First Post

[Yak Fish]

Did you try putting them on their side? It seems that maybe 2 can fit between the side wall and the center console. Then maybe a third could fit on top of those. The whole pod of them could be strapped together leaving the other side of the boat for gear and passengers.

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Carry Them Upright or on Side ?

Ictalurus twice encouraged me to consider carrying the yaks on the rear deck on thier sides. If so, my inclination would be to turn the yak cockpit inward. In the upright position, a cradle can be made such that it positions the centerline of the yak in a well supported manner, over the washboard of the guideboat, and widening the walking space for passengers by the center console. In the "on it's side" position, that is possible but more technical in construction of the cradle and supporting frames, and the frame has to carry all of the weight, and strain when the guideboat is in rolling seas, rather than being bolstered by the washboards.

A couple of measurements that I did not record; how wide should the cradle be considering that it will support the yak in the middle four feet measured fore and aft ?

I think the first attempt at cradles will be as in the photos that Bill posted. This because it requires the least amount of construction time and materials and can be made to be easily removable. I need this cradle to be easily bolted in, and easily taken off, including storing it in my truck when not being deployed. One day I may be fly fishing and the next ferrying yaks. I'm thinking the cradle should be 40" wide. Any opinions ?

Oops, I just noticed that the old phone number is still on the guideboat console. The new number is (301)904-0471.

[ictalurus]

A Hobie Outback is the widest yak I know of. If you can get a measurement for one of those, everything else should fit with room to spare. Hobie's website lists the width at 33", I think my old one was on the order of 35-36" at the widest point. I'm not 100% certain on that, though. Some of the Malibu kayaks are listed as 33" as well.

[Redfish12]

What about the pro angler guys? Those things are almost 200lbs when loaded and they are wide!

I think 40" would be more than adequate for 99% of kayaks

[DOGFISH]

Going to be tough without racks. Possibly, you could lay and stack them across the gunnels. Although, you will need to see. I have seen 27' Carolina Skiffs outfitted as kayak carriers. They do a really nice job. Plenty of room for kayaks, gear and kayakers. At times, I thought about a captains license and the kayak mothership type of thing. There are quite a few of those type outfits in Florida. Depending or how much the trip will cost, you will need to get about 6 kayaks on board.

An Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler is 34" wide. A PA is 38" wide.

[jffoley]

We also kicked around some ideas for a rig to help with boarding in deeper water (even for the old guys).

Hey! I might resemble that remark. What is the cut off for "old guy"? I could be borderline.

Ha ha! Good stuff, Bill & Capt Brady. Looking forward to what you come up with and this service. It sure will expand possibilities.

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Mothership and Kayak Ferry Service

I now know this is a service that I can provide in the immediate future, as we are resolving questions and moving forward rapidly. All that remains is to work out the cradle apparatus. I'm sure that will also evolve over time.

Here is how I currently envision this to work. I will offer either of two services.

Ferry Service : We rendezvous at a boat ramp or per-arranged location. I can already have the guide-boat on a trailer or already in the water, as in meeting at a dock or landing site,beach,etc. We load the yaks, anglers and gear into the guide-boat, and they are transported to a distant site and dropped off. At a time later in that same day, or another day if that is desirable, the guide-boat returns, to the same site (or another) and recovers the yaks,anglers and gear, and then transports them to their initial rendezvous point. There is a deposit required to book the service and the balance is due at the final drop-off point. The costs of this kind of service is going to be based upon the total round-trip mileage of the guide-boat. I'm starting off with a price of $1.25/statue mile per kayak. The guide-boat will carry up to three yaks and up to four passengers, and gear. I think a minimum of two kayaks is preferred, if only one I will have to adjust the price. Cash or check only, by reservation.

Mothership Service: The yaks, and gear are loaded onto the guide-boat in the parking lot of a selected boat ramp area. The guide-boat is launched and the anglers board, sitting in designated places to balance the load. The guide-boat then travels to certain fishing locations where the Capt assists the yaks to launch, load gear, and depart to fish. The mother ship stays in the immediate vicinity of the "ducklings" while they fish and services them as needed, including directing them into more productive places and reloading them as needed to move to other areas. When the angling is done and return trip must be, the mother ship loads yaks,gear,and anglers back into the guide-boat and returns to the home ramp. The guide-boat(with the yaks still on-board) is recovered on a boat trailer and driven to where the anglers cars are parked, where the yaks and gear are unloaded.
There is a deposit of $100 required to book the service and the balance is due at the final drop-off point. The costs of this kind of service is going to be based upon a flat daily rate. I'm starting off with a promotional price of $375. The guide-boat will carry up to three yaks and up to four passengers,and gear. Cash or check only, by reservation.

OK what do you think of these offerings ?

[Yak Fish]

I like the idea of the drop off. It will allow the kayakers to fish wherever they want without being near the boat. This is what happens when most of us meet up...we kinda scatter to fish however our stubborn minds wish

Do you have a few locations/routes that you have in mind for this drop off service. It seems you'd need a location that are not near any shoreline access or ramps. I know that when the rockfish are biting near calvert cliffs there is no good way to paddle a kayak all the way out there, so that would be an awesome scenario.

[Capt Brady Bounds]

Remote Fishing Locations

Honga River,Bloodsworth Island, South Marsh Island, Smith Island and the whole string of shoals for twenty miles down to Tangier Island.

Target Ship, Mud Leads(aka Shell Hill), Middle Grounds, Aerial Target(off St Mary's Cty)

Susquehanna Flats, Sandy Pt and Locust Pt(both off Aberdeen Proving Grounds)

That's just a few....anywhere it is too distant or risky to paddle...it's all reachable with a mothership.

Think about places that you decline to go, contact me about those places and allow me to put together a trip.

[jffoley]

Locations sound great and pricing reasonable. I would really like to explore the eastern side marshes. Sign me up!

[tufnik]

Haven't looked at where all those locations are, but I like the Ferry Service. I think they're all in the Bay. Pricing seems reasonable.

Would outside the Bay trips be feasible? If I want to go for bigger game (e.g., tuna out in the ocean), the mother ship approach is the way to go for obvious safety reasons.

[loupa5]

Would outside the Bay trips be feasible? If I want to go for bigger game (e.g., tuna out in the ocean), the mother ship approach is the way to go for obvious safety reasons.[/QUOTE]

My thoughts as well, fishing for tuna could lead into a tiresome battle and who knows how many miles traveled afterward. Capturing the battle though, on video...would be priceless.

[Redfish12]

I'd really like to explore the eastern shore islands more, specs, reds, flouder, weakies? and rockfish would be fun!

Sign me up with John

[HokieDJ]

I think target ships would be fun especially when the Reds come.

Where would you launch from? PLO/St Jerome's?

[jet]

I'd really like to explore the eastern shore islands more, specs, reds, flouder, weakies? and rockfish would be fun!

Sign me up with John

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