Rigging

[Adelito]

I want to persue kayak fishing alittle more, and was wondering what keys/tips are absolutes to rigging your kayak right for spearfishing.

[Fis_Hunter]

Can't help much, I am still rigging mine. What I can tell you is you need to have the ability to store all your gear below decks or strap it down tight. If you can't put the gun below decks make sure that the point is not sticking out the back or front where you might have an issue with it when you try to launch or land in surf. A few lines with clips attached to your yak so you can secure your game bag or gun or other gear to while getting in and out would be nice. Make sure all your gear is secured and stored before you move.

This website has a lot of info about kayak diving it is from Nor cal. http://www.kayakdiving.com/index.html

[Fis_Hunter]

Nor Cal Kayak (http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com) This site also has a tone of info on rigging a kayak.

[hau]

What Fis_Hunter said, and--
I don/t know which yak you have, but:
1. Here off Miami an anchor and big dive flag are very important.
a. Remember that the regulations states that the flag has to be down while not diving [like paddling to and from your dive site]. So try to rig your flag so you can easily put it up and take it down. I have mine so I can do that from the seat.
b. Most of us use 100f of braided polypropoline anchor line, 18in of SS chain then a 3lb grappnel anchor. We wire/tie/or vip lock the anchor fluks closed except for an emergency [like a summer thunder storm]. With this anchor set up your anchor line will float up and not snag on the bottom, the chain will help keep the anchor line from getting cut on the reef and assist the anchor to hold better just like on a real boat anchor line and last, with this anchor set up you can swim and dive holding the anchor in your non-gun hand.
There is much, much more. Hope this helps.:D

[ocddeerhunter]

you need bungees with clips to hold your paddle and a paddle leash just in case you drop it and a bungee on oppiste side of yak to hold your gun while paddling I ran 400 mono all the way around the perimeter through plastic loops (west marine )I use cable cuffs (home depot $1.31 used for holding electic cords untangled its a orange plastic hand cuff )to tie off EVERYTHING I take . Its a good idea to at the start of every trip flip yak upside down in shallow water and make sure NOTHING FALLS OFF .note my bottom machine is in a loc-n-loc clear plastic food container(Walmart)including batterys (Basspro 2 6 volt rechargable for deer feeders )
Make sure you use the special pop rivets for mounting everything they have a rubber o-ring and they split insde the yak for more surface area to get a grip on the plastic .but you'll have those pokey edges insde the yak,I put the yak on sawhorse upide down and through the front hatch glued a swimming noodle around the upper perimeter of yak to cover them so they wont poke holes in the inflable pool cushon that I keep inside and inflated when going offshore .If you've ever had a flooded yak 4 miles off the beach you'll know why I put so much into it .
Next project is lamanated wood gull wing outriggers with amas and a sail off a wind surfer.

[shcubasteve]

you need bungees with clips to hold your paddle and a paddle leash just in case you drop it and a bungee on oppiste side of yak to hold your gun while paddling I ran 400 mono all the way around the perimeter through plastic loops (west marine )I use cable cuffs (home depot $1.31 used for holding electic cords untangled its a orange plastic hand cuff )to tie off EVERYTHING I take . Its a good idea to at the start of every trip flip yak upside down in shallow water and make sure NOTHING FALLS OFF .note my bottom machine is in a loc-n-loc clear plastic food container(Walmart)including batterys (Basspro 2 6 volt rechargable for deer feeders )
Make sure you use the special pop rivets for mounting everything they have a rubber o-ring and they split insde the yak for more surface area to get a grip on the plastic .but you'll have those pokey edges insde the yak,I put the yak on sawhorse upide down and through the front hatch glued a swimming noodle around the upper perimeter of yak to cover them so they wont poke holes in the inflable pool cushon that I keep inside and inflated when going offshore .If you've ever had a flooded yak 4 miles off the beach you'll know why I put so much into it .
Next project is lamanated wood gull wing outriggers with amas and a sail off a wind surfer.

I like checking out what others have done with their yak, and this sounds interesting... got any pics?

Original poster: I rigged a set of deck loops with crisscrossing 3/8" rubber tubing to hold my gun while in transit. Its strong enough to hold the gun in place but flexible enough to pull it out when you need it. If you get into regular fishing, I love the accessory bar w/ railmount rod holders. I actually use it to hold the dive flag high when in use.

[Fis_Hunter]

I was at ACE hardware the other day and picked up 6 feet of bulk Bungee 5/16 or 3/8 I don't recall and a piece of 5/8 hollow braided polypropoline rope. I used the splicing tool to make a loop at one end. I then used the Splicing tool to insert all six feet of the Bungee inside the rope starting just below the loop. I tied a knot in the bungee and used a double constrictor knot to secure the bungee to the rope and whip tied it a few times. I inserted the bungee up the rope all the way and continued to slide it up inside the rope until I reached where I thought the bungee stretched to the max would be on the rope. I then tied another knot in the bungee and used a double constrictor knot again. Then made another loop. I know have a bow line or tow line which is able to absorbe shock.

[greg]

#1 if its not tied down its not going home with you, when freediving i've got an igloo cooler in the tank well ,i tow the boat its suprisingly little drag. the biggest problem ive found is dealing with the towing line getting it untangled and ready to dive is a little tricky so far the best solution ive come up with is doubling it up and letting it drag behind the boat while paddling another thing ive found usefull is to paddle with my fins on

[ocddeerhunter]

Check this book out ,"building outrigger sailing canoes " These are oceanic canoes not a float down the creek drinking beer canoe .Its got alot of good ideas, its about building boats ,but you can use the ideas for MODIFING a yak to . I've gotten interested in sailing boats light enough to beach launch and dive from just how I started out with yaks .Just got a couple Hobie catamarans to make into dive boats with small outboards and still have the sails and I can beach launch .(I refuse to let rag heads and greedy oil companys limit my diving fun ,I will dive and spearfish no matter what )

[herefishyfishy]

Call me and I can show you what I did for my kayak

Bruno

954.943.5386 (evenings - I lost my cell)

[snackrifice]

Adel,
Check out this link:
http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=86631
This is a pretty sound kayak setup. Getting into yak diving, eh? Nationals must have left an impact...

Hope all else is well.