I remember watching this when I was 14 and couldn’t afford not even the cheapest fishing pole or kayak. I’ve worked to become my own man and here I’m am today 22 years old and about to build out my kayak and have one of the nicest rod and reel combos. If your reading this just know anything is possible as long as you set your mind to achieving the task with the purest intentions in mind. Thank you Zo, for the early inspiration and the knowledge.
Love your videos Zoff! After a stroke left me disabled and unable to wade and fly fish I stumbled across one of your videos and have to say what a game-changer that was. Kayak-fishing is now a HUGE passion for me and having a large pond behind my farmhouse with a creek feeding into it makes for many a perfect day of kayak-fishing! Thanks, you are my new fishing GURU!!!!!
I live in St Petersburg, Fl and I just bought a Sun Dolphin 10' Sit on Kayak because of your videos! I go wading 2-3 times a week, and now I can get on the water and do some Kayak Fishing myself! Thank you Zoffinger! Tight Lines
I have the 10ss as well. I get a bit of water in the hull and the one screw holding the shock cord cleats is not that strong. I removed everything screwed into the plastic (except for the foot pedals, seat back, and rivets) and reattached everything using marine goo. It provides a stronger hold and seals everything up.
Super video. Second one of yours I've watched. I like your creativity and frugality. Your experience using screws, silicon and water leakage into the boat was worth the entire price of admission. Please keep up the good work.
Hey Marty, I must have missed this one when it came out. Good video. I used to make underwater video camera housings from 6 inch SCH 80 pvc pipe, and I used screws a lot. I preferred 3m5200 Fast Cure over silicone sealant. I also figured out how to attach polyethylene plastic to pvc. I used hot glue, a lot of it. Unfortunately, if it freezes the joint will weaken, but it is handy if you are making a prototype and want to take it apart later as you can freeze it and separate. Very little will stick propylene to pvc. I have a video on my channel showing how to make a lens cradle for a camera bag by attaching a cheap pvc fitting to a polyethylene bag. Hey, if you ever decide to get a trolling motor for your kayak, that little 12 pound thrust Shakespeare model I used on my inflatable would be a good candidate, it takes 6 or 12 volt batteries so a person could use a small 6 volt golf cart battery, plus the motor is about half the weight of a regular motor. I don't see them on eBay very often. see ya later.
Nice too see someone share this information. So many people only want to know where to fish or what bait/tackle to use. Another great video. BTW, the water up here in coastal NC is starting to warm up, so I should have some more videos myself pretty soon!
Interesting, I would have never thought to use screws. I've always used rivets or little bolts with nylon lock nuts if I could get to them from the inside. Great video, and your right about the bottom of the boat taking the most abuse and always being aware cuts and gashes that will turn into leaks.
btw just kayaked the weeki wachee, I saw a lot of the spots in your video from there like hospital hole, anyone with a kayak in Florida should do that trip, absolutely beautiful.
Great tips for the less construction oriented. Have any of the zinc plated/galvanized screws had major rust problems? An employee of an outdoor outfitter store/chain told me to use galvanized steel for the pad eyes and rod holders, but I refuse spec out anything but stainless steel for beachfront property, let alone use anything less on my kayak.
Bizzillion??? ha, ha, ha. Hi Marty. I have been following you vids for a while, but I REALLY needed to see this video. I got my first Kayak and am petrified of drilling holes in it. This may help me get through that....this and a couple of cans of Bud...lol...Thanks Man.
Don't feel bad about not using silicone. One reason that they use polypropylene to make the kayaks is that NOTHING sticks to it... I mean NOTHING. Including silicone. I learned this while trying to figure out how to put registration numbers on Walter's kayak. I've had occasion to remove a fitting on mine where I did use silicone and it came off when I barely touched it. I also used silicone on my skeg for the same reason you did but don't get a false sense of security from it. Going forward, I think I'm going to use gaskets if it's near water line... Inside and out if I can reach, with ss nut and bolt.
