Cranks4fun Posted February 19, 2018 Posted February 19, 2018 I am new to the Kayak scene but I have been reading and talking with some guys. I'm a week away from paying off my brand new 2017 Vibe Sea ghost 130 Kayak. I have a Garmin Striker 4 plus for it and it comes with a rudder system and a kayak paddle. I need a battery for the new Garmin (thinking an AGM battery rated 12 volts 9ah ?), I also think maybe a front Scotty rod holder, and I thought I might try to make anchor trolley and a cheap PVC cart. Is that enough just to get out and fish comfortably? Any opinions? Any suggestions on the cart, anchor trolley, or cheap places to buy this stuff? Thanks in advance! Quote
TimberTodd Posted February 19, 2018 Posted February 19, 2018 I would make several trips in it first before adding too much. The things you listed are good places to start. I would also fish at least once before installing the Garmin so you can see where the most optimal mounting location would. Enjoy the new ride! 1 Quote
Hawkeye21 Posted February 19, 2018 Posted February 19, 2018 15 minutes ago, Cranks4fun said: I am new to the Kayak scene but I have been reading and talking with some guys. I'm a week away from paying off my brand new 2017 Vibe Sea ghost 130 Kayak. I have a Garmin Striker 4 plus for it and it comes with a rudder system and a kayak paddle. I need a battery for the new Garmin (thinking an AGM battery rated 12 volts 9ah ?), I also think maybe a front Scotty rod holder, and I thought I might try to make anchor trolley and a cheap PVC cart. Is that enough just to get out and fish comfortably? Any opinions? Any suggestions on the cart, anchor trolley, or cheap places to buy this stuff? Thanks in advance! If you want to start off with spending a little then you can get a battery like this from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Battery-Lowrance-Elite-3x-CHARGER/dp/B019X6ODEA/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1519071718&sr=8-7&keywords=fish+finder+battery I started with something like that 5 years ago and it worked for me. I'd get about 6 hours out of it before it would die. It's now junk and will replace it this year. This year I'm going to spend more money on a Nocqua Lithium 10ah battery. As for other accessories, I didn't want to drill holes all over my kayak putting accessories in place I wasn't sure I'd be happy with so I installed a few gear tracks. This allows me to move gear to multiple locations without worrying it's permanent or leaving holes. I put my fish finder, transducer and rod holder on the tracks and I can take them all off when hauling it. I don't have a cart but it seems the most popular ones are the C-Tug and the Boonedocks landing gear. I'd get out and fish with with just a few things to start with then get a good feel for what you want to add after being on it a few times. 1 Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted February 20, 2018 Super User Posted February 20, 2018 An anchor trolley is a must IMO. I have modified (heavily) a milk crate to hold all my tackle boxes, a net, up to 5 rods (or 4 rods and a flag/light). I have two rod holders that are built into the kayak. I put a short rail that holds a ram mount for my phone up front. I have detachable outrigger mounts behind my milk crate, and have various eyelets mounted for random things like rod leashes. All this on a 10ft sit-in kayak. It almost looks silly when fully rigged but it leaves little to be desired when I am out on the water for an entire day. At some point I still want to add a fish finder, and add some more streamlined outriggers since the ones I currently have are very bulky. Oh, and make sure you have a comfortable seat, and a nice paddle. A nice seat will keep you out on the water as long as the fish are still biting, and a good lightweight paddle will expand your fishable waters, since distance paddling to spots will be less of a concern and not be as strenuous. Like others have said go out in the kayak before mounting anything. Make careful note of what areas of the kayak are off limit for mounting stuff due to your paddle stroke and comfortable casting range, and of course what's in reach. 1 Quote
Cranks4fun Posted February 20, 2018 Author Posted February 20, 2018 Yeah the seat was a deal maker. The Vibe's have awesome seats. I think I will make an anchor trolley. Lot's of examples on youtube. Thanks for sharing. Quote
IdaYak Posted February 20, 2018 Posted February 20, 2018 I've used this kayak cart for the past 3 years. I used to live 1/8 mile from a lake, would strap the yak to the cart and just push it up the road to the lake, launch the boat, break down the cart and store it in the hatch while fishing. No complaints. For $40, I couldn't buy the parts, and my time is worth at least that much. https://www.amazon.com/TMS-Kayak-Carrier-Trailer-Trolleyw/dp/B07777K455/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519161296&sr=8-4&keywords=kayak+cart 1 Quote
