kayaks

Eric Esper

Eric Esper

Active member
I know a few of us hunt out of kayaks. I'm beginning to tweak my new predator k140. Yukon Mike recently posted some mods he made to the same kayak. I'm going to take some pics of some mods I'm doing in the next week or so. I'd like to see any kayak rigs that are out there in our little community. Frankly I'm looking for ideas To steal! Blinds, backboards, sneak shooting screens, whatever you've got lets see'em, That is if you're willing to brag and/or share.
 
Today I did the 2 easiest mods. I added no slip stickum backed material to the stern deck for the pups, actually did this a while back. then this afternoon I cut off the permanently attached stern mesh work deck, some quick work with a easy stitch and razor blade and the work deck is attached with quick buckles. I have plenty of web strap left so I'm looking for a longer green piece of netting which I think will work even better. The mesh is clearly meant for gear retention and so I made the straps a little long in case I have some taller gear. I also have to try out weather it paddles better with me mor forward or back and the gear shifted either way. I've only fished out of it so far so I have'nt really had her loaded up.
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permanent, cant take it off
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now thats better
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Don't use the fron deck for hunting, trying to figure a way to use the hard point to attach some kind of blind and/or a sneak shooting screen.

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I found some O.D. netting on line. Ordered it and it came today. It was listed as a swiss snipers netting . Said it was 2.5 x 5 feet for 5.99, bought 2, they turned out to be mor like 3x5 , more if drawn taut. I think they'll work. The Back deck will be easy peasy and the front dhould work fine. A bungee holds it nicely along the cockpit edge. I just need to figure out some sort of hoop to hold it up like a windscreen. (suggestions hint hint?!) full length should make a great blind , folded over should make a good sneak shooting screen.. The pvc is just in there to pop it up for visualization purposes. Any input fellas?
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Have you got an old uglystick fishing rod? You can bend them to stick both ends in the cockpit so it hoops up to hold the camo. Got a rudder?With a rudder, you can use a canoe paddle, with a canoe paddle you can keep it low so you are almost sculling only leaning forward as much as you can. Have it tethered so you can just lay it or drop it in the water so you can grab the gun and shoot.Some kind of gun (barrel) holder on your front coming to keep the gun handy between your legs.Backboard just an arch topped piece of 1/2" plywood with a foam pad glued to it, make a hinged propstick on the backside so it sits at a comfy angle.Nice looking Yak. Mine is an old Oscoda Loon Sea Kayak with about 10 million paddle strokes on it.
 
I like to use the front spray/work deck on my K140 - the rear, I don't use because that is were I put the decoys and sometimes the dog - behind me. They are nice kayak, can hold quite a bit and very stable.
 
I use the front deck when fishing or just paddling around but dont care for it hunting. the rear deck I use as a cargo net to keep stuff in. Y found a solution to the blind but It will take me a couple of days to get the time free to do it. when I do I will post up the pics. thanks for the input Lee.
I don't have a rudder but my method seems to work. If I can I get upwind and drift down on themuseing the kayak paddle as a rudder then drop the (tethered) paddle and shoot or if no or little wind, get a running start from waaaay back build up a good head o' steam and then proceed as above. It probobly would work better with a rudder but you can't have everything.
 
Hey Eric,

Me and Mac went out last night to a place where I needed my kayak to have transportation through the shallows and a place to sit as it is all flooded grass and mud humps. He used a little homemade boat. It was the first time I tried deploying the Predator from a bigger boat, in 4' of water, on a choppy night, and it went well. Piece of cake actually, and the pickup went smoothly too. I'll try to get some pictures up later, but I was pretty busy shooting.

What worked best was Jenny the dog sitting behind me with a bit of camo netting over her, and me reclined with more camo netting laying on me like a blanket. Kind of like a sneakboat setup. I took in a doz GHG mallards and Mac carried 3 geese decoys. Jenny had to swim to/from the spot. Chest waders were a must.

Mike
 
I like the dodger you built on your kayak. I wanted to do something like that for mine, but I wanted to build some kind of wings or side to them to mask my paddeling. Seem like the flash or movement of my paddle really flares them. I have tried piling brush on the front , but that is more of a pain then it is worth most times. It either gets in the way of my legs or drags to much in the water. Mainly use my kayak as transportation and every once in awhile try jump shooting Wooducks on the local streams.
 
