In my earlier years, I installed garage doors, worked on electromechanical equipment, overhauled a small handful of car motors and in general, I've done pretty much everything around my house myself to include reroofing the old one I lived in.
So ... WHY am I worried about drilling a few holes in a plastic boat!!???
Well, I'm not afraid anymore. To try and get my wife interested in kayaking, I am going to install a rudder on the T-120 I bought from Sharon a couple years back. Plus the rudder will help when I take people fishing with me.
Let it be known that FL_SKIBUM ain't afraid no more.
(Actually, the only reason I'm doing this is the guy at Canoe Country that does these left just yesterday for somewhere out west ... Brian at Canoe Escape is slammed ... and Mad Paddlers no longer handles WS products. )
Gil 8)
p.s. I think it was Mad Paddlers who said they're putting shop up here in Land O' Lakes in conjunction with Land O' Lakes Marine I think he said. Don't hold me to this as I didn't listen real close to him once he said he couldn't put my rudder on for me.
Rudder
-
- Posts: 2533
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
- Location: Among the Mangroves of W. Central FL
-
- Posts: 2533
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
- Location: Among the Mangroves of W. Central FL
His name is Mike, and indeed he does a great job at rigging kayaks for fishing
I also live in Land O Lakes, and I always make the trip down to Canoe Country Outfitters for all my kayaking needs. I have bought 3 rigged kayaks from them already (Heritage Featherlite, T120 and recently a T140)
Even though I know they read some of our posts every now and then, I'll let them know your concerns on my next visit.
I also live in Land O Lakes, and I always make the trip down to Canoe Country Outfitters for all my kayaking needs. I have bought 3 rigged kayaks from them already (Heritage Featherlite, T120 and recently a T140)
Even though I know they read some of our posts every now and then, I'll let them know your concerns on my next visit.
Peter
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
Wilderness Systems Tarpon 160
-
- Posts: 2533
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
- Location: Among the Mangroves of W. Central FL
Mako,Mako wrote: Even though I know they read some of our posts every now and then, I'll let them know your concerns on my next visit.
I actually stopped in Canoe Country Outfitters today and picked up a WS rudder. Ran into CookNFish and his brother "John" I think he said
Late this afternoon I installed the rudder.
Not sure I like this rudder as much as the one on my T-140. I guess this is the "newer" version. It has nylon straps hooked to the foot pegs and that's how the leg length is adjusted. It just looks like to me that the piece the footpegs slide on will always need some grease/silicone, etc.
I guess it's OK. I'll have to try it before I say I don't like it. Has anyone experienced both models .... pros/cons?
I still have to put pins in where the cables hook to the rudder. The pins they gave me are too big and it didn't look like there was ample room to drill the hole out according to the pin size they supplied without compromsing the rudder wing.
Good dang thing my wife helped me. I'd have never gotten my arm in the little hatch on that 120. "THANKS JAN!" Under 2 hours with a great helper.
Hey, thanks to all of you also for your support. And an early "Happy Father's Day" to me as this was my present.
GIL
"Only the half-mad are wholly alive." ~~~ Edward Abbey
"Only the half-mad are wholly alive." ~~~ Edward Abbey
I have the old style foot controls on my Tarpon 16 and the new style on my Tarpon 14. The old style is much, much better. The old style slides better, doesn't get noisy when a few bits of sand are in there and the track doesn't flex nearly as much.FL_SKIBUM wrote:Not sure I like this rudder as much as the one on my T-140. I guess this is the "newer" version. It has nylon straps hooked to the foot pegs and that's how the leg length is adjusted. It just looks like to me that the piece the footpegs slide on will always need some grease/silicone, etc.
I guess it's OK. I'll have to try it before I say I don't like it. Has anyone experienced both models .... pros/cons?
Don't know who came up with the new design but they really missed. They should have just done a bit of improving to the old design instead of a complete redesign.
Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley
-
- Posts: 2533
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
- Location: Among the Mangroves of W. Central FL
That was my thought just looking at it in the box and even after I finished the installation.Rik wrote: Don't know who came up with the new design but they really missed.
I really feel these footpegs are going to need some silicone spray every other outing or so. Sheeesh, one more thing to add to the milk crate.
GIL
"Only the half-mad are wholly alive." ~~~ Edward Abbey
"Only the half-mad are wholly alive." ~~~ Edward Abbey
-
- Posts: 2533
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm
- Location: Among the Mangroves of W. Central FL