gilbo

Just deleted a load of messages - now room for more! Watching the weather for this weekend, maybe my first trip of the year

I need to pay more attention! Just read and replied - sorry been busy moving house and all the DIY and stuff that comes with it. Got to get out on the water soon. 2008 = Zero paddles!!!!! You now have my tel numbers and looking for a 48 hour session soon with an overnight tent up around Gorran Haven area.

Thought I would just pop in and say hello to everyone - not posted for an age! Been very busy and starting to look towards Spring when I will dust off my kayaks. Not much of a cold weather kayaker. April and May will be out from South Cornwall around the Gorran / Caerhayes area.

They seem as accurate as all the other cheap models. Easily installed and have had no water / condensation in the unit at all. Tidy little unit really and good value. If I was to buy anything else I would go for a hummingbird. Heard lots of reports that the garmins are not as robust as others. But thats my preference.

Excellent stuff.

The cudra 168 is the same as I have and has been trouble free. Not sure of Garmin but was warned away from them myself.

2.5kg may be a bit heavy and those prices seem a bit steep. Try the lighter 0.75kg anchor as its good enough if there are no major flows. Less weight to carry and haul up at the end of the day.

Sorry - they arrived and I have replied. Had to go up to the Midlands on a course so have had a couple of busy days. Lazy weekend this weekend.

Awesome stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The X frame comes apart easily and may only get stuck if it has loads of sand in the clicks! To be honest though - to stick it in the hatch all you need to take off is the wheels and the two loading pads. I bought mine and have used it twice and I couldn't be happier. I have read loads of threads talking about the trolley straps coming loose. I used to suffer from this myself. The trick is the position and to get it under the seat just infront of the widest part of the kayak. The backreast is usually inline with the widest bit. Fit it just infront of the Backrest and do up tight. Previously I used to find the kayak would slip off the trolley or shake itself off when dragging it along. The above position seems to be at the fulcrum point and the kayak is easier to drag along. Hope this helps.

Wont that knacker it? Surely the sun (when we ever see it again) will bleach out and age the hull before you know it. They have a limited life when exposed to the UV light. Better wrap it in a Tarp. I was not suggesting anything about you, know your genuine - Like I say, never know who may be reading.

What and how have you done?

Be careful how you answer this thread as you dont know who is reading! For instance "Stored somewhere were thieves can easiliy nick it"!!!!!!!!!

I wont be coming to this one - sorry. I have a fear of the North Coast and dont think I will ever paddle up that way. Too much tide and sea swell for me.

In a couple of years when I change my "drifter" this was the kayak I was going to get. Had a good look around them in Plymouth's "Kayaks and Paddles" - what a lovelly build. The hull is also guaranteed for a much longer period of time. For the moment I am just dreaming of one!

Wow! - excellent session and all them fish! Nice one - Cod and Chips for you!

Hummingbord and Eagle Cudra are better than the Garmin - in my opinion! Have heard from many others of how delicate the Garmin can be. I have the Eagle Cudra 168 and had no problems and it all works fine. Dont know about colour and seem happy with the B&W. It shows me enough to get on.

They are stainless steel and have been used several times with no signs of any corrosion. I always drag the hose pipe out after a trip and everything gets a good wash down in clean water. Like all things if they are left salty then they will soon corrode away - sounds like them Fladden ones are a poor build to corrode away. I also always use a bit of WD40 on terminals and fasteners to keep them good. I dont understand how the price of some rod holders can be justified. Almost 25% added to the cost of a kayak!

They will lift them up 8 1/2" - which I hope will be fine. Think this is the same as the scotty extender height so thats what I followed. Could have made them shorter or longer. Wife advised that 8 1/2" was fine with her too.

Didn't want to spend a lot on rodholders last year and ended up buying some cheaper ones. They are very good and do what the others do. Only trouble is I could not get any rod extenders to lift them up. The mounts where fitted and I was stuck with them and looked and looked for extensions that might work with them. As you can see they are in the front of the foot well but when a rod is inserted they end up on your feet or you have to lay them down. I have looked at them and chewed over a number of ideas, then it came to me. get a second pair and use the mounts and some solid alluminium round bar 10mm. Set about cutting the round geared notch off the second set. reamed the untouched mounts out a bit and drilled out the base that has been cut down. 10mm alluminium bar fitted snug and with a dab of strong resin they are locked absolutley solid. A 16" piece of 4mm bungee and a clip and cable tie and they are the business. Dry tested them and they are super strong and very stable with no rock or wobble in them. They still remain fully adjustable. Now I can sit comfortably and happily with the rods out my feet and at hand. Here is the project costs compared to Scotty Holder (prices from kayak web site):- Scotty Power Lock Rod Holder £25 each * 2 = £50 Scotty Extender £20 each * 2 = £40 Postage £6 = £6 Total £96.00 This build 4 Rod Holders (Glasgow Angling Centre) £30 1m 10mm solid Alluminium Round (BQ) £5 Postage £5.75 Epoxy Splat 30p Total £41.05 And you end up with some spare mounts and two spare main holders - always useful for spares in future. Hope anyone stressed by the price of some rod holders may try this and save a few quid. They do look good and are very, very strong.

I use the following: Buy some stainless steel dog lead clips from most major pet shops - (90p to £1 each.) Cut a 500mm piece of 15 to 20mm webbing, sew this onto gdog lead clip or get wife to do it for you! Then make a loop in other end of webbing about 30mm open and have wife stitch this up. (50p) Lastly cut a 200mm piece of 5mm elasticated bungee cord and knot into a loop. (30p) Pass through and form a loop to loop with the webbing loop. Clip this to you seat straps, decking loops or rod holders and attach the elastic loops around your reel and handle. Proper job. All for £1.80 each.

Also there are Velvet Swmmers and squat lobsters which are all good to eat. Crayfish (crawfish) are also very, very good.

Only some "booty" smooth hounds!

After Kayaking on Saturday and catching some Bass down in Cornwall it was family beach and bar b q time on Sunday evening. Headed down to Branscombe with a bucket of crabs, burgers and a bar b q. First smoothie came before dark. My youngest is an angler in the making and loves to see the fish. Photos of the beach and the old shipwreck out to sea; The gulls were waiting for a feed on whitebait which was being driven onto the beach by hunting mackerel shoals. They where a few feet from the edge and again the sea was boiling with fish. Could have picked up a couple of kilo of whitabait which was left on the sand. Next smoothie came an hour or so after dark which my daughter held for the camera. What a weekend and I was sad to go back to work!

I didn,t take any photos on Saturday but wish I had for the record. I know not kayak - but did go Branscombe last night and took the family. Had a little barb e q and fished. As everyone loves a photo! so;- First smoothie came before dark. My youngest is an angler in the making and loves to see the fish. Photos of the beach and the old shipwreck out to sea; The gulls were waiting for a feed on whitebait which was being driven onto the beach by hunting mackerel shoals. They where a few feet from the edge and again the sea was boiling with fish. Could have picked up a couple of kilo of whitabait which was left on the sand. Next smoothie came an hour or so after dark which my daughter held for the camera. What a weekend and I was sad to go back to work!