Thanks for sharing Marty. Pad Eyes & stainless bolts and/or screws is the way to go. Nice workshop man, but something about it, makes we wanna have a "Bud Light". Subliminal messages maybe? Dunno really, gotta run to 7-Eleven now. LOL! Later boss.
zoffinger hey marty! i was going to suggest a tip that sounds crazy but its guaranteed to work lol , well if you ever get a big hole like that area you patched you can buy a can of ''great stuff" and spray the whole inside of you kayak with it its basically foam in a can i use it for my homemade kayaks and it works great and when you spray enough of it your kayak will never sink but it is going to get a little heavier ,hope this helps lol
Hey Marty, great video as usual. I was watching "gears" and they we're spraying line x which is a bed liner spray on a truck plastic grill to make it stronger. Maybe it could be used on a kayaks bottom to protect it. I don't know how much it would cost or if it would effect how well it goes thru the water. Just an idea . Have a good one.
That's a great idea! IF it'll stick to polyethylene...A guy at a marina suggested that I coat the inside of my riveted jon boat with that stuff to stiffen it up and prevent leaks. If I ever do, I'll slather a bit on the bottom of the yak.
Fits - As there are all different types of fits. Running Sliding, Force, Interference, Clearance ... etc. Close is good go w/ that when using a bolt assembly. You can explain this to them. Everything must be the same material or your going to make a small battery. lol. Except for the rubber gasket washers if you want. See my FB vid on dissolving elec. Though I'm cranking alot of amps in there. EM CAD Designer / Drafter 12 yrs. On threads external 2A such as a bolt, internal 2A. 2 is common some tolerance of the threads 1,2,3 1 will bind more , 3 costs more.
Marty you should set up a webpage! I have some free space I could give ya and you could put a donate button on it .... I've got a channel for repairing and restoring can'd ham's (travel trailers) and the guy is genius just like you doing his thing ... sharing and putting time in .... you deserve a little kick back 8) Great vid as always and im serious about the web space 8)
Thanks for the assurance that my boat won't leak from adding minor accessories. I went to you to learn about pad eye installation and saw what I needed except for a recommended length of the screw. What length do you recommend for pad eyes along the top of the hull?
What size and length are the stainless countersunk/recessed screw that you use on the pad eyes. Nuts and bolts I would prefer, but cannot reach all areas. Thanks for the informative vids
Your best bet is to have a pad eye in hand while shopping for the screws so you know the head will nest into the recess nicely. The length often need only be 1/2-3/4 inch or so.
I'm the Anti-Christ. You got me in a vendetta kind of mood. You tell the angels in heaven you never seen evil so singularly personified as you did in the face of the man who killed you.
I've been thinking about getting a kayak. I really like the Sun Dolphin Aruba angular. But I also really like the Sun Dolphin Journey SS 10. Never owned a kayak before. What would you prefer for a first-time kayaker. The sit-in or the sit on???...
I've been watching your videos for a while now and really enjoy them. How are the pad eyes for weight bearing? I mean as far as tying off to a tree or piling etc?
Great video - but I have a problem they you might be able to help me solve. I need to replace the two carrying handles on my Perception Shadow 16.5' Kevlar kayak. The old ones are attached with 2 screws and nuts on inside. I managed to get 3 of the screws out - the 4th rotates with the nut, and it's so far out towards the tip of the kayak that I cannot reach to hold the nut. How do I deal with this and how can I attach the two new handles when I cannot reach far enough inside the kayak to hold the nuts in place when I insert screws??? I appreciate any insight you can give me. Thank you!
Do you cradle the stern of your kayak in something when it's in your shed? What is it? I'm getting a couple of fishing kayaks soon and I'm going to be limited by storage space. I'm thinking between the 2x4 framing in my garage.
