Jackson Coosa

All I know is that I'm very curious and would like to test one out.  It looks fun in the WW.

Drew,

Most people don't use the trolley system for anchoring on a river.  A lot of guys here make up a drift boat style anchor that goes straight out the back, which minimizes swaying.  For example, see ... http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,3905.0.html

Allen, I agree and that is exactly the point I was bringing up.  We are touting the boat as a good river boat, so why would it have a trolley if no one in the river that I know of uses one?  It can only be a liability and lawsuit waiting to happen if we included something that was hazardous to the river angler. 

WR, thanks.  I am certainly not too proud or naive enough to think that I have designed some ultimate, perfect fishing boat.  If you can't take criticism and learn how to improve from it then you'll never make it in any area.  Anyway, I strive to get the boat as perfect as possible and that is why I am on numerous forums across the country gathering feedback and trying to listen to the consumer myself.  You never know if we might make some other versions and if so I want to know where I can improve, especially in the areas of kayak fishing I am not as familiar with.

We are definitely offering for any kayak angler to test one out.  All our dealers carry a demo and it sounds like Nanook will know where you might could test it out.  I can only assume he is with Alder Creek?

A trolley makes it more versatile for things besides WW. in reality most people I sell SOT's to are fishing lakes and ponds. I thought if Jackson had one specifically for the coosa, I'd install that one. If not, I will continue to install the Native trolley system. I personally like trolleys in calmer water, because I like being able to adjust how I'm positioned in the wind for better casting etc. No biggie, it's always an option.

I'd personally rather see a true drift boat style stern anchor like Pole said, that one's way harder to make on your own than installing a trolley.

yes I'm at Alder Creek, and yes we have Journeys too. I really like that boat as well. It is the boat I will be teaching basic skills kayaking in because it is so much more responsive to edging than WS Tsunamis or Necky Manitous etc, but just as forgiving for learning to edge. There's nothing worse than teaching edging and having to wait 20 seconds for your boat to respond....or barely responding at all. The journey responds big......and I like the skeg. That was the one new day touring boat at OR I tested that I really liked. Even gave Jackson a plug in that OR newspaper thingy. Told the the Journey and the P&H Delphin were the two hot new boats
 

Not currently for the "river yak" (FishnDive) but I really want to get some for the Adventure in the salt. I think it would allow me to tackle some larger surf with more control.   If I were to pick up a Coosa or other dedicated river boat I would add them for sure.

Then you should definitely try it.  Back in the mid-90's we used to take SOT's with thigh straps down Class III waves with the same effectiveness as more normal WW kayaks.  Shoot ... I can't recall the brand anymore.  I'll have do dig up some pics to see.

Nanook keeps talking about chine and edges.  But the chine and edges don't really come into play much if you can't get the kayak over on them.  Thigh straps are necessary to do this.

-Allen

I like the NRS thigh straps. it's important to have a real brass clip on those things, otherwise they break with any real stress, like rolling etc. I personally can't even think about paddling a SOT in anything but a pond without them. I still don't really understand how anyone goes in or out through the surf, run a rapid, or cross a strong eddy line without them. I guess your but cheeks are stronger than mine because I feel totally disconnected from the boat without them.

it would be nice to see something beefier than the pad-eyes I'll be installing for attaching thigh straps.

How many of you guys (other than NANOOK) actually use thigh straps when on the river?  Short of getting a new kayak, this is probably the single biggest thing you can do to improve your river yak handling.

-Allen

Yah kno, i have a set i got thru Alkasazi some time back, but reading this it sounds like i dont use them nearly enough. might make fighting the nisqually delta currents a lot easier. i could never get them to stay put over the breathable waders so i guess that's why i don't use them much.

it would be nice to see something beefier than the pad-eyes I'll be installing for attaching thigh straps.

How many of you guys (other than NANOOK) actually use thigh straps when on the river?  Short of getting a new kayak, this is probably the single biggest thing you can do to improve your river yak handling.

-Allen

Yah kno, i have a set i got thru Alkasazi some time back, but reading this it sounds like i dont use them nearly enough. might make fighting the nisqually delta currents a lot easier. i could never get them to stay put over the breathable waders so i guess that's why i don't use them much.

It is a little awkward at first, but man what a difference they make in rough water.

All I know is that I'm very curious and would like to test one out.  It looks fun in the WW.

I'm working on getting a fleet of 4-6 rigged for fishing we'll have in demo/rental and will open up my opportunities to guide river trips. I'd really like to do John Day in the spring, the deschutes etc. right now I have one retail and one demo.

i could never get them to stay put over the breathable waders so i guess that's why i don't use them much. [/size] [/color]

I'm guessing you're not using them right it you can't get them to stay put.  Can you take a pic of you sitting in your kayak with the thigh straps on?  Also, not all factory placement of padeyes work well.  You may have to experiment with positioning.

-Allen

Nanook, are you referring to the kind of anchor that comes off the stern with rope, usually via a pulley and then you drop a pyramid anchor down?  If so, is that what you guys use, a pyramid anchor or do you use bigger chain or old weights, coffee can filled with concrete or drilled out rock with an eye bolt attached?  Curious as to what most of you guys are dropping in these rivers. 

