scratches but if it's the only option, we're sure it's not going to get too ugly.

I must add, we have plenty of room for gear and fish in our three person kayak. We've flipped over more than I'm happy with but only because we've brought noobie divers with us who would jump off the kayak or volunteer to man the kayak and run it into the rocks. When we used a rock for an anchor, I just slowly lowered it off the side instead of throwing it out. It took a bit of time, maybe a few more seconds than just throwing it but it definitely kept the kayak from tipping over.