Rigging a sit-on kayak for spearfishing?

[foxfish]

One of our local boat chandlers have the complete range of "Ocean kayaks" in stock, the one I like is the "Peekaboo" stupid name cool idea? The yak has a window in the bottom so you can see the water underneath.

 

[Magpie]

Its not the complete range but it a good selection for over here. Unfortunately for some reason they decided to get all the "barge" models so of no interest to me, I want something sleeker.

Not sure how that window in the peekaboo would fair when a swell dumps you on a granite boulder, its a nice feature though.

 

[foxfish]

You right in saying that it has to point to the bottom. If you look in the pictures below it shows how the ducer on mine has to point. The bracket that came with the ff is pretty good IMHO.

The way ive mounted my transducer is not the best way I know but ive not had any problems yet.

I notice that the ocean yaks have some good features like a dedicated moulded transducer scupper that makes fitting a sounder easy. There is one model with a pop up hatch that protects the sounder from spray & sun glare, also a dedicated shelf to take a sounder battery.

 

[dario_deli]

I decided for the eagle 168 but I'm not sure how to place the trasducer and where. I'm a little bit concerned to make holes but I think this's the only way to mount it. Any hint? Sorry guys if I'm such a pain in the ass! Hihi!
Dave, are u still using mamba?

 

[foxfish]

Maybe you can make a bracket & at least make the fixings above the water line.
The transducer only needs to be just under the water, you could fix it to a length of angle ally or even a wooden pole & then submerge the the end into the water. I could fix one up for mate but a bit difficult over the net :head

 

[dario_deli]

it'd be nice to fix a pole removable that I can use for the diving flag as well!! Mmmmmm....
Yeah, over the net it's a bit difficult!Hehe!Thank you anyway!

 

[Magpie]

You don't need to cut any holes or mount it on a pole boys, you can put it inside the hull, it doesn't have to be in contact with the water:

From what I've read you can mount transducers inside the hull of the Kayak and they work fine, the key is to mount it in a big splodge of silicone type adhesive so there is no air between the transducer and the hull, there must be no bubbles in the silicone.

Some fit a bit of foam tube to hold the transducer in position inside the kayak, which is then filled with vaseline and the transducer fitted inside the tube so its in full contact with the vaseline, again making sure there is no air bubbles.

 

[Magpie]

Pretty much all you need to know:

Kayak Depth Finders Fishing Techniques, Rigging Explanations, Kayak Recommendations and more

 

[dario_deli]

WOW!I saw your thread but the point is that I didnt understand very well how to do it but the article is really well done!I think I'm gonna mount it like that!Did you?
Thank you!

 

[Magpie]

No probs mate. Nope, I have a Humminbird 525 but no yak to put it in yet rofl

 

[foxfish]

Interesting - I do confess I have no experience with fitting sounders on a yak - certainly for fiberglass boats you can get "through hull" transducer's at a premium added cost but they are not as effective as a outside the hull version. I can only assume the transducer can penetrate through plastic in a different way to fiberglass? Otherwise every one would fit them inside the hull

 

[dave]

The only difference with a special through hull transducer is the shape. A normal transducer works works fine on a through hull mount in fibreglass if you do it as Magpie says, so long as there is no foam or air voids in the way. I have a lowrance Skimmer transducer shooting through about an inch of fibreglass on my C-Ski 440 with no noticeable loss in signal

cheers
dave
Spearguns by Spearo uk ltd finest supplier of speargun, monofins, speargun and freediving equipment

 

[foxfish]

Crumbs they are ganging up on me now!
OK but for gods sake dont tell the 16 million boaters that dont know about this or I and all my fellow boat builders will be out of work or sued for fitting the transducers outside of the boats!
Looks like a good business opportunity for a enterprising person - might take a few years to change all those exciting transducers that have been fitted to the manufactures spec though. rofl
I wonder why Ocean yaks went to all that trouble of making scuppers for transducers?

 

[Magpie]

Cos its a good gimmick thats sells yaks?

Seriously though, the in scupper transducer means you don't have to make a hole in something on the topside (usually a hatch) to bring the wires out of the hull to the main unit, so there is a benefit.

 

[portinfer]

You bought a yak yet Tom ?! Tis the season to go plugging from the yak

 

[Magpie]

Not yet mate, realised I've got to get planning permission to modify our parking space for anything longer than 14ft on the van (no, haven't got that yet either) roof to fit in the drive, and what I want is longer than 14ft...Application is in, hopefully hear before winter sets in...Been doing a lot of forum lurking...

 

[portinfer]

Good luck Tom - could be a while

I have just been on a mad spending spree and dished out the princely sum of £3.40 for a Maria Viva Parade lure : Viva Parade

I reckon that this is a good one for behind the yak in the summer. I went for the 21g one but I guess you could go smaller or larger.

Looks well made and I think that it will work for spinning or jigging (not a fisherman but I think this is correct terminology) in the sort of depth we get overhere where we go diving - about 4m to 12m.
Planning on doing a bit of fishing this summer between diving from the yak - not sure if this will work out (ie too much gear on the boat) and it might be better to concentrate on one method !
Mr X I think that you fish and dive ? Any problems with swapping over between techniques ? Or is it just a case of stashing the gear well. I've only done one or the other (ie spearing or rod fishing).
See if I can get a fish for Good Friday !

Ed

 

[Magpie]

That lure looks ok, would guess it wouldn't work that well trolling though as it has no action of its own, you need to jerk the rod tip to get it moving, unlike plugs which have and action from their diving lip or redgills which have a waggly tail.

Your and Mr X's yaks are about as different as they get Ed! I don't see why you couldn't do both, it'd be easier if you lashed a crate onto your back hatch though, and fitted a rod holder or two, a flushmount at the very least.

I really want one now, want to go explore round the cliffs, and Brehon, and the Humps...

 

[foxfish]

That's ambition for you!

 

[Magpie]

All in one trip :t