Keeping it clear!

Bringing your new fishing kayak home is always an exciting time. Many new owners purchase accessories to add to their kayak immediately. So why paddle prior to rigging your new fishing kayak? Fishing from a small platform it is very important to place everything you will use in reach but not to interfere with other things. The main function of the kayak is the paddling stroke for propulsion. There is an area of the kayak that you will stroke and sweep. Any obstructions within the path pf the paddle will limit your paddle stroke and hence limit your speed and range of motion. Understanding the range of your stroke and sweep is very important for rod holder, camera mount, and fish finder mounting locations.

Learn how to properly paddle:

There are many resources online that can teach you a solid paddling technique. Along with the paddle strokes necessary for propelling your fishing kayak. Youtube is a great place to start. Everything is on there. A great website for learning how to paddle is www.paddling.com. Its in the website address! Although geared towards touring and sea kayaking there is plenty education us kayak anglers can benefit from there. Also if you have the time please do take an ACA accredited paddling course.

Fallen and cant get back on:

Remember kayaking is a dangerous sport. Being afloat on a very small narrow boat there is always a risk of capsizing. This is a great time to feel out your new fishing kayak. Lean on it feel where it may capsize. Then once you find that point practice a self rescue. Its great to do this with no rigging and gear for the first time. Practice is always good and can also give you an idea of where you may not want to mount an accessory due to it being in the way when trying to climb back onto your kayak. Also remember its smart to always wear your Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

Reaching can be dangerous:

Equally important as obstructions is learning and knowing your reach limitations. The hardest location to reach to is behind you. In most cases reaching behind you can make you become unstable due to the natural tendency to lean. A ground rule to remember is where your head goes the kayak follows. Its good to know your reach for control of the fish finder and the ability to grab rods from the rod holders quickly. Also many anglers use a milk crate system behind them for tackle storage as this is the original way of stowing gear it is not needed anymore due to the development of fishing style kayaks and their ample storage. Reach behind you and try different configurations.

Learning The Seat:

Some later fishing kayak models enable the ability to adjust the seat forward and aft. Remember, if you are going to be trimming out the kayak it will adjust the location of your paddle stroke and sweep. It is good not to install accessory’s that may impede this area. Gear Track mounting comes into play here as the accessory is now able to be re-positioned easily. Keep in mind that if your kayak has a high/low position seat this will change your paddle stroke. Its good to paddle from every position possible.

Track Mounting:

Track mounting has basically become an essential need for mounting accessories to your kayak. Enabling the ability to mount many different accessories for different locations, fishing types, and even kayak uses. Think if a track light. Gear tracks work the same way with the accessory having a T bolt on the end can be tightened down on any portion of the track.

Anchor Trolley:

An anchor trolley system operates like a clothes line. Utilizing 2 pulleys and a ring the system allows you to move your anchoring point from the seating position. The anchor can now be positioned to the bow or stern of the kayak. Paddling and fishing from your new kayak is important prior to installing an anchor trolley.  Dince most likely you will be drilling and thru-bolting its a great to get an idea which side you would like to anchor from. Personally my anchor trolleys are installed on the right side of the boat. Being right handed and fishing conventional gear mostly I tend to retrieve my rod pointing towards my left side.

Industry Accomplishments:

Many leading fishing kayak manufacturers are now designing boats with integrated recessed track systems. This creates the ability to trade out accessories and relocate them on the fly. However if you own a kayak or want to purchase one that does not have factory tracks you can always add them aftermarket. YakAttack a leading industry kayak fishing accessory company has a few different track system options available. They also offer a wide range of accessories that mount to the track system.

Molded inserts have become standard. Jackson Kayak started molding in brass threaded inserts in 2014 in accordance for mounting a GoPro mount and a Ram Mounts screw ball. These set points are great locations for just about any accessory you can think of. Also the locations being well thought out typically will not interfere with your paddle stroke.

Summary:

Please remember first paddle before installing accessories or you may find everything you just bolted drilled screwed and mounted to your kayak is out of reach or in the way.

Lowrance Elite 5 TI TotalScan Kayak Install for Jackson Kayak Big Rig

Luckily the Jackson Kayak Big Rig has factory molded scuppers that accept large transducers like the Raymarine Dragonfly. Although the Lowrance Elite 5 TI TotalScan transducer is over 10″ long it mounts in pretty flush on the Jackson Kayak Big Rig with some modifications.

