Posts Tagged ‘fishing trip’

Jeff and Nina’s Fishing Kayak Exploration Trip

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Well, Nina managed to get that pink mini kayak for $400. It’s just her size. I gave her the high back air seat from the SOT kayak I won a couple of years ago at the Jacksonville classic kayak fishing tournament.
kayak fishing trip - FLNina in pink SOT fishing kayak
2008 rigged W fishing kayakSo it was yesterday we hit the water. The trip was a long one. Our adventure yesterday lasted around 12 hours of solid on the water time. Mostly touring and a little fishing. We traveled to find the end of Moses Creek from the intercoastal waterway. Got to the point we could go no further winding our way into narrow passages which at low tide we could only see down the water way the sides were too high. Sometimes we had to remove the rods and duck down under trees and brush. The area is known for gators and alike but we only heard crashing through the brush off to our sides ans saw none of them. A few times it was up and over logs just like on the W video.The W was right at home in those tight places. I should have thought to bring just Emmrods and it would have been easier. It got into the low 90s but water temps were still cool. All in all the W did the trip just fine. Twelve hours with limited getting out time is a long day but comfort wise it was great. With both boats rated in the 325 range she had me on the heavy load part. Speed wise I was a little faster over long range and would pull ahead over open water sections of the flats heading to the creek mouth.
I have found that for cleaning out the W after nasty trips like this one it’s easier to let the sand remaining inside after rinsing just dry out. Then it can be swept with a small brush and just scooped out of a the hulls. That way you get it all. Everything you get near the water here gets loaded with very fine sand particles. By the time we got back the W hull was loaded with mud, sand, sticks, leaves, live little crabs,assorted lunch trash, and some dirty water. Remember I mentioned once the W is a 4 wheeler kayak, this is proof of that.

two fishing kayaksWe got in some really tight spots. The W took the trip on in fine shape. Being so short that really helped in this situation. A long boat in the 12 to 15 foot range would have been impossible to get around in tight quarters. Of course I also had the advantage of being able to stand to see over things, very difficult in almost any other boat. Of course I did try out Nina’s mini kayak. Aside from being sure nobody saw me in a bright pink boat it worked well. To tell the truth though I don’t think I could have done the 12 hours in it. The riding position in the W works for long periods. It’s very hard to explain to someone without them trying it. Logic would at first say that air seat with all the padding should be far more comfortable. But that is just not the case.

Got to tell you that trip was brutal. When we got back we were both wasted. Getting home we still had all the gear to clean up but we made it. We arrived home around 7PM but it was well after 9 buy the time I was finishing up the reels. Nina got enough sun to match the color of her new boat.

With the tide driving into or out of a narrow creek the water can really get moving. Moses Creek is serpentine, twisting and winding through the marsh. In reflecting on 12 hours in the saddle the W works well.
–Jeff (more…)

How to Secure Your W Kayak Against Theft

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Sometime, on a fishing, paddling or camping trip you may have to leave your W Kayak outside overnight.  Naturally, you’d like to secure it against theft, as much as possible.
The easiest and most effective way to do it is by using a long chain and two padlocks:
You take the chain and make a tight, vertical loop around the cockpit - between the hulls. You close the loop with one padlock, and tie the remaining part of the chain in a loop around a tree, a fence or your car rack, then secure it with the second padlock.
Sometime you can secure both loops with a single padlock, or better - use both padlocks as double security for both loops.

Nothing can prevent determined thieves from cutting the chain or breaking the padlock, but this system would require some premeditated effort on their part.

It’s also recommended to detach all deck mounted rod holders and other removable gear, and keep it with you together with your paddle, fishing tackle and personal equipment.

W kayak secured with chain and padlock