RIG YOUR BOARD OR BOAT WITH A STURDY COOLER
FOR AN IMPROMPTU SIGHTFISHING PLATFORM. PHOTO: CHRIS FUNK
SkillGET UP, STAND UP
Sitting in a kayak all day is a pain in the ass. After eight hours in the saddle, my back and legs are screaming and my butt is numb. On top of that, it’s harder to cast and work lures from the seat, and forget about spotting fish or structure below the water. You don’t have to be an acrobat to leave the seat. Here are five ways to make your kayak stand-up friendly.
STRAPPED UP Attach a stand-assist strap to the front of the cockpit. Start with a four- foot length of one-inch webbing. Secure one end of the webbing to the front of the cockpit with a stainless steel bolt and backing plate and tie a loop in the other end. To stand up, grab the loop and pull yourself onto your feet. To sit back down, use the strap to slow your descent. The stand-assist strap also gives you an extra point of contact when standing in rough seas.
STAND AT THE BAR Installing a stand-up bar on your kayak not only provides added stability, but the bar offers more places to attach accessories. Look for a bar that folds flat for paddling and easily locks into position for fishing. Add a rod holder and paddle holder so you don’t have to bend down and sacrifice stability.
SEATED ON HIGH Many sit-on-top kayaks feature adjustable lawn-chair style seats that can be raised and lowered without leaving the kayak. Look for a seat that
FIVE TIPS TO MAKE YOUR RIDE STAND-AND-FISH READY
folds away to expose the boat’s most stable point. Better yet, brave anglers will stand on top of the seat for the best view. Even if your boat doesn’t have an elevated seat, sitting on a tackle box or crate can add a few inches to your height and a few feet of extra visibility. And adjusting the seat position does wonders for relieving aching muscles, bones and joints.
PONTOON PARTY BOAT Another way to cheat gravity is to add outriggers and pontoons to the kayak. Whether you make your own or purchase a ready-made kit, look for riggers that can be removed or raised while the kayak is on the water. Lightweight materials and streamlined pontoons will stabilize the boat with the least affect on performance.
SOFT TOUCH To relieve aching legs and feet, add a layer of foam padding to the deck. Cut a sheet of quarter-inch foam to fit the bottom of the kayak, then use Super Glue or marine adhesive to attach it to the deck. Or look for pre-cut kits that will fit your ride like a glove. Adding a layer of padding will take the bite out of standing all day, and it will dampen noise when you paddle into a silent cove, spot the fish of a lifetime and drop your rod onto the deck.—Spencer Jones
Digital Extra: Spencer Jones walks us through rigging a standup-friendly
kayak at
Rapidmedia.com/0289 or download the digital version of Kayak Angler on your desktop or device.
This article first appeared in the Fall/Winter 2014 issue of Kayak Anlger magazine. 38 PADDLING MAGAZINE
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