First Post

[mmanolis2001]

Welcome to the site Capt.

Most of the Kayak mother ship trips i have read about involved large (40 to 60ft) sport fishing boats traveling to blue water but i see a hole waiting to be filled in the bay.

What is your largest boat in your fleet? I think the best way to transport the boats would be storing them on the bow area of the boat stacked and strapped down. I don't think it would be possible to take more than 3 or 4 kayaks unless you have a large open boat. I don't think towing them would be an option as they would probably flip and become sea anchors unless you were traveling at very low speeds.

The kayaks generally range from 10ft to 16ft and weigh 60 lbs to over 100 lbs. You might need to take the weight consideration into account when strapping 3 or 4 to your bow. I don't know how that will effect your boats performance.

A horizontal rack made of some sturdy PVC that can be fit into the bow area might do the trick. It would also be easy to take out when not in use.

As far as getting into the kayaks while on the water i think conditions and location will dictate what the best method would be. If it is shallow water then just jumping in and wading with the kayak should be easy. Redfish covered entry In deeper water in warmer months. If the water is relatively calm we should be able to climb in over the side and into the Kayak. It would be even easier with a second hand securing the Kayak to the side of the boat and also help in stabilizing it.

There are lots of places in the bay too far away for reasonable Kayak access.

[Pinch]

tow a floating dock

[CB kayak 02]

WElcome, this sounds interesting.

[OBX_RAT]

Welcome Capt. if you have a crabbing boat you can stack the yaks where you normally would stack the pots

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Solving Problems

Never have I first posted on any forum and received so much positive response.

There is, obviously a need here. To quote mmanolis2001 , "There are lots of places in the bay too far away for reasonable Kayak access." .... After thirty years, I know many places, and I can get there

To bring all up to date, a kayaker close to my home in southern Md, has today contacted me and we are going to meet soonish at a boat ramp, he with two yaks and me with the guideboat, and we are going to figure out an in-the-guideboat transportation solution, and from that, learn more. Will keep all advised.

I think I have learned that the towing should be extremely slow and probably used to gather in stray duckings, and not for higher speed crossing the Bay transits.

[HokieDJ]

Here's posting on the forum with pictures of a large mothership tour:

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/index.p...=islander_trip

Here's another from an Florida outfit with a smaller skiff? Showings pricing to give you a general idea:

http://www.evergladesareatours.com/kayak_fishing.htm

[Redfish12]

How was the test?

[Capt Brady Bounds]

In Due Time....

How was the test?

Previously scheduled events have delayed the test until later this week; you will read about it here first.

I am speaking at the Annapolis MSSA Mtg Monday night ,2/20/12 at the American Legion Post on Manhattan Beach Rd....Topic; How Guides Find Fish.

[Yak Fish]

Previously scheduled events have delayed the test until later this week; you will read about it here first.

I am speaking at the Annapolis MSSA Mtg Monday night ,2/20/12 at the American Legion Post on Manhattan Beach Rd....Topic; How Guides Find Fish.

Sounds like a great topic. For those of us that can't make it, will it be recorded by chance?

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Seminar Recorded ?

Not recorded by me, although I have no objection.

[ictalurus]

Mother Duck Pics!

I met with Capt. Brady today to figure out how many kayaks could fit on the boat and how easy it would be to transport them. I gotta admit, it worked way better than I thought it would, and I'm stoked about seeing the final product and doing a mothership/mother duck run. Even better was hearing the good captain's plans for where to fish. What I learned in that 15 minutes would've taken ages to figure out on my own. Anyway, if you ever get a chance to see Capt. Bounds speak in person, I would highly recommend going.

Now onto the pics:






Capt. Bounds for scale.






The kayaks fit into that space pretty well, and I don't think it would take much to secure them nicely and safely. Any thoughts?

[ictalurus]

Pics, round 2













We also kicked around some ideas for a rig to help with boarding in deeper water (even for the old guys). I'll let Capt. Bounds share those details. I think the plan is going work really well. It was good meeting Capt. Bounds, and I can't wait to see how everything works out.

[Redfish12]

That looks like it will work well! If you turned the hobie around on top then you wouldn't have to worry about the rudder and you could probably have two on each side? That may be too many but it definitely looks like two would be possible!

Sign me up!

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Mothership Yak Carrier

Thanks for the pix, Bill and the complimentary discourse.

On the smaller of the two guideboats that I have, it appears that three yaks, anglers, and gear are going to be fairly easy to accomplish, could do four if the total load is not too great. I'm allowing a generous consideration for safety, and weather, heavy seas, etc.

The two yaks on the rear deck deck hang out about four feet, and we thought should sit in strap slings that are four feet apart, about like car-top racks. I made notes of what was needed to construct those cradles, took measurements, etc.

The two forward yaks sit on the deck aft and on the edge of the forward casting deck. We can place a pad under the stern, and I can construct a cradle for the forward contact point mounted to the forward casting deck of the guideboat. So physically, I could haul four yaks. But with four, two on each side, there isn't an abundance of space for four paddlers with their gear.

That's where we are now. Tomorrow I will mockup the rear deck cradles. Each yak will be separately strapped down securely.

Your ideas are invited.

[OBX_RAT]

Starting to look like things are falling right into place, and I like what I see good work Bill and Capt.