Hobie PA12 Rear Rails...

after what has seemed like an endless wait, I finally hit the water in my PA12 today and wanted to share an image of the rails that I built around the rear area, I used 1.5" ABS pipe, the front attachment is made by clamping the pipe around the side rails.  The other 4 attach points were made by bolting ABS end caps to the kayak, using large SS washers on both sides.  The rail pipes are inserted into the end caps and secured with SS screws (3 for each cap), this makes the whole thing removable.  All the other joints are cemented together with ABS glue.  The whole thing is totally solid, should help my Labradane stay onboard when she goes out with me, and also help me get back onboard from the back of the kayak.  You can also see in the image that I used some ABS pipe and rope to make a step attached to be rear that will help with boosting myself back up onto the boat.

the Lowrance Elite-7 HDI is fantastic, I am really impressed with that unit that uses the new 83/200 & 455/800 tranducer to provide both sonar and downscan imaging.  fantastic.

next up will be a PVC pipe mount for a 34# MinnKota, I already have a 22Ahr battery secured inside the hull....and I have a Bic Sport sail to mount as both a sail and a shade top...oh and I need to start catching fish and crab, and practice self-recovery....cheers, roger

   

Thanks for sharing R.D.
Nice set up.

Looks awesome! 

update on the rear rails:  as I posted under "Safety", they work great when I am climbing back on the boat from the back.  just tested them out with my dog on board and they worked exactly as hoped- kept her from leaning out too far to either side...

but with her on the back, at say 75#, I got a hands-on feel for how CG effects small boat stability: when we started our test ride, I had the PA12 seat in the High position and when Pepper would move side-to-side, I could really feel it and felt the need to offset her weight shifting.  Moving my seat to the Low position, things definitely felt much more solid, I still would not want her on the back in rough or moving water but on a lake with just some wind waves, no problem...

Nice work!  That looks great!