Angling Kayakers…
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OK…I’ve been tucking money away since the first of the year for the purchase of a Native Ultimate 14.5 Tandem and in the next couple of weeks will be pulling the trigger on the purchase.
SO…I need suggestions for what accessories I can’t live without, which ones can wait for later, what paddle brands, paddle length, and any other info you want to pass along.
Right now I’m looking at the rudder kit, two Scottie fly rod holders, anchor trolley system, deck mount paddle holder, seat riser, and the console tray. I’m hoping to do all of them at the initial purchase…but may add one or two of the items as the summer goes on.
Any advice would be appreciated.
“I need suggestions for what accessories I can’t live without…”
One of these in Battenkill green:
…and a few of these:
…and a lot of these:
;D
Looks like you have most everthing covered. I would go with a good paddle. My minimum specs would be a fiberglass shaft with nylon, asymetrical blades. I have a Bending Branches paddle that is good, but my Carlile carbon fiber paddle is noticeably better (and much more expensive). Paddle length for a 14.5 would probably be around 230 unless you have unusually short arms. Your dealer should be able to help you here. Besides Bending Branches and Carlile, Werner and Aqua Bound make good paddles. There are others that are also good.
The only other accessory I would suggest is a front (bow) spray skirt. Ultimates tend to take water over the front in a strong chop.
A few more thoughts:
I don’t know much about paddles, but I do recommend the rudder. I would be very frustrated (or perhaps rudderless) without one.
Think through the type of anchor(s) best suited to your fishing conditions. Folding grapnel anchors are nice on sand/mud bottoms but they can be dangerous in current (leading you to tip over), very difficult to retrieve (especially if the current makes it difficult to get back up stream) and they can get hung up on trees/roots. As you can imagine, there are pros and cons to each type of anchor.
Before you mount accessories, think through whether they will interfere with your line. My next accessory will be some kind of stripping basket. It can be tough to manage a large pile of line in a kayak, especially with things like seat buckles, rod mounts and misc. items sticking out.
Not sure how stable that boat is, but outriggers can be useful in some unexpected ways. I caught some tows back up a river this past weekend. The boat would have flipped without them. Admittedly, outriggers are a fringe accessory so I would not rush into it. Yes, some people will say they look like sissy floats, but I like mine.
Not sure how you will transport the boat, but I usually put mine on a Yakima rack.
I have Scotty and RAM rod holders in my fishing yak – I’ve found that I prefer the RAM holders – better built and more adjustable in my opinion.
Beyond that, and I hate to go against everyone here (and everyone that advised me when I was buying a yak), but…
Fellows…I appreciate the comments so far and they have given me some information to research this evening.
Steve…I’m ready to be a “Kayak Gangsta”…so cool it with the Pampers and pacifiers!
Consider some kind of high-vis. flag/light system. I fish big impoundments, salt water, and at night. Therefore, I have a simple PVC pipe mount on my egg crate that allows me to get a light and/or bright orange flag about 6 feet above the deck. I fish right handed, have the flag pole mounted on the left side behind the seat, and it absolutely does not interfere with my cast. I’ll second the hand bilge pump, for emergencies, but I usually do OK with a big sponge. I’ve never, ever, after many tries, been able to make a stripping basket work well from my yak. I lay a towel or apron across my lap and strip line onto it. Sub-optimal, but better than a basket, in my experience. If you’re going to use an anchor, use some kind of quick-release cleat. The small clamcleats from hook1 are perfect for me.
G
You’ve received lots of good feedback so far…not sure I offer anything new or profound.
1. Do your homework on PFD’s. I am on my second one and still not happy. The back panel just doesnt mesh well with my back rest. They make some with only half of a back piece but I wanted better floatation than those provide.
2. Paddles. I have an aluminum Bending Branches. The fiberglass ones certainly are lighter and provide better performance…but I tend to be hard on stuff like this…plus I wanted to put money toward other things….so I went cheap. I would stick with either BB or Warner…but maybe thats just me.
3. As was mentioned before…REALLY take you time laying out all of your accessories. Thinking through where you are going to be drilling holes and poping rivets. There is no going back once you have put a whole in the thing.
4. Depending on what kind of water you will be fishing…an anchor system that can be set off the bow or the stern is very usefull.
5. Oh…and staying dry is overrated. I’ve got a Tarpon 140. Getting wet is part of the fun…I’ve never quite understood people who get into kayaking expecting to be dry??!! Plus…I have waders on most of the time.
Check out Cpt. Dicks website, He’s a really nice guy and will help you out with any rigging info you need.
http://www.captdick.net/but… If you’re not planning on doing a lot of long distance paddling I don’t really see the value in spending big money on a paddle. I bought an aluminum paddle, and while I don’t do a ton of paddling around, I’ve done many 10-15 mile days without any trouble. My paddle was ~$40, and it held up to a hard year in the salt with no problems and no visible wear.
Maybe buy a cheaper paddle, and keep an eye out on Steepandcheap.com for a really nice one if you decide you want to upgrade?
IMHO, a paddle is to the yak as the flyrod is to the fly fisherman.
I paddle mostly tailwaters and S GA rivers (lots of shoals) and picked up a SeaSense paddle for around $20.
If I may, why do you want to own a rigid / hard hull boat?? I mean it looks like a really great buy, but why??
We, us South Africans, have been using inflatables for many years and for many reasons.
1.The Ultimate is not a true kayak. It is sort of a cross between a canoe and a kayak. Most people fish out of SOT kayaks which have scuppers (drain holes). The Ultimate does not, so any water that comes in stays in.
From Dictionary.com: Kayak: Noun: 1. an Eskimo canoe with a skin cover on a light framework, made watertight by flexible closure around the waist of the occupant and propelled with a double-bladed paddle.
2. a small boat resembling this, made commercially of a variety of materials and used in sports.I don’t know exactly when, but probably 10 years ago, SOT kayaks didn’t really exist, they evolved from SITIN kayaks and were eventually adapted to angling.
i have a small sit on top.
good fun and gets me to little nooks real quiet like
i did a 22 mile paddle in it a few weeks ago, went over a waterfall and ate it good. lost a box of smallie flies. – the only thing not tied down.
got it on craigslist.
Mike,
No real need to get in a debate on whether it is a kayak or not. To my way of thinking, kayaks have an upper deck. SIK’s have a hole in the deck, SOT’s have an indentation in the deck. Canoes do not have an upper deck and neither do Ultimates. Go to the Native Watercraft site and you will see the Ultimates listed under Hybrids.
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