You just have to have a KAYAK!

Cupie · Guru

You just have to have a KAYAK!

Firefly · Guru

It is something that I would seriously consider Cupie, see them on here a lot. smile

kandagal · Guru

My better half used to have a tinnie on the roof when we towed a caravan but now with the motorhome he hasn't one. He is considering getting an inflatable just so he can go fishing. Well that will keep him off the streets. Cheers

Ma · Guru

Blue became the proud owner of "Squidgie" two weeks ago. That's what we call it anyway.

It is an Australis squid brand and when I can I will take some pics.

We also got those roof racks that are soft and come down through the doors and buckle up inside the tug.

Squidgie certainly doesn't move around.

He's had a couple of trial runs out on Burrill Lake this past week and he loves it.

He said it's easy to paddle but he also has a little motor on it as well.

Won't break any water speed records with it but it just putts along and gives the shoulders a rest for some of the time.

On our five month trip away last year we realised that there are numerous waterways in this country that you just can't get a boat into but can quite easily launch a kayak.

-- Edited by Ma on Saturday 30th of April 2011 09:12:49 PM

DellieMay · Senior Member

Dero is forever wanting one. He seems to have a problem with me tho. LOL. I've always ASSUMED they were more trouble than they were worth... Maybe... just maybe...I was wrong. He does love fishing and jabbying, so I'll tell him, you all reckon they are "the go". Got to admit, we had fun in a canoe. Only trouble was, I was doing all the paddleing.
cheers Dellie

Wombat 280 · Guru

kandagal wrote:
My better half used to have a tinnie on the roof when we towed a caravan but now with the motorhome he hasn't one. He is considering getting an inflatable just so he can go fishing. Well that will keep him off the streets. Cheers

Have a serious look at the foldabote I have looked at both inflatables and the Foldabote and the foldabote is coming up in front at the moment because it requires bugger all HP to make it plan with 2 up and is light and easy to put together .

Like canoes and ky's have had both but up north can present an unacceptable risk with the big snappers that get in those billabongs

sandsmere · Guru

G'day Wombat 280 .

Haven't seen anything about the Foldabote . Where do you get info on them ?

Sounds like they might be the same sort of thing as the Porta Bote . I've looked into those and like what I've seen .

Would like to have a squizz at any other options though .

Cheers , Brian .

Zoomtopz · Guru

I have a 16ft Canadian canoe . I got it after my son got interested in kayaks .

We went up to Copmanhurst last Tuesday for a paddle , all three of us . Sam in

his slalom boat & "Herself" & me in th 16ft r . As I said on th Tassie thread . Hoping

to take the canoe to Tassie for th kayak National c/ships , will have to wait to see

how many 'other' boats I have to take , as only 2 of us have boat carrying trailers .

But I enjoy my paddling on th Clarence twice a week , a couple of blokes & others

do it every day .

Richo.

Father Ted · Senior Member

Cupie wrote:
Yer ... I know that I'm off on my favourite subject again ... but I just need to encourage all of you who travel anywhere near water, to go out & get yourself a kayak.

Kayaks go with vans like soap with water.

Her upstairs has just got me my second kayak for my upcoming 70th birthday!!

It is a friend for my current Viking Fisherman kayak & isn't it a beauty! The new Viking Javlin goes fast & is easy to paddle.

I just wish that I had a kayak on top of the Patrol when I first went round the block in 2000. The roof racks have been modified to take them both ... one for each of us.

Seriously though, start looking at kayaks .. good for all ages & not hard to master.

-- Edited by Cupie on Saturday 30th of April 2011 09:05:56 PM
I learnt the hard way about Kayaks.First check girth before wriggling into the hole you sit in.Once in,legs stretched out you are locked in.Secondly make sure that you have water that is deep enough to allow you to escape when kayak topples over,6 inches of sand and mud make it impossible to get out from within.Belly wedges in hole,legs cramp,mouth and nose fill up with sand and mud,dog barks like mad,thinks it is all a new game and not his master in the middle of his death throes.Wife in background giving lifesaving advice"I told you to loose that Belly".Cupie I now have a canoe complete with ejection seats,enough rope to allow wife to safely lead me along the river bank.

coongoola · Member

Absolutely agree !

