I’m wondering if these would work well?
I would buy the kit around 349.00
Not sure how they go together, I think it says stich glue.
Anybody familiar with this method?
Yep, and based on the time involves I’d charge about $1000 to assemble that kit and deliver a finished set of amas.
Stich and glue is a building technique for wooden boats. The kit comes precut and you “stitch” it together using copper wire or zip ties.
Once you’ve got all the parts stitched together and the shapes are correct / not warped or twisted; you “glue” the seams with fiberglass tape and epoxy resin.
Then comes many hours of sanding and finishing (how much depends on how careful you were in the stitch and glue stages.
Some kits want not just taped seams, but the whole boat covered in fiberglass set in epoxy.
This is a stitch and glue fishing skiff I designed going together in my garage about 17 or 18 years ago.
Rapchick just built a really nice S&G skiff.
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So based on your experience, is it worth it? I mean I don’t like the look, but for 169.00 they have inflatable pontoons. However, I’m thinking the real pontoons may be had for 500-1000.
IMHO no, they aren’t worth it. I’ve sailed canoes, kayaks, and sailboats. Neither a canoe or a kayak will go to windward as much as a sailboat. It’s not just about increasing stability, you need to get the center of effort right, and have good centerboard or leeboard catch. The best sailing “paddling vessel” I’ve been in was a turn of the century Old Town canoe that had a pair of leeboards and molded in sponsons. The beauty of that boat was you could drop the sail, stow the boards and it paddled every bit as well as any other Old Town canoe.
If you really want to sail; buy a sailboat.
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If you really want to sail; buy a sailboat.
I’ve owned two. A 30’ Irwin and a 39’ Pearson Center Cockpit. The latter I cruised in the Caribbean with and then sold it to Florida where I sold it. No what I want to do is fish, and I bought a kayak with a sail, a hobie adventurer so that I could travel more easily. Now my goal is to make it more stable and seaworthy. I’m hoping to make or buy amas for that purpose. Otherwise, thinking of selling my yak and getting a real boat.
Excuse me, typo.
sailed it to Florida where I sold it
Honestly I’d sell the Adventure and get a “fishing” kayak. Doesn’t really matter which brand you choose, every manufacturer has some great products on the market.
Do you have the Mirage drive? That’s a pretty efficient means of moving a kayak. It’s not zero effort, but beats paddling.
I’m a HUGE fan of the Wilderness Systems boats and spend most of my time in a Tarpon 160. It’s long and lean, but not as skinny as an Adventure. Most of the time I put clients on a shorter, slower, wider Ride 135. The stability makes even the greenest kayak fishermen at ease on the water.
Talk to Lost@Sea, Capt Dave, elgeebee, ddolson, and some of the other guys about different makes and models. A yak is tough to beat for inshore fishing.
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I appreciate your advice. I like my Hobie for inshore or yakking. What I want to do is fish offshore, perhaps in a reef. I am seeing more clearly now that the yak is not the way to go. I do indeed have a mirage drive and it is more efficient. I am thinking now perhaps what I am looking for is a more seaworthy boat. The hobie is about as good as you can get with a yak, that IMHO is the upper limits of yakking. I am leaning towards a 16-18’ center console.
BTW:
elgeebee, ddolson, are among two of my best friends, and i FISH WITH THEM MOST WEEKENDS.
Charleston isn’t even close to ideal for kayak reef fishing. Lots of planning and logistics involved in mothership trips out to the Charleston 60 and beyond.
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Saltyyakker,
I have a quick an easy way of putting together boats that would work well for making amas. I don’t disagree with Too Busy on the performance limitations, but if you still want to try, send me an email and I will explain my system.
mail sent. Thanks.
At the 2011 James Island kayak festival a Co out of CT had these Kayak sailing kits to fit most major kayak models.
My son and I sailed them it was a lot of fun tacked well but a lot of parts to haul to the boat launch.
Dont know if the co is still in business?
Capt Dave
I’d definitely be interested in that company name. Maybe I could buy just the pontoons/crossbar?
Thanks for the info gents. I liked that stitch ang glue method. I saw like eight videos on youtube this am. For now, I’m either going to buy the hobie sidekick amas for
170.00 or the ones on the website that capt. Dave sent. I did write them for more info, like are they inflatables or wood/fiberglass would be awesome?
henrysegarra
I did look at the wesite, thanks Capt. Dave. I just wonder if those amas are inflatables, such as the hobies, or are they wood/fiberglass? When I find out I’ll let you know. I’m also going to see if time out sports carries them in the store.
The amas are inflatable
Here’s a link to the best DIY outrigger setup that I’ve seen. I’d prefer something more rigid than PVC, but this system really seems to work well.
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/drupal/content/diy-kayak-outriggers
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Thanks, the kayak fishing stuff article was interesting, probably cheaper, but probably a lot more work than I was hoping for. I am almost 90% sure I will go with the hobie sidekick inflatables for around 165.00 for simplicity and minimal weight added.