TotalScan Kayak Scupper Transducer Install & Mods:

I had to flip the mounting bracket upside down then mount the transducer to bracket. This allowed an extra 1/4″ of space so the transducer mounted closer to the hull and more flush inside the scupper trough.

Transducer mounting bracket cable notch modification. (Optional)

I opted to notch out the mounting bracket to receive the transducer cable flush. Doing this allowed me to install the transducer with the wire forward. I figured the less exposed cable the more protected it would be to objects in the water damaging it. Simply I marked with a sharpie marker the center and width of the cable. Using a vise and an angle grinder to notch in a space for the cable to pass through.

Using the Lowrance Kayak Scupper Mounting Kit. With a simple modification using a bolt and about 6 washers you can pack out the middle of the bracket to sit flush on the transom bracket. See the image below.

A Big Rig application.

To secure the transducer so it will not move at all add bungee to hold cantilevered end taught to the hull.The bungee will pass through the scupper behind the actual mounting plate. Using a scrap piece of plastic drill with a hole saw to create a tie down plug. Then pass through the bungee and tie a knot this will hold the transducer taught in the scupper. I ran the new transducer wire through the same thru hull holes as the HDI skimmer location.

Waterproof Kayak Battery Box Mods & Upgrades

This article illustrates how to modify and wire a 12V plug port and a USB receptacle for charging electronic devices such as cell phones and running GoPro’s with out an internal battery for an all day charge. Using the existing waterproof battery box from a previous article we will first replace the 12V 12 aH Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Battery. See SLA or LFP Accessory Battery for your Kayak write up for the differences in batteries and pros/cons of both. I have opted to now use a LFP battery for its long list of great qualities.

Products & materials you will need.

• About two feet each red & black of 16ga shielded copper electrical wire
• (10) Spade Connectors (Blue 14 – 16ga)
• (1) 3 Way Female Double Male Spade Connector
• (2) Inline Fuse Holder w/ 16ga wire
• (2) 3 – 5 amp fuses (Most fish finder electronics recommend 3 amp)
• (1) 12V Marine Power Outlet
• (1) 12V Double USB Receptacle
• (1) Hopkins 2 pole plug (For Fish Finder Connection)
• (1) On Off Switch (I used a stainless steel product to last with the salt water)
• (3) Butt Connectors

Wiring Diagram 8X11

Instructions:

• First thing you will do is remove the existing battery and all of the wiring in the box. We are going to replace everything inside. Keep the cable gland as it will be reused.
• Using a hole saw drill match up the diameter to the outside of the hole saw with the two receptacles. Try to keep the holes even and equal distance apart for aesthetic reasons. After drilling the holes trim the excess from the edge of the holes. Set the receptacles and tighten the collar down.
• Drill a hole using a hole saw that matches the diameter of the switch in your desired location. Make sure the internal protrusion will not interfere with the battery or the 12V receptacles. Install the switch.
• Now we will splice 2 wires together to connect the negative side and the positive sides of the receptacles together. Make one for each RED and BLACK.
• Connect the spade connectors to the correct terminals on the receptacles + with + and – with -.

• Using a butt connector connect the RED + wire from the Fish Finder Plug to one inline fuse.
• Using the 3 Way Female to 2 Male connector connect the Two Inline Fuses to the Male ends and the White 12V Positive from the switch with a male spade to the female end on the 3 way its good to tape this connection with electrical tape or purchase a insulated connector.
• Connect the Red + wire from the switch using a female spade connector to the battery.
• Connect the BLACK – wires by crimping on a female spade connector from the 12V receptacles, the 12V Fish Finder connection and the black wire from the switch together. Simply twist the (3) wires together feed into the hole on the connector and crimp using the crimping tool.
• Then Connect the Female Spade with the (3) black wires to the – Negative side of the battery.

Upon Completion:

Test by pressing the switch to the ON position. The LED Indicator should light up. Test all receptacles and that the fish finder powers up. You now have a portable waterproof kayak battery box with the option to run additional lighting on your kayak, Charge electronics, and run cameras VIA USB power.

This concludes the Kayak Battery Box modifications & Upgrades article. Please leave comments on your thoughts!