Home made piece of kit

[zebra]

What’s the most useful piece of kit you have made???
This thread is hopefully to give ideas on easy kit to make that makes kayak fishing easier or safer.
The simplest piece of kit I made was a 4 metre length of rope with a spliced loop at one end and a big knot at the other its used as a tether if I am anchoring to a buoy or another kayak and can also be used as a through line to I have also used it as a Taylor on large fish and as a tow line. when it is not in use it sits under the hatch straps of my prowler so is always at hand .

[ntombi]

Good bit of thinking there ...Zebra.. ;D ;D

[martinw]

The only thing ive made so far is a paddle leash, cheap to make yet affective, will take some pics later and post em.



Im getting there with posting these photos!! Well heres my homemade leash, cost me no more than £4 to make and a bit of sewing, the webbing strap was about 50p a meter from b&q, small carabiner £1 from an outdoor shop and the toggle and elastic cord was about a couple of quid from a chandlers, and it all works a treat ;D ;D

[johnlegg]

Nothing for the kayak but a rack to hold them

[zebra]

great rack john about time !!!!!!!!

[zebra]

who done the stiching martin

[martinw]

me, by hand, not a bad job is it no i didnt learn to sew and knit in prison ;D ;D ;D

[richi]

richis anchor reel made out of an old paint roller a spool given to me by the local chandler a couple of floats and some kids handlebar grips.Real quick retrieval

[martinw]

looks like a good idea, where do you put it on your kayak?? looks quite bulky though, im in the process of putting an anchor system on my p13 but trying to keep the weight down.

[richi]

[img src="[/img]img477.imageshack.us/img477/8712/dscf00646ji.th.jpg"]I use a marine cooler instead of a crate-I put the spool in there once I've secured the anchor.It's not heavy -I only ever use a .75kg anchor-the spool doesn't need to be too big.

[The Image ™]

A piece of sponge makes an excellent scupper plug. Plugs aren't needed in the ocean waves where water in the yak is expected and unavoidable but in calm water, self bailing scuppers aren't needed and just let in water to an otherwise dry kayak. Scupper plugs cost about £15 each yet a sponge does the job 100% as effectively AND comes in handy for sponging up any water that splashes in when boarding such as those annoying little puddles in the footwells.



This tip was provided to me by a rather honest kayak accessory shop as I was ordering scupper plugs which he had in stock.
www.canoekayaktrader.co.uk

[The Image ™]

I'm copying down these ideas for prosperity on the NWSA kayak section www.nwsa.ukf.net/kayak/methods/methods.htm

[daveg55]

The usual garage John but where do you put the landrover...poor thing

[johnlegg]

hi Dave
the land rover is to tall for any garage so the garage in wales is for fishing and tools only . and kayaks of coarse

[richi]

[martinw]

Hi richi, ive been looking at doing something like that raised light, did you make or buy that??

[richi]

martinw said:

Hi richi, ive been looking at doing something like that raised light, did you make or buy that??

I made it Martin--there will be a step by step how to make article on Starvinmarvin's Anglers Afloat website within a week-The anchor reel how to has been on there for about a week now-I've still got a few more inventions up my sleeve!

[basscatcher]

Still getting stuff togever for my kayak which should be with me in the next week or so.

On the topic of waterproof containers and making everything floatable I found this little gem. It has a rubber sealed screw on lid and is approx 24" * 12" round. Will get all my stuff in it including reels.
The best thing about it was the price £8 !!!!

Got it from an ex army/navy place and after a quick wash and a few stickers it looks the part.



I also bought about 30m of 20mm webbing for £3 (10p per metre) and ordered a load of web buckles and snap togever buckles off ebay. Cant wait to get it rigged out.

Oh and not to mention the fishfinder thats on order. ;D

[zebra]

looks good gilbo looking forward to fishing with you which boat have you ordered
terry

[basscatcher]

I know its not everyones taste but I have oredered a Drifter in Yellow. Got and absolute bargain deal with paddle, upgraded seat, PFD and plugs etc all for under £500.

Fishfinder ordered! Anchor Pulley system all built! Loads of webbing and elastic so just cant wait to get it rigged and ready. ;D

All I need now is a trolley/cart for car to beach transport but working on this.

[johnlegg]

Have you seen these the black one looks good



saw them on anglersnet

www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=60220

[basscatcher]

Yeah, I have browsed them but the thing is this:

A trolley is a critical piece of kit but after spending more than a few quid lately, I have to watch my £ s.

I have something that is inexpensive and with a few modifications can be easily modified into a kayak cart. Instead of spendinf £60 I am looking at about £20.

More later!

[basscatcher]

Right, Job done.

I have just bought one of these for a total of £18.99 delivered to my door. Its designed to carry a seat box and holdall etc and with a few modifications and 20p of foam cladding will make an excellent Kayak Trolley.



Its not even worth trying to make your own at this sort of price. There appears to be more available on Ebay under the heading of "fishing trolley".

[martinw]

So far ive been carrying my p13 to and from the car and beach above my head, not ideal i know, ive got a plan too for a kayak trolley, got the wheels and axle, just got to get my but into gear now and make something. I do think that these purpose made trolleys are a bit steep at £50 to £60 a shot.

[The Image ™]

The problem with trolleys is that after pulling your yak to the waterline, you've then got to pull the empty trolley all the way back to your car and then leg it back to your yak before someone pilfers your tackle, that's a lot of running up and down. I find that once onto clean sand, the yak is as easy to pull on its hull as it is on a trolley and trolleys are useless over shingle where the wheels rut in the shingle and you end up carrying the yak anyway. There's also a lot of good points to trolleys but I just thought I'd mention a few down sides that I've noticed and that trolley owners don't mention.

[martinw]

i agree with you there, the cash i would have spent on a trolley has gone on the more important things like a pack of flares. i will be making one but it wont come apart to be stored in the kayak, its going to be the run back to the car for me

[johnlegg]

The trolly's either break down to fit inside the hatch, or tie it to the back (like Zebra). There's no weight to them so the difference carrying them makes is negligible. And if you have to beach away from the car (thank you waves/tides) it saves the embarrassing panting as you carry it for a mile or so back.

[zebra]

I would not be without my trolley
It cost about £5.00 to make and as john says no weight at all.
When I get to the water I just hook it under the bungee cords on the back of
My boat if I was not so lazy I would put it in the hatch .I used wide golf trolley wheels from my local tip £1.00 pair
Then some threaded bar and alloy pipe from b & q about £4.00 I just bolted it together no welding though it would have been better welded .the wide wheels
Stop it from digging in to the shingle and I have never had it tip yet I load all my bitts on to the kayak by the car and just role it to the waters edge .the key to a good trolley is wide wheels .I will put a photo on tomorrow.

[basscatcher]

It is built and ready to go when my kayak arrives at end of the month. Total cost £18.99 for fishing trolley (including delivery) 50p for cladding and £1.50 for 90deg insert.
£20.99 is far better than paying out £60+. ;D



The wheels axil width, height and stand are all fully adjustable. I reckon if loaded onto the back of my kayak and strapped down the a flag could be fitted into the stand position.

[starvinmarvin]

Tidy job Gilbo, and with the extra axle width you'll find it very stable, except for the fact that it is quite high, let us know how you get on with it, sure that others will follow your lead, great price.

SM