The Kayak Fishing Store (TKFS) using the stock plastic Torqeedo steering bracket has improved the rigidity by using aluminum. The lightweight but much stronger bracket can take the extreme forces for a life time of steering. The process of making these from a block of aluminum using a CNC process is illustrated below.
Having mentioned this after market part in many of my posts and videos. This is a great addition to any Torqeedo UL 403 Install!
Modifications to the original aftermarket bracket the steering points have been bored larger than on the previous version 1 to allow the carabeners to pivot more. This way they no longer have the tendency to get stuck in the up and down position.
YakAttack LeverLoc install on Jackson Kayak Kraken (Permanent Install)
The Jackson Kayak Kraken being 15′-6″ long requires the use of pad eyes to guide the long anchor trolley. YakAttack has created a kit along with a locking feature so there is no need for clam cleats anymore. Low profile and a top of the line anchor trolley rigging solution.
The YakAttack Leverloc install on Jackson Kayak Kraken is pretty simple given the amount of access to the inside of the hull. In this article I will cover the YakAttack Leverlock HD kit & system. The kit includes additional backing plates to make the pulley anchor points more rigid.
In the kit you will find the following:
YakAttack LeverLoc HD Kit
Anchor Trolley Line
(4) Pad Hooks
(2) Harken Pulleys
LeverLoc and Housing
Trolley Ring
(3) backing plates with rigging bullet capability
Mounting Hardware
Tools Needed:
Drill
Screwdriver
Lighter
Center Punch
First check that the kit contains all parts you will need.
The included instructions are well written in a step by step fashion to guide you through the installation that best fits the application.
In this install we will be drilling only 2 holes at the pulley locations as with the Jackson Kayak Kraken there is ample inner hull access to these areas. On the (2) three hole backer blocks look for the word pulley. these are the 2 holes we will be fastening to.
The LeverLoc may be installed on either side of your kayak and is purely your discretion. Typically fishing with conventional rods and reels my preference is to install the anchor trolley on the left side of my kayak. Due to being right handed I tend to fish from the left side of the kayak. This allows me to control my fishing rod better and land my fish easier. Also being right handed the control of the line and LeverLoc is overall easier.
1. Pulley Install:
Choose a location 12″ back from the bow above the waterline. Using a center punch mark the first hole and drill. Now mount the pulley using the black 1″ 10-32 bolt in the first hole drilled. Tighten into the backing plate but do not tighten completely. Now level the pulley and mark the second hole location in the center of the pulley mouthing point. Pivot the pulley and backing pate out of the way and drill the second hole. Fasten the second bolt to the backing plate and tighten. Repeat the same steps for the rear pulley.
2. LeverLoc & Clamp Base Install:
Now for the lever lock. The Kraken does not have a way to access the inner area of the kayak for this location. Select the location within reach from your seat but not where your paddle sweep will allow your hand or the paddle to hit. The screws provided will thread into the plastic without worries of them working out or leaking.
3. Trolley Line:
Tie an overhand knot in the end of the paracord after running it through one side of the ring. Now run the paracord through the bottom of the bow pulley then the top of the stern. Make sure you run it from the stern up through the pulley then through the Clamp Base then down through the front pulley. Tie off the ends to the trolley ring. Make sure there is no slack in the line.
4. Pad hook Install:
For locations where the paracord line rides up the gunnel you will install the pad hooks. The top line will run through and the bottom will clip in the bottom hook. Evenly spacing 2 at the stern to the center and 2 from the bow to the center seems to be the best placement.
5. Tie off
Tie the tag end of the trolley line to the ring using half hitches. Cut the remaining end but leave about 3 inches for future adjustment.
Disclaimer:
Installing hardware may cause damage and/or void manufacturer warranties. ThePlasticHull.net its authors or any other source of information on this website is in no way responsible for your actions nor any type issues or damage that may occur. The information provided on this website is a free reference guide only. The authors of all information, sponsors and the owners of the website that host this information are not liable for any problems or issues that arise from the use of this information. Users of this information hereby acknowledge that all use of this information is done by their own free will, at their own sole risk, understanding that destruction of property, injury, or death could occur.
By relocating more south there are now tournaments in reach of home that don’t require a ton of time off from work. A particular tournament and gathering I have personally always wanted to attend is the Tide Water Kayak Associations fishing for charity tournament. The event benefits Heroes on The Water and Project Healing Waters. Located within the vicinity of Virginia Beach the tournament covers both saltwater and fresh waters. For a saltwater anger such as myself this is a big fish paradise.