So versatile and easy to handle. We have a Minnow 2 by Perception Craft in NZ, had it for about 15 years now and still no problems. Been to Cape York and everywhere just about. Main use now is for poking in the smaller streams of the lower Macleay River, good photo opportunities there. smile

Pat

BobnBev · Senior Member

Cupie they look good ,BUT triying to get my wife in one would be like washing a cat in a bucket of cold water... I would love one...

Gazeagle · Member

Cupie,

I have been looking at the Viking Espri, but the Photo of your Viking Fisherman looks good as well, is it mainly used for estuary fishing and how heavy/hard is it to load unload from the rooftop of your vehicle and is it possible to do this on your own.
Whilst fishing how hard is it to paddle and fish at the same time?

Thanks
Gaz

bill12 · Guru

I tried one of the smaller kayaks, and while it was fun, It was a bit small for me(94kgs).You can,t paddle while catching a fish. The Hobbie ones are great, but cost an arm and a leg.My little tinnie and 6hp is great but getting harder to load.I will buy a Hobie when I win the lotto , otherwise stick to the tinnie.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

We would love to do our traveling with 1 or 2 kayaks on board but I've yet to find anyone willing to give any away for free & we have no money spare to buy even 2nd hand ones that rarely if ever go for under $200 a piece(& there the ride on top types) so it'd back to sharing the old boogie board again for us

Cheers

Jon

jack biggles · Senior Member

Father Ted wrote:

I learnt the hard way about Kayaks.First check girth before wriggling into the hole you sit in.Once in,legs stretched out you are locked in.Secondly make sure that you have water that is deep enough to allow you to escape when kayak topples over,6 inches of sand and mud make it impossible to get out from within.Belly wedges in hole,legs cramp,mouth and nose fill up with sand and mud,dog barks like mad,thinks it is all a new game and not his master in the middle of his death throes.Wife in background giving lifesaving advice"I told you to loose that Belly".Cupie I now have a canoe complete with ejection seats,enough rope to allow wife to safely lead me along the river bank.

That was one of the funniest stories I have read in a while........although I am sure at the time it wasnt that frunny for you Father Ted. Glad you survived to tell the tale.

russhenn · Veteran Member

'Bout time you lot caught on. His and hers paddle boats are just it.

Now all you have to do is get a scooter too. Why? cos some kayak journeys(like in TAS) are one way and youy need something at the end of the journey to go back to the launch vehicle. AAArrrrhhh, I hear you say, good idea. Plus the scooter makes a awesome town vehicle..

See ya on the wet stuff, or the road.

Cupie · Guru

Gazeagle wrote:
Cupie,

I have been looking at the Viking Espri, but the Photo of your Viking Fisherman looks good as well, is it mainly used for estuary fishing and how heavy/hard is it to load unload from the rooftop of your vehicle and is it possible to do this on your own.
Whilst fishing how hard is it to paddle and fish at the same time?

Thanks
Gaz

Gaz ...

The fisherman is an excellent estuary fishing platform. After a bit of practice I can stand on it to cast (carefully). Its weight comes partially due to its width (stability) and reinforced stern to take an electric motor. At 29kg plus a bit, it is a bit difficult to get on top of a vehicle.

I slide it on to the roof via the bullbar with some protective material for the duco. A couple of old blankets would do the job.

I am almost 70 and not especially fit but by using this method & basic lifting techniques, I have no problems getting it on unassisted. Have done it hunderds of times.

Of course a good collapsible trolley (round $100) is used to get it to the water. I have seen some beauties made from old golf bag carriers.

I have seen pictures of such things as a Y piece on a pipe fitted to a tow bar (like a bike rack) a bit above the height of the roof racks. The Y assembly & its pipe fits over a smaller pipe attached to the towball. You lift one end of the yak up onto the Y cradle and then lift & turn the other end onto the roof racks .. looks easy.

BUT .. Viking now have an even better fishing Kayak .. the ProFish. If I was in the market for one now, I would choose it.

I go for 'Sit On Tops', rather than 'Sit In' Kayaks because after a few hours I tend to stiffen up in the hips & knees. It is easy to get off SOTs but if I was using a Sit In one I think that I too would end up in the drink or mud like in the earlier post.

I prefer the modern polimers rather than fibre glass etc. because of their robustness .. The price is extra weight.

There are lots of fishing Kayaks out there, some would argue that the Hobie with foot paddles is the ultimate Sit On Top fisherman .. but for me the price is over the top.

