At last....the T-13 is rigged.....for now.....

Well, the majority of my modifications are complete.  I did tons of research, listened intently to advice given by seasoned members, and this is what I came up with.  Still have some minor work to do, like trimming excess RTV, but I am happy with how it all came out.  Shown are configurations for crabbing and fishing.  I am sad to report that the fine looking Hawg Trough has yet to be christened.  But it will.........

Looks ready to boogie! 

NOTE: You might find it easier to pull the kayak around on the cart if you can strap it pretty much directly under the seat.  It balances it out nicely and takes a lot of bow weight from killing your back. 

Looks ready to boogie! 

NOTE: You might find it easier to pull the kayak around on the cart if you can strap it pretty much directly under the seat.  It balances it out nicely and takes a lot of bow weight from killing your back.

Excellent point INSAYN.....I have it that far aft for loading into the bed of my dually.  I just lift it on the tailgate, then lift the bow and roll it forward.  Then the bow goes on a bed extender rack and everything gets lashed down.  But you are right, when I dolly it down to the water that bow is pretty heavy!  ;-)

Wow!  Nice job.  Does the transducer wand extend longer?  Where does the salmon go?

Looks ready to boogie! 

NOTE: You might find it easier to pull the kayak around on the cart if you can strap it pretty much directly under the seat.  It balances it out nicely and takes a lot of bow weight from killing your back.

... But you are right, when I dolly it down to the water that bow is pretty heavy!  ;-)

Weight distribution is only part of the reason to move your wheels forward.  Kayaks are tapered.  If you try to haul your yak any distance or over rough terrain, you'll pull your yak right off the wheels.  DAMHIK......

BTW: That's one pimped out yak!  Nice job.  After you've fished a couple of different venues, make sure to post up on things that didn't work quite right the 1st time.  We all have to fine tune our bling over time.  It's helpful to know what issues others have run into.

-Spot-

@ Demonick:

You got the eagle eye my friend.....the one maddening obvious error I made in the "pimp-out" was cutting the transducer arm a little short.  It still puts the 'ducer down just past that bottom tie-wrap, but I would have preferred it closer to keel level.  Mad Frog Gear is sending me a replacement.  The 597 performed flawlessly in it's 1st trial out on American Lake.  Salmons (when I actually catch one) will go into a catch bag and into the midships rod pod.  Don't want to tempt the seals with stringing overboard, right?

@ Spot:  Yeah, I had the thing slip off at Twanoh.  After that I made sure I ran the straps under the handling lines back aft.  No issues since, and again it is the compromise I made for easy loading / unloading from the dually.

So far, everything performs as expected.  I dissected Zee's article on downrigging and was repared for a workout to maintain trolling speeds and track with all that drag.  Still need to work on techniques a little but that's part of the fun.

More to come, I'm sure........

 

mtom....I've got the T-11 and just received my Fish Finder today. Did you mount your tranducer in the scupper designed for it or elsewhere? I'd like to use the scupper as it was intended, but no idea how to go about it....Dave

Excellent work. Lookin' forward to seeing the fish blood!

Really cool rig. How is the downrigger to heave in or pay out since it's behind you. Where are you going to christen this fishing machine??

Excellent work. Lookin' forward to seeing the fish blood!

Your crab trap fits great too. Looking forward to some pics soon

After looking at your crab trap holder, I would recommend getting out on a lake and do a trial run at lifting that trap up and over the PVC. 
It may work just fine, but looks like you'll be lifting the trap at an awfully high and possibly unstable height to completely clear everything. 

Does the PVC have to go all they way through the trap, or can it just clear the bottom of the cage by a few inches? 

...Salmons (when I actually catch one) will go into a catch bag and into the midships rod pod.  Don't want to tempt the seals with stringing overboard, right?

Not sure if the plan is to put the fish in the catch bag and then the catch bag in the hull, or use a catch bag sometimes and sometimes just drop fish into the hull.  If the latter, think long and hard about putting raw fish in the hull - hard to clean the inside of the yak, and if you store in a garage it can get pretty ripe. 

Also, there are smaller crab traps.  Danielson makes square, folding 2'x'2'x1' traps.  Easy to carry two on the T13. 

mtom....I've got the T-11 and just received my Fish Finder today. Did you mount your tranducer in the scupper designed for it or elsewhere? I'd like to use the scupper as it was intended, but no idea how to go about it....Dave

Hi Dave

The FF I went with, the HB 597 HD DI Combo's transducer is not compatable with the modified scupper hole on the starboard side.  I decided, since I also fish freshwater, not to go with the foam puck method thru-hull because it compromises the water temperature reading, a feature I paid for and need when in the lakes.  I designed a transducer arm using Scotty parts, but it was big and bulky and in the end I didn't care for it.  Then I found this sweet little over the side deployment arm made by Mad Frog Gear called the mini liberator.  That is what you see in the photo.  Works great, easy to set up, and I can easily remove and stow it during transport.

http://madfroggear.com/liberator/liberator.html

Let me know if this helps or if you need more info!

After looking at your crab trap holder, I would recommend getting out on a lake and do a trial run at lifting that trap up and over the PVC. 
It may work just fine, but looks like you'll be lifting the trap at an awfully high and possibly unstable height to completely clear everything. 

Does the PVC have to go all they way through the trap, or can it just clear the bottom of the cage by a few inches? 

INSAYN....point well taken.  I have already tested it the final weekend of dungy season on the Canal.  No issues taking off or putting on, as long as everything is done is a slow, deliberate motion.  I sat sideways with feet over the side  which I learned from the NWKA how to video.  I experienced no instability even when dealing with PWC wakes.  I suppose I could have shortened the poles.....I just went with an example I saw on YouTube. 

...Salmons (when I actually catch one) will go into a catch bag and into the midships rod pod.  Don't want to tempt the seals with stringing overboard, right?

Not sure if the plan is to put the fish in the catch bag and then the catch bag in the hull, or use a catch bag sometimes and sometimes just drop fish into the hull.  If the latter, think long and hard about putting raw fish in the hull - hard to clean the inside of the yak, and if you store in a garage it can get pretty ripe. 

Also, there are smaller crab traps.  Danielson makes square, folding 2'x'2'x1' traps.  Easy to carry two on the T13.

In a catch bag ALWAYS.  No bloody fishes sliding around loose inside.  I did discover that little Swiffer wetpad floor mop makes cleaning in-hull a piece of cake.  Used it when my disassembled C-tug dripped saltwater all over the inside.

Yeah, the Danielson's.  If I keep my holding poles the same height, I could transport and set more pots.  Pondering that for next year.