Weems Creek outting

[Goody]

I went out on Weems Creek on Sunday for 3 1/3 hours. I got there and unload my kayak when I met some guys going out on a bass boat. They were checking out my yellow cataran kayak. Since this is my second time out on it, I'm still in the process of figuring out how to operate and set it up. I had brought a plastic cup to try out putting a transducer in it with water and then sticking in the hull of the boat. Well in the process of setting it up, I broke the cup and asked the bass boat guys if they had one. One of them had a coffee cup which I ended up using. Interestingly enough it worked. I think I spent most of the time paddling and getting use to my new kayak. At one point I had paddle all the way to the end and didn't realize how shallow it got until I saw all the muck on my paddle. No, I had no luck with the fishes, but I did see them on the fish finder. They were not cooperating and taking my minnows or jiggs . When I finally was heading out and loading the kayak back on my vehicle, somehow I manage to break off one of the Pad Eye. I had to do some research and ordered some replacements. Does anyone have any experience replacing one?

[Capt C-Hawk]

Sorry about the broken eyelet. If it's through bolted just reach through the nearest hatch and un-bolt it. If it's riveted you'll need to drill out the pop rivets and install the new eye with 2 new rivets. Aircraft grade aluminum rivets are recommended. If you're near Forestville I can help out with a pop rivet tool.

[Goody]

Its riveted. I ordered the replacement and rivet gun. Is it that hard to do? A drill bit should just take it out fairly quick and easy, right?

[Capt C-Hawk]

The rivet will drill right out. Most of the rivets use a 1/8 bit and that's good for removing to old ones. Put a new rivet on the gun, stick it through the pad eye and the old hole till it's against the yak, and squeeze the handle. Keep pushing the gun down and squeezing till it's tight and it should snap off flush.

[MetroMan]

As capt c-hawk mentioned, pop rivets are pretty simple to remove and install. There's a simple, but good YouTube video showing the removal and installation of a rivet on a kayak

[sparky1423]

Hey Goody.....this was my second time taking my kayak out. I have been going solo to save on my embarrassments. Let's see, broke a rod my first trip....snagged my anchor trolly rope with a treble hook, and nearly turtled trying to reach my tackle behind me! I have been skunked both times, but I really enjoy the solitude of being on the water. Now I feel comfortable enough to fish with a few MKF members when the moment becomes available.

Some feedback I personally want to share is...flipping and pitching is very difficult for me on the kayak. Have not figured out how to pee without getting out of the yak and dropping the wader pants. Also I am having difficulty with keeping the wheel cart strapped under the kayak during transport. I do not have the cart that slides into the scupper holes, it has the adjustable straps. Spraying the kayak with 303 made the bottom and sides very slippery. LESS IS MORE...my first trip out I must have prepared for the apocalypse and could barely cast...the second trip was just the necessities, and much better maneuverability.

[Goody]

Fixed Pad Eye



Received rivet tool today. Fixed my broken pad eye. It took less than 5 minutes. Not as hard as I thought it was going to be.

Hey spark1423 let me know when you are going out. Seems like we both are at the same phase in kayaking fishing.