JEM Watercraft

Gidday all, this is my first post to this forum and I have a number of questions regarding these highly regarded Kayaks.

I live in Cairns in the Tropical area of Australia and my primary reason for having a Yak is go go fishing. As I live in a Crocodile infested area, my fishing activities will be in open water away from creeks where crocs inhabit. Also, there is no surf in this area as the coast is protected by the Great Barrier Reef. After a period of time to get fit, there are some islands about 6km off shore I would like to fish, so at times I will need to go a distance to fish.

I am 6'3" and about 100kg, I would like a SOT. Also I would like to incorporate a number of features of the Hobie Pro Angler, particularly the rod storage for 6 rods running under the forward deck. I would also like to incorporate the following:

Plumbed Live Well built into the area behind the seat that holds approximately 20 to 30 lt of water.

Behind this I would like to fit a 37lt Eski, 480 x 360mm, sidways if possible.

Behind that room for the obligatory milk crate.

It must have a Hobie Mirage drive installed and a rudder.

I would like to build a front hatch the same as http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/10827189 this will house a removable bucket similar to the Hobie Pro Angler. This will be used as a Kill Tank. I want to keep my fish fresh, but I do not want to attrack Tiger Sharks that also inhabit my fishing area!

Other Pro Angler features I like are the areas beside the seat for tackle boxes and the cutting board under the knees.

I have experience with Stitch and Glue boat building, years ago I built a Mirror sailing dingy.

The areas that I will be fishing are protected by the GBR, but the wind bows on average between 10 and 20 knots with some calm days. The sea is a chop when it blows and no surf. We also get Cyclones (Hurricanes) every year.

The fish I will be targeting will be bottom reef fish, Coral Trout, Fingermark Bream etc to about 8 kg and Pelagics to about 15kg. So at times I will be in for a fight.

So these are my specific needs in a Yak. Questions are:

Which SOT Yak would you recommend? I have no preference, I just need something that fits the bill.

Can the modification be incorporated into a standard design, or do I need to commission design mods?

Purely on the asthetic, can they be made from Strip Plank? Yes, more complicated, but would there be advantages other than the esthetic?

Thanks in advance

Rocky

Wadefish would be a good platform to start with. Pay attention to the load capacities.

http://www.jemwatercraft.com/Wadefish.php

As far as the all the mods, it depends on how good you are with custom building. I don't mean that to sound snotty or anything. I could assist with the design but it wouldn't be cheap. Please contact me via email to discuss that pricing.

The mirage drive well, I'll have to contact the one builder who prototyped the well design I made. He mentioned there were tight spots. See this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2285

For strip built, I'd venture to say you'd need my help with that. A strip built will be a bit more efficient on the water. Also will glance off of ocks and logs easier if you encounter those.

Look at the storage hatchs i installed in my wadefish posted in the builder's log as Mr.Frickle's Ride it allows for great storage. I'm also 6'4" and 270 and i built the 15-32 Wadefish and if your going to carry camping gear also that is the boat for you. With my hatchs i can store 12' rods and camp gear easy I also have worked with Matt on customizing my build and he was great
And Welcome Aboard

Mike

Thanks Matt, I will PM you shortly.

A quick Payload:

Me with gear 112kg
Live Well 32 kg
Eski, full 40 kg
Rods and Tackle 15 kg
Kill Bucket 6 kg
Battery electronics 8 kg
Milk crate 10 kg
Misc 5 kg

Total 228 kg

Looks like the 15-32, too heavy for the standard Wadefish

Rocky

228k (500 pounds): Now with that much on board, are your expectations to not have a bunch of water in the cockpit? As in water at the top of the scuppers but not sloshing around in the cockpit? With the 15-32, you'll have a little stay with you with 228k on board. More if you catch some big fish.

What's a 37lt Eski?

Looks like I have to go on a serious diet!!!

Yes I can get the weight down, that was just a quick and dirty estimate.

Sorry for non Aussies, many years ago their was a brand of Portable ice box (cooler) called Eski. I don't think they are still operating, but at one stage in the 60's and early 70's, every Aussie over 18 had an "Eski".

Now we just call every brand of Cooler an "Eski"

My weight estimate was for the 37 litre Eski full of ice and fish for the paddle home. Thats if I catch any!!

New Weight Estimate:

Me with gear 112 kg
Live Well 32 kg 0 kg on the way back
Eski with ice only 6 kg, with ice and fish up to 40 kg
Rods & Tackle 10 kg
Kill Bucket 3 kg
Battery & Electronics 5 kg
Milk Crate 5 kg
Misc - water, lunch etc 5kg

178 kg at the start of Fishing
up to 180 kg with empty live well and full of fish!

Much better

Rocky

`G' Day Rocky
You will find a lot of info and all the help you will need here, spend some time looking arond and you will find so many clever ideas, good luck picking a build.

ok now the Wadefish should serve as a nice base platform for what you want to do.

As far as the mods, you could tackle all of them yourself with some careful planning, or I could help (no as $$ as a complete redraw of something new). I'll see about the drive well.

This looks like a very interesting project! I'll be following this one keenly!

jem wrote: I'll see about the drive well.

Matt, did you see the drive well at the link Rocky had in his first post?
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17036365
From there go to the homepage and check out the rudder and seat also.
Jimmy