BUZZBAIT [G E A R ]
A Billion Butts on Boats and Boards F
ounder and former head honcho of Ocean Kayaks, Tim Niemier is commonly consid-
ered to be the man who introduced the arche- type fishing kayak to the world at large. As he sits on the couch beside a wood-burning fire, behind a weathered visage and cropped, salt and pepper hair, his eyes are bright and engag- ing. His countenance suggests poise, humor and intelligence. “Some people think you invented the fishing
kayak,” I say. “No, not really. When I was living at Malibu
in the seventies the original SOT was already in production, designed by Roy Grabenauer and called the Royak. But it’s fair to say I in- troduced the SOT kayak to the world at large. It started there at Malibu with a kayak I made to paddle through the surf and dive from. I had a friend, though, who fished a lot. He used to brag about catching more pounds of fish than his kayak weighed!” Niemier laughs. “Tat was back in the days before we thought
of sustainability. Anyway, it was obvious back then that the SOT kayak was a great boat for fishermen. It was perfect for throwing onto your rig, carting down to the beach and bust- ing out through the surf.” Some people believe Niemier has designed
more boats on this planet than anyone else. “I set the bar at a billion butts in boats and boards. Kayaks and paddleboards are really prosthetic devices for aquatically challenged humans, you know,” Niemier says. When Niemier sold Ocean Kayak in 1997
he predicted that kayak angling would be a big thing in the future. Today, he is doing what he loves best, paddling and designing kayaks. Pacifikayaks was born in 2008.
CATCHING UP WITH SOT PIONEER AND BOAT-BUILDING PHILOSOPHER TIM NIEMIER BY ROB LYON
The SOT master, Tim Niemier PHOTOS: ROB CASEY
“For me, Pacifikayaks is about exploring
the many different things you can do in SOT kayaks. What’s exciting is how much easier it is now to make a good boat. We’re thermoform- ing the boats, not roto-molding. It allows me more freedom to create and design on the fly.
Kayaks and paddleboards are really prosthetic devices for aquatically challenged humans
“Te Coyote line is what I’m working on
currently. Coyote, Fox and Wolf: 12-foot, 14- foot, 16-foot. Tese are sport utility boats with a high customizing ability, and they’re great for fishing. Tey’re faster and lighter than other boats by about 20 per cent and narrow enough
READER TIP Send your Reader Tip to
editor@kayakanglermag.com Mess-Proof Your Lure BY JEFF LITTLE
A lure retriever or plug knocker quickly pays for itself. They save crankbaits and spinnerbaits that snag in submerged brush. Slide one down your line to knock a stuck lure loose or grab its hooks so you can pull it free. Here’s the problem. A bunch of tangled line comes back with the lure. The solution? Attach the lure retriever to a retractable clothesline spool filled with pliable nylon line. I mounted mine to the kayak. No more bird’s nest.
18… KAYAK ANGLER FALL/WINTER 2010
you can throw your legs over the side and move around if you need to get in a hatch or some- thing.” “Okay. Hard question.” “Shoot.” “What is it at the core of your passion, that’s
driven you to be who you are?” “You weren’t kidding,” he laughs. “Well, it
just has to come down to being on the water. It intensifies my sense of presence, of being in the now. Used to spook me a lot but that’s gotten better. Bottom line is, it’s where I feel most alive and the main reason I’m impassioned to help get people on the water.” “Be here now,” I agree. “Tat’s all there really is;
just this plastic, protean moment.” “Exactly,” Niemier says, “and that’s why I’m
looking to spend a hundred days on the water this year!”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52