Of course if you are in to serious open water fishing (or even long distance touring which attracts me) then you can't go past the longer & lighter fibreglass etc. 'Sit In' ones. I can only dream about them .. but age might have excluded me from going in that direction, plus the need to travel with a mate if going off shore. And I am not really into fishing, I just love kayaking for pleasure.

My compromise for estuary touring is the Javlin, another Viking Sit On Top but much easier to paddle than the wider ones like the fisherman.

I took the Javlin out in the choppy Southport Broadwater yesterday afternoon for the first time. Got a wet bumb because I left the seat at home, but it went extremely well & I didn't fall of once.

Better stop there .. I could go on forever & bore you all.

ps. I use 'soft racks' to mount the Javlin on to the roof of the Getz so I don't have to take the 4WD when of to some local waterway.

pps. Sorry I realised that I hadn't addressed the paddling while fishing question.

I have 4 rod holders fitted & can troll while paddling slowly. Then there is the electric motor set on low to motor along & I use my feet in the water to change direction. I have extended the motor controls to a rotary switch near my hip. Of course if you want to spend $s there are lots of remore control packages available. This is the area where the Hobie with foot paddles comes in to its own.

In addition I have fitted an anchor trolley and use a mini anchor to hold me in position if I want. Some just use a stick rammed into the shallow bottom & use that to hold position.

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 2nd of May 2011 09:46:30 AM

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 2nd of May 2011 09:56:11 AM

Di-n-Gary · Veteran Member

Hi cupie, I'm a bit of a fan of kayaks but before I get one I have a few concerns and maybe you can give me your thoughts. My gear is not cheap and the thought of fishing in 15knots with the slop drenching my gear doesn't excite me and what about when you do get a good fish, how stable are they as a good barra can put some serious pressure on you and your gear

Cupie · Guru

Hi ...

As I mentioned in passing in previous posts, I am not really a fisherman so my advice on fishing is not to be valued.

One of my reels has suffered from trolling & being constantly splashed. I just use another, higher rod holder.

A big fish might be a problem.. all a matter of technique I suppose ..... but maybe you should look at the specialised Kayak Fishing forums for info the subject ... Try "Kayak Fishing Downunder" or "Australian Kayak Fishing".

These guys are serious fishermen & have caught some beauties from their kayaks.

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 3rd of May 2011 08:16:06 AM

beachball57 · Senior Member

i have a condor fiberglass that i play with but am looking for something else that i can handle myself the condor is an early model and is rather heavy i'd like something to fish from but for the asking price of some of the ones i've looked at i can buy a small tinnie of that same price so i'm not sure which way to go at the moment

Ma · Guru

We got the tinny first BB. It's great but not everywhere is suitable to launch it.

We got the kayak with weighs 20kg and Blue is able to manage it himself if need be.

Also we figure there are numerous waterways on this island that can't accommodate a tinny but can easily fit a kayak.

chris & terry · Senior Member

Cupie, I have a Valley Aquanought, I mostly do ocean paddling, my biggest concern when kayak fishing is that you use bait to catch fish which in turn become bait for something else. It's the something else that I particularly do not want to attract. Also, being in Mt Isa at the moment I am quiet a distance from the coast.

P.S. In hot weather country your kayak will need to be protected from the heat while on the roof. The sun will damage it as will the heat where the roof cradles contacts the boat.

Terry

chris & terry · Senior Member

Cupie, I have a Valley Aquanought, I mostly do ocean paddling, my biggest concern when kayak fishing is that you use bait to catch fish which in turn become bait for something else. It's the something else that I particularly do not want to attract. Also, being in Mt Isa at the moment I am quiet a distance from the coast.

P.S. In hot weather country your kayak will need to be protected from the heat while on the roof. The sun will damage it as will the heat where the roof cradles contacts the boat.

Terry

Cupie · Guru

Terry ..

I have admired the kayak on your avatair in the past & wondered what sort it was.

Because of my age (70 next week) & slowly stiffening joints, I have gone for sit on tops. After a bit of paddling I get stiff from the hips down & have difficulty getting out of & in to sit in kayaks like yours.

Although I would love a fibre glass sea kayak, I'm afraid that I stated kayaking too late in life. As most of my paddling is solo in estuaries, a good quality SOT suits my situation. None the less I read the North American Kayaking magazines with envy. I would dearly love to be able to do that sort of stuff around Moreton Bay and the like. I think eskimo rolling is a bit out of my reach too.