PA12 First time user.
Posted: 02 Oct 2015, 19:08
First thing I will say is that moving from boat to kayak has taken a VERY big step for me. I only picked up the Yak on Wednesday this week and standing at the parked car at the Ballarat Rowing lake it dawned on me just how much of a step out of my comfort zone it was going to be.
My first observation is that it would be smart to lurk at a venue where seasoned Yakkers are launching to see what and how and what gear is carried as the more I read the posts here the more I dont know yet. So briefly here it is. Purpose of the trip is BASIC get a feel for the beast, so had just the boat as bought, a single 6'6 rod to test casting from seated and standing. Did not plan to anchor or control drift ....yet.
First....put on PFD, pleroids and hat and suitable footwear.
My yak is on a trailer that will double as a multipurpose hauling longer items from Bunnings and the like. So removed the cover and set it up with all the gear I have so far. Did not install the Mirage Drive, decided to paddle out and do that in deeper water. Slid the yak back far enough on the trailer to install the wheels and then pushed it off altogether. It negotiated the kerb easily and I rested it there beside the car. After locking the Car and securing the trailer with a hitch lock it was simply a case of picking up the bow and a short walk to one of the Rower pontoons. The pontoons are new and make things easier........By this time there was a stiff breeze kicking up the odd white cap so I elected to launch on the lee side so that I would be carried away from the pontoon. Simply lifted the yak to allow the wheels to drop out and stowed and secured them..........THIS is a MAJOR game changer as boat stuff is simply slowed in the appropriate locker or rod holder....little chance of tipping ??
I thought about center of gravity and balance so placed one foot just over centre and facing the seat stepped off the pontoon and onto the yak. So far so good, turned and sat down...comfort plus. Picked up a paddle and set to putting some distance from the pontoon. the paddle is good, easy to use from the chair, but as with my only other canoe encounter with a Canadian Canoe it wanders about a bit......
Ah! lower the skeg and deploy the steering...suddenly much much better (sigh!)
Then kneeled and removed the well scupper plug .......Oh Hell! I have a leak...there is water in there........staying put so its not life or death yet installed the Mirage Drive and sat back down..........
I had been stood off the pontoon quite a way but by the time the Drive was installed and I was once again seated I was within meters of the damn pontoon! so stepped into the peddles and started the journey. The high seat positions a person very well for the job of propelling the yak and I was soon up on the plane......... well my yak version of "on the plane" anyhow!!
It did not take long to realise that I am not a peddler and that some sanity and a tad less tesosterone was more in keeping with my planned endeavours if the 'test run' was to last more than five minutes All in all I spent around two and a half hours exploring how the Beast functions, at slow speed little or no steering, slight rudder offset to compensate for wind and wave. Adjusted rudder tension and that helps tracking under fishing conditions, dont want a rudder making up its own mind about the direction of travel whilst actively fighting a fish (which I was'nt) so valuable lesson there I think.
With "keep your knees bent" ringing in my ears, I stood up and that went ok.......few wobbles but like riding a bike stability will come with practice, its quite stable enough to feel safe from the get go on this Lake. Will be altogether different elsewhere but that is a lesson for another day.
By this time the wind was a bit more active, to the point where the pontoon was slapping on the waves so I went to windward and uninstalled the Drive and replaced it with the scupper plug...brought up (retracted) the rudder but left the skeg down. Docked facing into the wind using the paddle and held on to the pontoon. Stepping out was a reverse of the boarding and that went without a hitch except left a 'slip-on' shoe aboard when my back foot caught the rail on the yak. Again really different stability scenareo from a boat, but manageable with a bit of planning....in time I am sure that it will be a hop out, no fuss!
Lifted the bow and hoisted the yak aboard the pontoon and then brought the stern on too, easily done. Simply rolled the yak on its side and installed the wheels and back to the car and trailer. Loading was also simply the reverse of unloading.
Conclusions and things to do
NO.1 had fun, it is a more "hands on"approach to fishing than powered boating, I like the stealth aspect and what I got MOST was a feeling of being in contact with the fishing, water and elements. Sat down there with your bum at water level one has the feeling of being eye to eye with the fish being brought aboard. Along the way learned a few basics of the game and got a feel for the Beast.......In retrospect think the Pro 14 may have been a better choice as I am using a trailer and not car topping....however, time alone will tell.
Wendouree is about an hour and a half from home I plan a few more trips there before venturing onto the Bay proper. So with a couple more visits here I think I will feel ready to fish rivers and shallow estury waters which is where I had envisaged most of my fishing so a valuable day to get things started.
Lessons learned
Need to get proper clothing sorted sooner rather than later.
Need to catch up with others going out to get some smarts on gear stowing, things like anchor rope paddles and other essential gear.
Need to do regular peddling to get leg strength and endurance up a bit more, hauling the rig over sand may be character building, but pushing against wind, tide and current as well as safely managing the elements on a return to base can be a game changer I am thinking.......knowledge, strength conservation, and training required.
