NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Zone => Kayaks => Jackson Kayak => Topic started by: Gearaddict on March 17, 2016, 07:22:55 PM

Title: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Gearaddict on March 17, 2016, 07:22:55 PM
I drove out to headwaters two weeks ago sadened to find out that they no longer are carrying Jackson kayaks. So I dropped into Cal Kayak and Canoe this past week and they had a new 2015 Kraken. I have now joined the jackson clan.  Now,  I am stuck in the bat cave rigging it for the opener.

 (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160318/25f865a2991f30ceef56052ef4bf7986.jpg)

I took it out yesterday in the Richmond marina, just to get a feel for balance and rigging options.
 (http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160318/d9e93affc55710aefd4671f6e85e8fbd.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160318/2e74a2f88954f477d8f7d840095d5bfa.jpg)

Can't wait to get back out on the water. See you all soon .

GA
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: seabird on March 17, 2016, 07:25:10 PM
Oh man, so jealous.  :smt007
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: KPD on March 17, 2016, 08:52:01 PM
Ohhh nice!
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: VK on March 17, 2016, 08:54:40 PM
 :thumleft:..Ricmond guy huh ?  I grew up near Hilltop Green ..before there was a mall...  Kudos on the rig !!!
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: DG on March 17, 2016, 09:15:20 PM
Congrats on the new kayak.  Looks like mine next to yours in the showroom pic. 
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: lopezcador on March 17, 2016, 09:46:54 PM
U r, one lucky duck. Way to go.
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Sin Coast on March 17, 2016, 10:48:49 PM
Sick yak! And easy for boaters to see too...I like that color combo.
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: eelkram on March 17, 2016, 10:58:54 PM
Congrats! Krakens are awesome boats.
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: BigJim on March 18, 2016, 06:49:51 AM
Beauty!!!

Love the color too!!

 :smt007

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Bungle on March 18, 2016, 07:06:48 AM
Congrats!  You gotta be stoked!

The Kraken is on my "someday" list...
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: CaddyChris on March 18, 2016, 07:30:55 AM
Sweet ride bro!
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Gearaddict on March 18, 2016, 04:55:48 PM
Thanks Gents! Yes, I am super HAPPY :smt007!  Just trying to wrap my head around rigging now and all the options in play. Trying to stick to the basics but it is hard with all the choices.

So far:
Yak Attack - Lever Loc Anchor trolley
Drift Anchor
Gear Head Track adapter
Visi carbon pro
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro


Has anyone replaced the console tracks? The plastic tracks seem a little light for pole mounts.

I am thinking of replacing them with the Yakattack GTSL90 GearTrac 16'' Orange. Anyone done this?  I don't want to put pole mounts there and watch them go overboard with a big fish on.
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: novofish on March 18, 2016, 05:00:43 PM
Nice boat bro! :smt001
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Eddie on March 18, 2016, 08:21:39 PM
Kraken bro, I'll be your kraken bro, I just picked up the same color and went out last monday, gonna try again this monday
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Str8FishiN on March 18, 2016, 10:23:09 PM
Congratulations on your new yak!  Enjoy the rigging! 
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: agoodhi on March 18, 2016, 10:57:53 PM
congrats, love the missile pop color!
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: SeaGoat on March 19, 2016, 04:12:59 AM
Thanks Gents! Yes, I am super HAPPY :smt007!  Just trying to wrap my head around rigging now and all the options in play. Trying to stick to the basics but it is hard with all the choices.


Has anyone replaced the console tracks? The plastic tracks seem a little light for pole mounts.

I am thinking of replacing them with the Yakattack GTSL90 GearTrac 16'' Orange. Anyone done this?  I don't want to put pole mounts there and watch them go overboard with a big fish on.

    There was a jackson rep at the store when I bought mine, he said he cut a piece of cutting board and mounted on the console to stiffen it up. I mounted a pair of flush mount rod holders on the gunwale just past where your knees sit. I did away with the rod holder on the console, the pole seemed to flop around when paddling and twist the console when a fish was on.

    Also, if you haven't go ahead and get a set of the large wheeleez. Unless you have a team of oxen or are only planning on launching from boat ramps.  :smt013
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: BigJim on March 19, 2016, 07:35:36 AM
Thanks Gents! Yes, I am super HAPPY :smt007!  Just trying to wrap my head around rigging now and all the options in play. Trying to stick to the basics but it is hard with all the choices.

So far:
Yak Attack - Lever Loc Anchor trolley
Drift Anchor
Gear Head Track adapter
Visi carbon pro
Raymarine Dragonfly 5 Pro


Has anyone replaced the console tracks? The plastic tracks seem a little light for pole mounts.

I am thinking of replacing them with the Yakattack GTSL90 GearTrac 16'' Orange. Anyone done this?  I don't want to put pole mounts there and watch them go overboard with a big fish on.

