Kayak

[Novagun]

I needed a break from my exasperating airguns so I started a little project. I got 4.6 knots from my 2 hp Yamaha on my 2.3 m rubber ducky   so now I have made an outrigger float to go on my own design 15 ft plywood kayak. Just sorting out the attachments so I can use the Yamaha. It will either go faster or slower or dump me in the water .

[Xraycer]

We really need to see some pictures, Hugh.

[Blowpipe Sam]

I vote for dumping in the water!

Been there.

[tennx]

   Something I always wanted to do….we have a river The Wolf….lower reaches have been channeled out to the Mississippi….but the upper reaches have been left almost pristine…one section called the ghost meanders thru a cypress swamp…was always on my bucket list…getting old and  infirmed sux….good luck

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/ghost-river-paddling

[Blowpipe Sam]

   Something I always wanted to do….we have a river The Wolf….lower reaches have been channeled out to the Mississippi….but the upper reaches have been left almost pristine…one section called the ghost meanders thru a cypress swamp…was always on my bucket list…getting old and  infirmed sux….good luck

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/ghost-river-paddling

My mom is 83 and still paddles her own boat.  Drifting gently down stream isn't too strenuous.  I hope paddling is one of the last things I have to give up!

"There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

[Bicycleman]

"There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."[/font]

Captain is more a term of respect than it is a rank.

[anti-squirrel]

I paddle some here and there.  Last time was on the Cheat River in WV; class 2 at the time.  There's some nifty stationary waves just downstream of Rowlesburg.  Our last trip, I was using a 2-man inflatable boat with Sonja while my brother in law and his wife used some higher-end inflatables.  They both used to compete, and the bro-in-law was an olympic-class kayaker in the 80s.

Anyway, I love seeing what people can build; nothing beats paddling a canoe down a lazy river.

[Novagun]

Today is the last day of winter here and it has been a cracker. Took the kayak ensemble down to the waikawa stream. Bit muddy on the banks ,.
Launched the thing and went for a paddle. Floating  by itself it doesn't look bad . Up close you can see the pallet wood I have used. It costs nothing. Paddling it was a bit strange because the kayak does not roll at all. You can't roll it to turn. Put the little outboard motor on and the whole thing trims too much aft. Nothing I can do about that because the motor needs to be reachable from the cockpit. Bill took some photos and some people gathered on the bridge wanting to be entertained at the cost to my dignity. That did not happen and I kept dry.
The outboard motor would not start. I suspect that corrosion has occurred around the bottom bearing near the gear case and the spline joint in the drive shift.  Maybe it is thermal. The motor is 17 or 18 years old and has done all its life in seawater.  Trying to get it apart, but it is being stubborn.

[Novagun]

Ps thermal should be terminal

[anti-squirrel]

Galvanic corrosion is a nightmare, but elbow grease, quality tools, canned heat, and judicious application of penetrating oil should get your engine where it needs to be.

Sounds like a blast no matter what


If you were a might bit closer, I'd send a 2-stroke outboard your way.  Raucous little thing- it's a trolling motor of all things, but it runs despite sitting for 2 1/2 decades.

[Novagun]

The motor is now sitting on the bench in pieces. Corrosion cleaned up. The drive shift to the bottom end was very rusty   tmw the quest is to seek out the right gasket sets and reassemble 
It will go like a new one.

[anti-squirrel]

That should be a fun job!  A steady hand and a sharp knife/scissors will yield excellent gasket results.  Factor in some RTV and you'll be shipshape in no time



Speaking of kayak= we just purchased a new kayak- went with a Bote tandem.  Kris will be stoked to hear about that- she told me about her Bote Skiff a while back and I've been very intrigued since.

We looked at a bunch, and were thinking about an Aire, but there's some features the Bote has that render it ideal for our needs.  I can see eventually getting a couple Bote inflatable SUPs down the road.