ENOUGH! for now
Cheers,
Andrew
My first observation is that it would be smart to lurk at a venue where seasoned Yakkers are launching to see what and how and what gear is carried as the more I read the posts here the more I dont know yet. So briefly here it is. Purpose of the trip is BASIC get a feel for the beast, so had just the boat as bought, a single 6'6 rod to test casting from seated and standing. Did not plan to anchor or control drift ....yet.
First....put on PFD, pleroids and hat and suitable footwear.
My yak is on a trailer that will double as a multipurpose hauling longer items from Bunnings and the like. So removed the cover and set it up with all the gear I have so far. Did not install the Mirage Drive, decided to paddle out and do that in deeper water. Slid the yak back far enough on the trailer to install the wheels and then pushed it off altogether. It negotiated the kerb easily and I rested it there beside the car. After locking the Car and securing the trailer with a hitch lock it was simply a case of picking up the bow and a short walk to one of the Rower pontoons. The pontoons are new and make things easier........By this time there was a stiff breeze kicking up the odd white cap so I elected to launch on the lee side so that I would be carried away from the pontoon. Simply lifted the yak to allow the wheels to drop out and stowed and secured them..........THIS is a MAJOR game changer as boat stuff is simply slowed in the appropriate locker or rod holder....little chance of tipping ??
I thought about center of gravity and balance so placed one foot just over centre and facing the seat stepped off the pontoon and onto the yak. So far so good, turned and sat down...comfort plus. Picked up a paddle and set to putting some distance from the pontoon. the paddle is good, easy to use from the chair, but as with my only other canoe encounter with a Canadian Canoe it wanders about a bit......
Ah! lower the skeg and deploy the steering...suddenly much much better (sigh!)
Then kneeled and removed the well scupper plug .......Oh Hell! I have a leak...there is water in there........staying put so its not life or death yet installed the Mirage Drive and sat back down..........
I had been stood off the pontoon quite a way but by the time the Drive was installed and I was once again seated I was within meters of the damn pontoon! so stepped into the peddles and started the journey. The high seat positions a person very well for the job of propelling the yak and I was soon up on the plane......... well my yak version of "on the plane" anyhow!!
It did not take long to realise that I am not a peddler and that some sanity and a tad less tesosterone was more in keeping with my planned endeavours if the 'test run' was to last more than five minutes All in all I spent around two and a half hours exploring how the Beast functions, at slow speed little or no steering, slight rudder offset to compensate for wind and wave. Adjusted rudder tension and that helps tracking under fishing conditions, dont want a rudder making up its own mind about the direction of travel whilst actively fighting a fish (which I was'nt) so valuable lesson there I think.
With "keep your knees bent" ringing in my ears, I stood up and that went ok.......few wobbles but like riding a bike stability will come with practice, its quite stable enough to feel safe from the get go on this Lake. Will be altogether different elsewhere but that is a lesson for another day.
By this time the wind was a bit more active, to the point where the pontoon was slapping on the waves so I went to windward and uninstalled the Drive and replaced it with the scupper plug...brought up (retracted) the rudder but left the skeg down. Docked facing into the wind using the paddle and held on to the pontoon. Stepping out was a reverse of the boarding and that went without a hitch except left a 'slip-on' shoe aboard when my back foot caught the rail on the yak. Again really different stability scenareo from a boat, but manageable with a bit of planning....in time I am sure that it will be a hop out, no fuss!
Lifted the bow and hoisted the yak aboard the pontoon and then brought the stern on too, easily done. Simply rolled the yak on its side and installed the wheels and back to the car and trailer. Loading was also simply the reverse of unloading.
Conclusions and things to do
NO.1 had fun, it is a more "hands on"approach to fishing than powered boating, I like the stealth aspect and what I got MOST was a feeling of being in contact with the fishing, water and elements. Sat down there with your bum at water level one has the feeling of being eye to eye with the fish being brought aboard. Along the way learned a few basics of the game and got a feel for the Beast.......In retrospect think the Pro 14 may have been a better choice as I am using a trailer and not car topping....however, time alone will tell.
Wendouree is about an hour and a half from home I plan a few more trips there before venturing onto the Bay proper. So with a couple more visits here I think I will feel ready to fish rivers and shallow estury waters which is where I had envisaged most of my fishing so a valuable day to get things started.
Lessons learned
Need to get proper clothing sorted sooner rather than later.
Need to catch up with others going out to get some smarts on gear stowing, things like anchor rope paddles and other essential gear.
Need to do regular peddling to get leg strength and endurance up a bit more, hauling the rig over sand may be character building, but pushing against wind, tide and current as well as safely managing the elements on a return to base can be a game changer I am thinking.......knowledge, strength conservation, and training required.
ENOUGH! for now
Cheers,
Andrew