I'm a dummy when it comes to rigging stuff, but I know that Jim Sammons and some other guys have swapped the tracks on the hatch out...see attached pic from Facebook...I can get you more info on how they did it etc if you need/want...

Also, my buddy Justin did a cool write up on some other upgrades he has done:

http://jacksonkayak.com/blog/2016/03/13/upgrades-kraken/

And...an NCKA OG, Sean White, is now on the JK team and he is a rigging master and I'm sure he would be happy to help you out with ideas etc if you zapped him a PM:

http://jacksonkayak.com/team-jk/kayak-fishing-factory-team/sean-white/

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?action=profile;u=4273

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12918.msg121444#msg121444

Anyway, best of luck with setting it up!!

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Gearaddict on March 19, 2016, 07:41:05 AM
Thanks everyone for all the info and  resources.

I will take a look at this and drop Sam a pm.
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Gearaddict on March 19, 2016, 11:55:48 AM
Thanks Gents! Yes, I am super HAPPY :smt007!  Just trying to wrap my head around rigging now and all the options in play. Trying to stick to the basics but it is hard with all the choices.


Has anyone replaced the console tracks? The plastic tracks seem a little light for pole mounts.

I am thinking of replacing them with the Yakattack GTSL90 GearTrac 16'' Orange. Anyone done this?  I don't want to put pole mounts there and watch them go overboard with a big fish on.

    There was a jackson rep at the store when I bought mine, he said he cut a piece of cutting board and mounted on the console to stiffen it up. I mounted a pair of flush mount rod holders on the gunwale just past where your knees sit. I did away with the rod holder on the console, the pole seemed to flop around when paddling and twist the console when a fish was on.

    Also, if you haven't go ahead and get a set of the large wheeleez. Unless you have a team of oxen or are only planning on launching from boat ramps.  :smt013

A team of Oxen, that would be quite the sight! I have also been looking at trolleys. Has anyone used the C Tug? I am kind of ignorant when it comes to trolleys.  What are the big factors when looking at a trolley i would imagine on with a stand makes life a little easier?
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: BigJim on March 19, 2016, 12:21:48 PM
Wheeleez...wheeleez....wheeleez...

 :smt004

http://www.wheeleez.com/kayak-cart-beach.php

 :smt006

Sincerely,

Jim
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Gearaddict on March 19, 2016, 12:57:01 PM
Thanks Jim! Point taken!
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Eddie on March 19, 2016, 07:15:46 PM
I picked up a ctug and it takes some trial and error to secure the kayak for wheeling, but i figured it out so far and learned a few tricks that work.  For the price, I wish it was flawless, but am now a ctug believer
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Rockroach on March 21, 2016, 07:03:52 AM
This is what I did to the underside of my hatch cover.
I do a lot of trolling and this definitively helped the flexing.
Congrats on the new ride.
You're gonna love it! :smt006
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Desertdiver on March 21, 2016, 07:29:06 AM
Congrats on the new ride,very nice yak. I used the C Tug cart for a couple years, work pretty well on hard pack surface,on soft mud or sand you will get a great aerobic work out.  Tried a set of Wheelez.... bought a set of Wheelez  :smt007 , not a second of buyer remorse  .  Go with the Wheelez, your yak and back will thank you.  Well worth the price.  Rigging, so many options, have fun.
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Jedmo on March 21, 2016, 07:54:27 AM
Congrats on your new ride bro. :smt006

Jedmo
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: Gearaddict on April 16, 2016, 04:44:48 PM
A few pics of what I have done so far. I replaced the gear trac on the lid with gt90 16in with backing . I placed two 4in tracks on the right and left rails.

I added two pole mounts for the new track system for trolling. I also added a new articulating ram mount for the raymarine dragonfly 5 pro. I love this thing by the way, the mount makes it easy to move when sun shifts.  I also ran two West Marine Marin's cable plugs for transducer and power cables. It keeps all the cables clean and out the way. I ran a bunch of cable guides under the hatch also.

Also, yakattack anchor trolley. That should cover it for awhile. I don't think I will need anything else but some more fish in the boat. 

Happy hunting..

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: seabird on April 16, 2016, 07:29:59 PM
Looks sweet!
Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: SBD on June 21, 2016, 03:33:15 PM
Super late to this party but I fish two rods of my center hatch all of the time.

It is a bit jiggly but I haven't habd any reason to change it.

It's my favorite two rod setup ever.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Picked up my Kraken.
Post by: KillBait on November 14, 2017, 03:43:37 PM
Any new additions other than fish GearAddict?

I'm looking to build mine similar yours. Instead of the ram mount arm for the transducer, I bought a yakattack plate to mount it on.

Is your jkrate a live well?

Nice yak and great build!