I have multiple kayaks. Each kayak has it’s application.  When I was selecting a fish finder, my primary requirement was mobility.  I needed a solution that that I could quickly move between kayaks: battery, unit, and transducer.  The most challenging part was the transducer.  I chose the Ram Mounts Transducer Arm.

The Ram Mounts Transducer Arm comes with a straight aluminum rod.  You need to put a 90 degree bend at the right point on this rod.  Bending a 90 degree angle into the straight aluminum rod is easy, if you have a jig!  Download and print my jig template.  Cut out the template and trace it onto a scrap piece of wood (e.g. 1.5″ W x 3.5″ H x 3″ L).  Cut along the lines via band saw or jig saw.  (Wear eye protection!).  Drill a 0.5″ hole via power drill through the center of the jig.

Secure the Ram Mounts 1″ ball and clamp to your kayak’s gear track.  Insert the aluminum rod into the clamp.  Pass the jig through the aluminum rod.  With a Sharpie, mark the aluminum rod at the end of the jig.  Remove the aluminum rod and jig from the clamp.

Secure the jig to a work bench via clamp.  Adjust the aluminum rod until the Sharpie mark is aligned with the edge of the jig.  Gradually bend the aluminum rod.

Mount a stock piece of wood on the other side of the rod.  Gradually bend the rod in the opposite direction to form a 90 degree angle.

Attach the bent aluminum arm to the Ram Mounts clamp on your kayak’s gear track.  Insert the plastic sleeve onto the aluminum arm.  Secure the transducer housing to the end of the aluminum arm.

The RAM Mounts Transducer Arm provides me with maximum mobility.  When I need maximum speed on the water, I rotate the arm until it’s parallel to the water.  Great product!  Perhaps some day it will come with it’s own jig to bend the aluminum rod.

I purchased a used Hobie Revolution 13 kayak.  The hands-free propulsion and ruder system is amazing!  The only short coming is the lack of gear tracks.  Having used gear track on my Wilderness System kayaks for several years, I find them to be indispensable.  Hence, I decided to drill holes into my Hobie and mount two YakAttack Gear Tracks.

The older Hobie Revolution 13 kayaks have a flat spot just above the rudder controls.  This is a ideal spot to mount YakAttack GT90 4″ Gear Tracks.   You can do this your self with some simple tools and materials.

Materials

1. YakAttack GT90 4″ Gear Track
2. YakAttack GT90 4″ Gear Track Backing Plate
3. Scrap piece of 1/4″ plywood (or another material)

Tools

1. Power Drill
2. 1/8″ Drill Bit
3. 3/32 Allen Wrench
4. Safety Glasses

Make a jig or template of the gear track.  Place the jig on one of the flat spots just above the rudder controls.  Drill a 1/8″ hole.  Place one of the screws through the hole to keep the jig from moving.  Drill a second 1/8″ hole.  Place another screw through the hole to keep the jig from moving.  Drill the third 1/8″ hole.

Remove the jig.  Position the YakAttack Gear Track on deck and align the holes.  Insert screws through the holes.  Open the front hatch to access the area underneath the track.  Secure the backing plate by tightening the screws via Allen wrench.

Drilling holes into a kayak can be daunting.  However, by creating and using a jig, you can install YakAttack gear tracks efficiently and accurately.

Many anglers keep soft plastics in their original plastic bags and then store all of the bags in a hard-shelled plastic box.  The advantage of this simple storage solution is that you have the labels on each bag.  I store my soft plastics (frogs, worms, creatures, etc.) in Plano boxes (2-3620-01 and 2-3600-01) because it’s more efficient.  For accuracy, I make my own labels so that I can quickly know the size, color, and model of the soft plastic in each Plano box chamber.

I make my labels in three steps.  First, I cut the label off the original plastic bag using a pair of scissors.  Second, I place the label on clear packaging tape and fold the tape onto itself.  Third, I trim around the buried label via scissors.

I like this simple labeling solution because it makes the label stiff and waterproof (which is important when the original label is a sticker). When a bait is running low, I know what to re-order.

Storing soft plastics with DIY labels in Plano boxes (2-3620-01 and 2-3600-01) is efficient and accurate.  Time is fish!