[Blowpipe Sam]

That should be a fun job!  A steady hand and a sharp knife/scissors will yield excellent gasket results.  Factor in some RTV and you'll be shipshape in no time



Speaking of kayak= we just purchased a new kayak- went with a Bote tandem.  Kris will be stoked to hear about that- she told me about her Bote Skiff a while back and I've been very intrigued since.

We looked at a bunch, and were thinking about an Aire, but there's some features the Bote has that render it ideal for our needs.  I can see eventually getting a couple Bote inflatable SUPs down the road.

The parents have Bote they call “miss floppy”.  They’ve paddled it all over North America.  Good boats.
We’re a paddling family so we have beaucoup boats, canoes and kayaks.  In my dottage I’ve come to prefer a little solo canoe that my mom had designed for her several years ago.  12’, 28 lbs.  I can portage it forever.

[Robert 5mm]

Carter,
I was looking at Google maps - are you at the end of the properties before the Sopchoppy River turns into the Bay ?

Cool place - wish I had some place like that.

[anti-squirrel]

That should be a fun job!  A steady hand and a sharp knife/scissors will yield excellent gasket results.  Factor in some RTV and you'll be shipshape in no time



Speaking of kayak= we just purchased a new kayak- went with a Bote tandem.  Kris will be stoked to hear about that- she told me about her Bote Skiff a while back and I've been very intrigued since.

We looked at a bunch, and were thinking about an Aire, but there's some features the Bote has that render it ideal for our needs.  I can see eventually getting a couple Bote inflatable SUPs down the road.

The parents have Bote they call “miss floppy”.  They’ve paddled it all over North America.  Good boats.
We’re a paddling family so we have beaucoup boats, canoes and kayaks.  In my dottage I’ve come to prefer a little solo canoe that my mom had designed for her several years ago.  12’, 28 lbs.  I can portage it forever.

Great to hear!  I wish my canoe was that light, but I'm never riding it without my wife, gear, a cooler-bag, PFDs... you know the deal.  It does have an insane 875# weight capacity

Kris (MaraudingLizard) told me about them- in particular her skiff.  I was a "late bloomer" in paddling a 'yak or canoe, but took to it quickly.  My favorite is my 17' Old Towne, but I'm betting the Bote will get a lot of use.  The family I married into is like yours- life-long paddlers (the brother-in-law especially so)- I have a wide variety of 'yaks to choose from, along with canoes, my 14' Jonboat, and several SUPs.  I especially like the latter- but I've also surfed for decades.

[Blowpipe Sam]

Carter,
I was looking at Google maps - are you at the end of the properties before the Sopchoppy River turns into the Bay ?

Cool place - wish I had some place like that.

I’m upriver of the US 319 bridge.  From my dock it’s just a few minutes to saltwater fishing or I can head up stream into the Bradwell Bay Wilderness area.
There is still excellent fishing and hunting here.  We are truly blessed.

[Novagun]

Cracker spring day here  my 2hp Yamaha is back together and running like a new one  mounted it on the kayak . Rather the cross beam to the outrigger. ,Bill reckoned close to 6 knots. Not bad for a displacement kayak with a water line length of a bit under 15 feet   Some photos but not at speed. Too far away  Just have to find a way of posting them 
Lots of fun but now what am I going to do with it.  I am a bit stiff for clambering in and out of a sea kayak 

[Airspace]

I built a custom side mount for my kayak for a 5 speed trolling motor. The deep cycle battery fits to the storage compartment. The yak is a 12 foot Asend fishing yak which I also mounted yakgear adjustable pontoons for extra stability when using my camera. I don't have a way to measure for speed but it pushes me down the water in great comfort.

[DLP]

Here is my yak set-up. I have 2 of them set up for fishing.

[Madd Hatter]

   Something I always wanted to do….we have a river The Wolf….lower reaches have been channeled out to the Mississippi….but the upper reaches have been left almost pristine…one section called the ghost meanders thru a cypress swamp…was always on my bucket list…getting old and  infirmed sux….good luck

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/ghost-river-paddling

I hope paddling is one of the last things I have to give up!

"There is nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

Kinky😁