haggard Posted February 21, 2018 Posted February 21, 2018 Congrats on coming up on owning your yak outright! I'm very new at yak fishing but based on my experience from a handful of outings, high on my list would be: 1. PFD, worn at all times 2. spare length of rope for general use, readily accessible, perhaps with bowline loop already formed at each end. 3. anchor trolley. Being blown around by wind is annoying and happens too easily. If you have access to the inside of your hull on both ends, consider spending the $45 on a quality kit like the Hobie Universal. I've spent too much time and money on DIY solutions. But I'm going to try it again on my cheapie Sundolphin Journey SS 10 because I never learn 4. seat comfort. Whatever it takes. 5. rod holder in front of you or on the sides - Scotty or similar. This is for when you're changing lures, unhooking a fish, or just need to temporarily put down your rod without fear of losing it overboard. 6. paddle holder, even if it's just a leash and dropping the paddle in the water. Basically some way of allowing you to quickly drop the paddle while handling the rod, without having to worry about losing the paddle (for example, laying it horizontally across the hull, where the ends tangle with your line or even the slightest tipping will cause it to slide overboard, when you have to grab it and then risk letting go of the rod....) 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted February 21, 2018 Super User Posted February 21, 2018 Just paddle and fish and see what you want. I mean when you are out there think, man i would really like to have this here or that would come in handy. My most recent kayak purchase i didn't mount anything until i paddled it probably 10 times and this was probably my 7th boat or so. Id iso recommend the yak attack anchor trolley should you go that route. The pulleys and the lever lock are worth it all by itself. Also if you get a cart, get a good one and don't use scupper carts..... I am also not a fan of tying anything down as it can be a problem in a flipped kayak situation. Quote
Cranks4fun Posted February 21, 2018 Author Posted February 21, 2018 Yeah, I read that the scupper hole carts can actually cause leaks in some models so that idea is definitely out for me. I am already preparing to build a cart . I have bought nice 10'inch wheels with bearings and good traction. I have seem some awesome homemade carts for cheap on Youtube (Pvc, steel, even milk cart crates). The idea about paddling around first is a good one. Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted February 21, 2018 Super User Posted February 21, 2018 23 hours ago, IdaYak said: I've used this kayak cart for the past 3 years. I used to live 1/8 mile from a lake, would strap the yak to the cart and just push it up the road to the lake, launch the boat, break down the cart and store it in the hatch while fishing. No complaints. For $40, I couldn't buy the parts, and my time is worth at least that much. https://www.amazon.com/TMS-Kayak-Carrier-Trailer-Trolleyw/dp/B07777K455/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1519161296&sr=8-4&keywords=kayak+cart Same here. In fact, I have had two of them for years - I keep my wife's and my yaks stored on them year round in the back yard of our townhouse. I have lost one of the clip ends on the enclosed strap for one of the carts -- my only issue. Very happy with this buy. 1 Quote
Cranks4fun Posted February 21, 2018 Author Posted February 21, 2018 Did you order yours online or buy it from a local dealer? Quote
Super User Choporoz Posted February 21, 2018 Super User Posted February 21, 2018 Amazon Prime. In fact aside from Amazon, tacklewarehouse and smallbatchcigars, I'm not sure I couldn't go through life without using another retailer....maybe gas and groceries, I guess.. 1 Quote
haggard Posted February 22, 2018 Posted February 22, 2018 22 hours ago, flyfisher said: I am also not a fan of tying anything down as it can be a problem in a flipped kayak situation. Good point... leashes and rope can tangle you quickly in a tipover. Maybe there's a happy medium in there. Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted February 22, 2018 Super User Posted February 22, 2018 you'll hear people argue that they have to have them but for me, I just haven't seen the need. Maybe if i fished rivers a lot i would fashion a slick way to fasten the rods down during dicey sections but even then, i still haven't had that issue. Have i lost a few rods, sure but not in a long long time. Once yo use comfortable with your kayak and abilities, losing a rod is pretty rare. Quote
Turtle135 Posted February 22, 2018 Posted February 22, 2018 here is a DIY kayak cart design: http://palmettokayakfishing.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-bulletproof-kayak-cart-build.html Quote
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