Thought you might be interested in this video showing repairing scratches on a kayak, you might already have seen it or know of another way... The video is Fish Finder channel under the title: "How to Repair Scratches on a Kayak" One Can Buy the Plastic Candles om Amazon... "Swix Polysticks " or "Tools4Boards PTEX Ski and Snowboard Base Repair Candle (3-Piece)"
I have a screw I don't know what it is. Nominal Diameter is how they are listed beginning w/ 2-80, 4-40, 6-32 ... up to #12 then it's 1/4 the diameter is what's being referenced here. Then threads / in. English/ Metric if you have a thread gage you can measure if you need to match. Note: i.e a 6-32 UNC 2B 1.00 is a #6 (.138 diameter Nominal) Unified National COURSE as there are also UNF for fine or UNEF extra fine, UNS threads for thin wall tubing etc.
Do the screws hold and not loosen? I’m installing a new seat and the old screws are screwed in to a recessed metal sleeve. Can I just use screws like you showed , will they hold ?
Hi i was wondering what size are the pad eyes and where do you think i can find them and, sorry for all of these questions,but how much do you think they cost. Ps: your vids are awesome!!
Hey Marty, I am buying my fish kayak on Saturday, a wilderness ride 115. And am lookin to add some pad eyes to attach a milk crate with some bungees. I have long arms but I do not think that I can reach the area that I want the to be, what would you suggest. The pad eyes came with ss bolts and nutwould you do
I'd like to attach straps on each side of the seating area of my SOT so I can lift it onto the roof top rack easier. What size screws do you recommend for the strap? Thanks.
If you have two Kayaks and both are 10 ft long and 31 inches wide made from the same plastic then why does one hold 300 pounds and the other 275 ? please answer.
What model is your kayak? I have a Emotion Spitfire9. When I stand or lean forward I get water in the front via the front scuppers. Do you have the issue? Thank you for the videos and great information? Jeremy
+Jman Mine is the Spitfire 8, but I only weigh about 135lb and the pontoons I added increase the max capacity of my yak. But I can see water creeping around the scuppers too. Never worried me too much.
Can you recommend the best way to attach stabilizers to a sit on top Kayak? I am concerned that the force exerted on the Kayak should it start to tip may be enough to strip out whatever screws were used.
Zoffinger, where did you get the galvanized seat that you have your PVC screwed on to? Im working on making my own light but im stuck on find a good sturdy way to mount it. Any suggestions?
I found a nice vid of how to repair/restore any scrapes and gouges in a yak with simple tarp material. Check it out if you haven't seen it. Just type in "tarp kayak hull repair" The method can also be used to build up an area like that spot you pointed out.
I like screws myself, I can redo or change things around with screws. Rivets restrict the chances of changing things around or using sealant if necessary for repairs.
Thanks for the video. I just installed an anchor trolley (with screws) on my kayak and one of the screws is not tightening. It turns and turns, but it's the same size as all of the others that I used and the rest are snug. Is there anything I can do to help the screw stay tight? (the screw is brand new and not stripped). Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
thats not what he was asking. screws will bust out and strip. how do you stop that. i would think bolts and washers would be better. where applicable of course.
I've had rivets come loose. Screws rust. But never bust out or strip (when in plastic) Nuts and bolts would be best, but I have used MANY screws with no issues at all.
Can anyone help me here? I am getting a Pelican two man plastic boat for me and my son and will need to attach accessories to it. The main thing being rod holders. I know it's plastic so I don't expect it to hold up to insane amounts of force but we mostly fish catfish and they are mean when first caught and can pull pretty hard. Would it be safe to attach a rod holder with screws for this purpose?
I've had it where the fish are pulling so hard, it's tough to get the rod out of the holder. That's why I like baitfeeders like the Okuma Avenger ABF30. You set the micro drag to allow a hooked fish to run easily, then flip the switch to engage the regular drag, AFTER you have retrieved the rod from the holder.
zoffinger Cool. I'm actually getting a plastic two man boat and have been looking at kayak vids for info for mods. I am afraid the pull of the fish could pull out screw mounted rod holders.