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Things progress, I'm going through my usual overdoing things pre season, most of this goes by the wayside when the shooting starts. I'm useing 3/4 by 1/8 alumanum strap with a conduit clamp screwed on the end. I first tried it on the seat mount..... not enough room. but its working on the lip. When I go to the Pnte. moulliee show I'll pick up some olive drab shock cord and we'll be done. I think I've got a good sneak screen here and an okay blind set up. I'll likely end up just laying out in itwith the netting across the cockpit. By the way, on of the best diver shoots I ever had was in the Kayak about 500yds of woodtick penninsula. I anchored the kayak from the stern handle with a good 25 feet of rope in 5 feet of water. I then tied a long line of 12 bluebills to the bow swinging free. wind was about 10 knots tossed a 6 pack of blacks just behind me, man was that a blast.
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How does the Predator handle overall? Thinking of something like this for a shallow beaver pond. I bounce back and forth between a fiberglass boat like this and making a pirogue or canoe/kayak.

Can you shoot out of the Predator?

Does it handle OK in deeper water?

How about currents? Does it track OK?


Thanks,
Nate
 
Everyones comfort level is different. I have not shot out of it yet but yukon Mike certainly has. I have no problem shooting out of My old mainstream and anticipate no problems here. Handles fine, the same in 2 feet or 20 feet imagine! Kayaks generally handle reasonable currents better than the same size canoes as they ride across the top, makes it easier. This model is a bit of a barge and doesn't track as well as one of those touring jobs but more than adequate to the need. I have owned several fiberglass and glass over wood small craft over the years and the toughness of these roto moulded plastics is far superior in my mind. You can get plenty of gear in these and still pull them over dikes. I may someday build a kara but between my 15 foot sportspal canoe and these kayaks I feel I've got it covered. As to big water, If you've got the layout I've got the tender, 18'9" lund alaskan with a 60hp tiller -call me!
 
Okay, scored this work deck for cheap( an advantage of my position) It belonged to another canoe or kayak and failed to make it where it was supposed to. What I'd like to know, Can this be painted succesfully? I want to use it but I'd like for it to be olive or khaki. Its made of light cordura nylon. Will paint adhere to this or not. If anyone has tried it let me know.
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Nate ,

As you may remember we were both looking for the ideal boat for pretty much the same kind of hunting , i have made my decision to go with the kara Hummer , shallow wide as anything and hopefully stable . I plan to start the build this weekend and will keep you up to date on the progress . If it deos not work out you will see it advertised on the classified section . Good luck with your choice !!!




Dave M
 
Nice job of improving the kayak!

Paint will stick to the new netting. It won't look great but it will work just fine. It will take a bit more spray paint than you may think because the woven material will hold some paint between the strands. Like all spray jobs you'll have to touch it up here and there as you use it.
 
My experience with painting plastic with regular paint it holds in most places but begins to chip or peal in a year or two. both spray or brush. However with fusion paint on some lawn chairs out of plastic.This has held up well. I an going to try this on one boat a ten foot. After fusion I think any other paint would stick, any way that is the hope.
 
I have a lot of experience with fusion, I've painted the mainstream many times and it holds up the best. I'm planning on paintiing the nylon work deck which is fabric so thats what I'm wondering about. The predetors paint scheme is already camo enough for me.
 
Eric,

I can't say if the nylon will take paint well or not. My concern would be if the solvents (if you use a spraybomb) in the paint would have an adverse affect on the nylon, possibly making it brittle or otherwise harming it.

If you decide to go ahead and try it, I'd suggest several very light dustings of paint to get the tone and color you want. That way you can minimize the amount of solvent and hopefully it will evaporate quickly before doing any harm to the nylon.
 
Zane, I don't grass mine alot, I just tuck area vegetation under the bungee grassing cord I installed under the cock pit rim, you can see it in one of the pics. Corn shucks, bullrush etc. that combined with a ghillie blanket and ghillie jacket/ boonie cap and its hidey time with out much problem. Even Tarrin has a natural camo so Its all good.
I'm avoiding the solvent type paints for the nylon, going to use parkers or Some fabric paint from the craft store.
 
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