Kayak Customizations

[nj4x4fever]

I haven't really customized yet because it is only about 2 weeks in my possesion, here are some interesting things already prepackaged on my new Moken 12 by Feel Free. Check Out The Wheel In The Keel section of the kayak. It is a real head turner when I take my kayak out of the water.

[Pier_man0909]

how do you like it? I saw one of them once but never paddled one or knew anyone who did.

[Sam]

Great info, guys! I am getting my new fishing kayak ready for the summer and really appreciate the pictures and advice.

[nj4x4fever]

how do you like it? I saw one of them once but never paddled one or knew anyone who did.

In all honesty I am very happy with the kayak, I like that the front end rides high out of the water, it is a very stable kayak. I have recently fished out of it on Jamaica Bay during a kayak fishing tournament. The kayak did very well in the choppy water, it is a very well balanced kayak.
It handles very well and the tracking is good. The price was right for a kayak with this much storage space. I like the fact that during transport I can put my pfd, anchor, a couple of loose tackle boxes in the Bow storage compartment and not have to worry about losing anything.
The only problem I have is My truck has a 6' bed and this kayak is 12' long. I am in the process of getting a truck rack made for it.
Also the wheel in the keel is great, you should have seen the looks
I got after making my landing at the Concrete Ramp on J-Bay. When I got out of my kayak and picked up the front end and walked up the ramp with it.
Most of the guys had Hobie Kayaks and they were struggling to put on the wheel carts. They actually thought I was dragging the kayak on the bottom and that I didn't care about my kayak until they saw the wheel.

[Pier_man0909]

really I didnt think that much of it when I saw it. its good to hear a review though.

[Coop]

my current ok trident 13 stock yak...changes on the way...adding to rod holders, fish finder and gps. Will post as changes are made. hope this wind dies down.

[Steve]

Scott, you can mount the transducer inside the yak slightly forward of midship. Use ample quanties of Marine Goop to hold it in place.

[Coop]

This yak can take a thru hull transducer. The hummingbird transducer will fit perfectly in place...the bottom of the yak where the scupper hole is molded for that exact transducer ...nice that hummingbird and Ocean Kayak are made by the same company.

[Pier_man0909]

thru hull is actually what steve was talking about with mounting it with goop. the signal shoots through the hull. that is a cool deal ocan has with hummingbird where they have a scupper hole designed to hold a modified transducer. one of the big advantages you get there is an accurate water temperature reading wheras mounted inside the hull the temp reading will most likely be a little off. one of the disadvantages it that you will have exposed wiring on the deck. the FF I use is the garmin 300c and I think its perfect for me. I see more companies doing the same thing pretty soon.

[Coop]

Matt, Humingbird has a nice exchange program. I am getting the 525 and the transducer is not the one I need. I can exchange it for the transducer that will fit the boat at no extra cost. At least this is what I have been told. Picking up the finder today or tomorrow.

Matt, Have you done any night fishing in the back bay down there? If so, any luck?

[Coop]

BTW, the wire is very short...its only about 6". The new scupper hole for the transducer is actually all the way in front of the foot well area next to the area for the finder. The feet will never touch it. The old prowler had the scupper/transducer hole in the back...really don't understand that.

[Pier_man0909]

Matt, Humingbird has a nice exchange program. I am getting the 525 and the transducer is not the one I need. I can exchange it for the transducer that will fit the boat at no extra cost. At least this is what I have been told. Picking up the finder today or tomorrow.

Matt, Have you done any night fishing in the back bay down there? If so, any luck?

yes thats correct. I think theres a form you fill out and you do a transducer exchange throught the mail. I have not done any at night in the yak. I have a spot I want to try but just havent. at the moment I dont have a light for everyone to see me. plus the spot is actually pretty easy to fish without one. I will do it with one though one of these days. its some lights on a dock. I see all kinda of fish is the lights there. small stripers, trout, drum, and flounder. I have also wanted to do a camping trip but just havent had the stars align right to do it.

[Coop]

I got my transducer installed on the yak. Nice how it fits perfectly in the scupper hole. Worked great...found some areas where it goes from 7' and drops down to almost 25' quickly.

[Pier_man0909]

I got my transducer installed on the yak. Nice how it fits perfectly in the scupper hole. Worked great...found some areas where it goes from 7' and drops down to almost 25' quickly.

uh oh, watch out fish.

another thing I need to make is a rod holder up front that wont be in the way when I pole or paddle standing and I can easily grab my rod without taking my eyes off the fish I have in my sights.

[Steve]

The water temp for a through-hull shoot evens out after about 2 minutes.
This may not be enough to get an instant reading when specifically seeking gradients, but is pretty darned close.

When fishing gradients, I'm more concerned about the weird flows than temp.

Bad thing about using Goop, the transducer came loose during transport and I have to stick it again. I'm thinking about using the angled metal mount that was included and totally encapsulate it in goop with the TD resting against the hull. Don't know how that will work for temps, maybe some goop under it to allow the temp exchange.
Anyone know if the temp exchange rate for Goop is close to what it is for the hull material? I'd hate to know it acts like an insulator...