Nanook, are you referring to the kind of anchor that comes off the stern with rope, usually via a pulley and then you drop a pyramid anchor down?  If so, is that what you guys use, a pyramid anchor or do you use bigger chain or old weights, coffee can filled with concrete or drilled out rock with an eye bolt attached?  Curious as to what most of you guys are dropping in these rivers.

Pyramid anchors are standard fair.

-Allen

I personally haven't done the pyramid like a drift boat on the yak, but that's what I've seen others doing and it's pretty nifty. there is a good example on the home page of this site.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/page,28.html

What is a standard weight needed to slow you down or stop you in a river in the northwest?  When you are stopped in the high volume are you not swaying back and forth like crazy? 

This is an 8lb Pyramidal anchor. Homemade set-up fabed by me at the shop I work at. There was some swaying with this setup in the Klamath River last year but was negated by hanging ny feet off to the side.

Ravensblack, very well done. 

So, is 8lbs pretty standard for kayaks in the NW?  Or, is it a range between 5-20lbs depending on conditions? 

How do you bring the anchor up, winch? 

What is your emergency procedure?  Just keep a knife close?

I would assume the river bottoms there are more of just rock right?  Is it more smooth or jagged rock?  I would assume it is a little smoother but I am sure up in the elevation you guys have jagged rock as well.  You guys probably have some occasional wood in there too right? 
 
I don't use this stuff but Nanook you might can look at the Coosa and tell me why in the world would it not work on there without having to add the bracket?  It seems to me like it would work so long as you find a place to mount your crank and then run the rope through the deck eyes and then through the stern handle like the drag chain does.  Yeah, when you raise the anchor it may not be completely out of the water but it might if you had the right shape anchor that would fit under that handle.  In fact, Jackson makes one handle size larger than what comes on the Coosa too and I know customer service would send one to anyone who wanted it. 

In fact, if you want your boat built in any specific manner we can do that.  And, make it in any custom color too, which is nice. 

Ravensblack, very well done. 

So, is 8lbs pretty standard for kayaks in the NW?  Or, is it a range between 5-20lbs depending on conditions? 

How do you bring the anchor up, winch? 

What is your emergency procedure?  Just keep a knife close?

I would assume the river bottoms there are more of just rock right?  Is it more smooth or jagged rock?  I would assume it is a little smoother but I am sure up in the elevation you guys have jagged rock as well.  You guys probably have some occasional wood in there too right? 
 
I don't use this stuff but Nanook you might can look at the Coosa and tell me why in the world would it not work on there without having to add the bracket?  It seems to me like it would work so long as you find a place to mount your crank and then run the rope through the deck eyes and then through the stern handle like the drag chain does.  Yeah, when you raise the anchor it may not be completely out of the water but it might if you had the right shape anchor that would fit under that handle.  In fact, Jackson makes one handle size larger than what comes on the Coosa too and I know customer service would send one to anyone who wanted it. 

In fact, if you want your boat built in any specific manner we can do that.  And, make it in any custom color too, which is nice.

8 pounds is in the range.  Some go up to 12.  You're usually not anchoring in the fastest water, rather off to the side or up above.

The rope goes through the eye and up to the side of the paddle, where it is held with a quick release.  In an emergency situation you can just let the loose end go, or cut it if you like.

The river bottoms is typically smooth rock of all sizes from sand to boulders.

Sometimes sway works to your advantage, like if you're working a plug through a slot below you.  Controlled sway can can be done with judicious foot dangling.

-Allen

Ravensblack, very well done. 

So, is 8lbs pretty standard for kayaks in the NW?  Or, is it a range between 5-20lbs depending on conditions? 

How do you bring the anchor up, winch? 

What is your emergency procedure?  Just keep a knife close?

I would assume the river bottoms there are more of just rock right?  Is it more smooth or jagged rock?  I would assume it is a little smoother but I am sure up in the elevation you guys have jagged rock as well.  You guys probably have some occasional wood in there too right? 
 
I don't use this stuff but Nanook you might can look at the Coosa and tell me why in the world would it not work on there without having to add the bracket?  It seems to me like it would work so long as you find a place to mount your crank and then run the rope through the deck eyes and then through the stern handle like the drag chain does.  Yeah, when you raise the anchor it may not be completely out of the water but it might if you had the right shape anchor that would fit under that handle.  In fact, Jackson makes one handle size larger than what comes on the Coosa too and I know customer service would send one to anyone who wanted it. 

In fact, if you want your boat built in any specific manner we can do that.  And, make it in any custom color too, which is nice. 

 If the 8 wont hold I dont want to be there. I was anchoring the crease between the faster water out in the middle. The rope is realeased from a clam-cleat allowing it to run free from the boat. In the optimum scenario. Whens the boat going to be at California Kayak Co. in Oakland? We are down here in the north bay of SF. This is the other sister site to here.  norcalkayakanglers.com