October is an excellent time of year to fish the waters of the lower Chesapeake at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) for bull reds. Bull reds can reach upwards of 80 lbs making them a trophy to catch and release as they are protected by a slot limit. These fish are the big breeders that give the area its abundant stock of puppy drum. If you are to land such a fish take care of her. Handle her with care and release her as fast as possible. She is the future of the Redfish population for the area.
The area also holds many abundant species such as Founder, Tautog, Spades, Stripers, and Trout. In the backwaters of Lynhaven you may find abundant puppy drum and speckled trout scattered among the oyster bars.
Also being a special occasion this would be my first time fishing off of the Kraken 15.5. In the past having paddled the kayak on long trips both kayak camping and touring the Kraken has out performed my expectations. Now was time to put it to the real test. The bay at the CBBT can be unforgiving with fast tidal currents, heavy winds, and ocean like swells. The best time to fish the bridge is around slack tides. This way your not drifting 1.5 – 3 mph and not dragging 8oz+ jigs to stay on the bottom.
Arriving on Thursday night after the 3.5 hour drive to Virginia Beach I met up with fellow anglers Dee and Kelly. Kelly was nice enough to invite me to stay at her cousins house for the weekend! We got up early Friday morning to hit the CBBT for the Bull Reds. Chris Parson and Gene joined us. The mile paddle out was a breeze with the Kraken 15.5. Its very stable fully loaded and does not loose speed.
It was a nice morning there weren’t any kayakers out there when we arrived but steadily as the day went on there appeared to be about a dozen total. A boat pulled up anchoring between the bridges. It appeared they were dropping cut mullet over on fish finder rigs. They hooked up to a Bull Red within the first hour. I had 2 on but unfortunately lost them. Kelly also had 2 on but using very light tackle lost those fish too. The wind picked up around 2 PM and it was time to head in. It became very rough quickly and we actually had to initiate a full on surf landing back at the drop in. Afterwards checked into the captains meeting. It was well setup with an entire 40 foot length of tables filled with prizes. Got to meet up with some people i haven’t seen in years. Notable Mark and Kris Lozier whom I have not seen since the boondoggle in 2012. Jokes and rules were heard it was time to fish in the AM!
Afterwards I joined Kelly Dee and Kelly’s family for her nieces birthday dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Although almost a complete stranger these people welcomed me like family. We enjoyed dinner laughs and some cake together. We said farewell and it was time to get some rest because we had a lot of tide to compete with for these bull reds.
Arriving in the dark it was a warm morning however it was tournament day and there was a lot more activity at the drop in areas that access the bridge tunnel shoreline. Tournament participants were readying their gear and launching for a shot at the big redfish. Soon after launching the sun emerged a huge red globe emanating a warm hue of light. Beginning with another calm morning but just missing the slack tide by 30 min or so. We were in for a famous 4 knot tide day. Holding place at the bridge was near impossible. Every snag to retie cost about a mile paddle back to the bridge. Not sure if it was just the amount of kayaks anglers pressuring the fish or the fish were just not there catching was slim. The same boat was there as the prior day and only saw them hook and land 1 fish. Fishing was dead and the winds were starting to blow. I decided to call it a day and move to another launch in behind Lynn Haven inlet. The paddle back was shaky as there were easily 3 – 4 foot waves and a following sea. We went to the drop in and it was un-land able up to the wall there. So we had to paddle back west to the beach that was rapidly disappearing. A text book surf landing was in store as the waves were rolling and crashing.
Kelly and I arrived at the launch soon after to fish the backwaters of Lynn Haven. It was nice to be back here as it had been four years. Everyone i talked to said fishing wasn’t great. I threw a spoon at first then swtiche to a DOA jig with a paddle tale. It took about an hour and by now the wind was way worse. I lost Kelly due to the shallow water. Her pedal drive just wasn’t working in the area. She eventually caught up and jsut as she did i had a fish in. The only red of the trip.
a 17″ Red Drum or Redfish
Fishing unfamiliar places is always a challenge. Managed a total of 4 more reds in the 14-16 inch range then called it a day too late to even make it back for the weigh in. We loaded up and were headed back to the hotel where the event HQ was. The food was great and hanging out with the jersey guys was awesome also. The tournament raised over 15,000 for charities in 2016 which made it possible to donate 14,000 to the Tidewater Chapter of Heroes on The water and 1,000 to the Portsmouth chapter of Project Healing Waters. Over the past 9 years of the tournaments existence has raised over 100,000 for charity which is amazing.
The Kayak Fishing Store (TKFS) using the stock plastic Torqeedo steering bracket has improved the rigidity by using aluminum. The lightweight but much stronger bracket can take the extreme forces for a life time of steering. The process of making these from a block of aluminum using a CNC process is illustrated below.
UL 403 Install!
