with my new Hobie Outback.

1. Pay attention to guys fishing from the shore, because you may get caught on their lines and piss them off.
2. When somehow you are still stuck on the fishing line, remove the mirage drive, because the line is probably stuck on your fins.
3. The paddle will drip water like crazy all over you. What the hell? If I wanted to swim, I'd be paddleboarding!
4. You spend all week working out how you are going to make your homemade kayak cart, then you actually build it. Then you get to the lake and realize that you may never actually have to use it.
5. Be prepared to answer questions from old guys who ask you if you are going to repair the huge hole in the bottom of your kayak. Umm, no, it comes like that.
6. Having a rudder is great with the mirage drive. But when you are paddling, it's annoying. Paddle, paddle...change direction...paddle, paddle...adjust direction.
7. Put the rudder up well BEFORE you get to shore, so you aren't freaking out as you come into the launch pulling on cords, and have to jump out in the water to stop the kayak.
8. Be prepared to have random guys in trucks drive up next to you and ask you how much the "canoe" in the back cost you.

Haha been there. Wait until you jack with an anchor and anchor trolley all your organized prep goes out the window.

On #4...the first time you have to haul that thing more than 30 ft you'll say to yourself "this is the best thing I've ever built".

I had to drag my 160 pound Hobie Pro Angler up and down a pretty steep grass hill for about 75 feet on Saturday when I put in at the tide gate at Moses Lake. Needless to say, even though I won't use it much, a cart is going to be built soon. I got on some good trout though.

Cool deal shifty. you'll have to do. BTB trip with us this summer!

Yeah I just built a cart.

2 10in wheels from Harbor Freight.
3/4in PVC
3 foot of 5/8 threaded metal bar
Package of bolts and washers "Create A Bolt" from Home Depot
The cross bars should be cut to 10 inches. The center to center between scuppers is about 11 1/4 inches.

quote:

---

Cool deal shifty. you'll have to do. BTB trip with us this summer!

---

YES!

Went to Somerville this morning, we now have a strict 50 degrees and over rule. Wind was terrible and will be getting a rudder soon. Got to spend a day on the water with my son so it's all good. Beat the hell out of working.

You have to consider safety in this cold water. I've never had to self rescue, have no experience flipping my kayak back over. Don't want to do that in regular clothes in very cold water. In windsurfing, some cite the rule of 100 degrees. That the water temp + air temp must be 100 degrees to go out at all including with a wetsuit. If it's lethal to swim, based on the conditions, then probably a bad idea to be out in a kayak.

quote:

---

You have to consider safety in this cold water. I've never had to self rescue, have no experience flipping my kayak back over. Don't want to do that in regular clothes in very cold water. In windsurfing, some cite the rule of 100 degrees. That the water temp + air temp must be 100 degrees to go out at all including with a wetsuit. If it's lethal to swim, based on the conditions, then probably a bad idea to be out in a kayak

---

Wear your PFD all the time. I love my Stohlquist. It's comfy and convenient with pockets. No since in taking unnecessary risks.

Post pics of your rig when you get the chance shifty. I'd like to see your yak cart too. I've got a nice set of Moto Trainers from a small Yamaha that I plan to convert to a cart.

Completely agree, always wear PDF. And Shifty, if the group is good, they'll make you turtle and re-enter your yak in the waves prior to a BTB adventure.

You'll need to be able to get back in it, a mile or more offshore so gotta be prepared (obviously practice in warmer weather)

quote:

---

Cool deal shifty. you'll have to do. BTB trip with us this summer!

---

Also, I've never been one to invite myself, but if a TA group ever puts together a trip, I'd love to go offshore and see what that's about with folks who know their stuff!!!

The rig and a pic from fishing

UH +1 on Raidernarizona post- sounds fun.

Couldn't disagree more with you rudder and paddling statement. If you have a cross wind or a head wind the rudder can really save your arms from getting worn out from paddling more on one side than the other. Same thing with current or tidal movement.

quote:

---

Couldn't disagree more with you rudder and paddling statement. If you have a cross wind or a head wind the rudder can really save your arms from getting worn out from paddling more on one side than the other. Same thing with current or tidal movement.

---

I'm sure you're right. Lots of people are wishing they had rudders. No one is taking them off. I'll just need to practice more with the paddle. Maybe try and keep the rudder straight, and fine tune the direction with the paddle. Of course, most of the time I will be using my mirage fins.

Now I'm looking at what to do to outfit my kayak.

Milk crate? Do I need leashes for my rod(s)? Leash for my paddle (critical for BTB, maybe less critical in a lake in a kayak with a mirage drive)?

There's all the safety gear for BTB like a VHF radio that I don't need on local lakes. Or at least I don't think I do.

I do wear my PFD. And plan to continue to do so every time.

As far as outfitting...

1) Anchor Trolley

2) more/better rod holders (if needed)

3) Add some anti-skid / sound deadening padding where you can.

http://www.kayakfishinggear.com/products/conseal-pads

4) If you plan on launching before sunrise get a light pole

http://www.yakattack.us/CPM_p/cpm.htm

Whatever else floats your boat. I go light on gear so I leave the crate in the car and instead pack a small soft-sided cooler behind the seat

Oh yeah, as far as safety gear don't forget the whistle!

I just watched a video on the mirage drive rudder and I retract my thoughts on operating it. I does look like it would be a pain in the ass while paddling since you have to operate the rudder with your hand. I would look at using your paddle as your rudder to give you the same results as a foot operated rudder. Angle the paddle behind you on the side you want to turn. Wider the angle the sharper the turn and the more momentum you will use. It may be beneficial to look up different paddle strokes on YouTube.

quote:

---

3. The paddle will drip water like crazy all over you. What the hell? If I wanted to swim, I'd be paddleboarding!

---

I don't know why it took me so long to open the thread; but from my own personal experience I can only add to the above quote:

This. This. This.

I was the same way first time on a yak.

Hobie foot control!

They make things to go on your paddle to keep water from running back down onto you.

They are rubber gasket like things with wings.

I don't have a vhf but do have a whistle. And I also have leashes for everything, after losing a nice falcon rod and curado along with $100+ bucks in tackle I strap everything to my yak just about.

The water drip from the paddle is a form issue. Do some research on paddling technique. Once I got my technique down I stopped getting wet. You will also pick up a lot of speed.

The main thing I learned about canoeing and kayaking was I was wet most of the time, sand got in bad places and butt rash. So I bought a reasonably priced Sweetwater pontoon boat/90 Yamaha rig and lived happily ever after.

quote:

---

Couldn't disagree more with you rudder and paddling statement

---

Maybe I have a defective hobie, but I cannot paddle and track straight without fine tuning the rudder controls constantly, it is a pain in the ass. So I just pedal now and keep my hand on the rudder control. I bought a little one handed paddle for backing up or pushing off the ground if I get grounded.

quote:

---

I cannot paddle and track straight without fine tuning the rudder controls constantly, it is a pain in the ass

---

The rudder toe controls on the FeelFree's are so sweet, but so is your pedal drive.

quote:

---

quote:

---

Couldn't disagree more with you rudder and paddling statement

---

Maybe I have a defective hobie, but I cannot paddle and track straight without fine tuning the rudder controls constantly, it is a pain in the ass. So I just pedal now and keep my hand on the rudder control. I bought a little one handed paddle for backing up or pushing off the ground if I get grounded.

---

you can always raise the rudder while paddling.