I have to use Chrome to see videos.  The forum will not work on any of my apple products (newer devices and older) unless using Chrome.  I tried every update, setting change, reset and finally gave up.  I don’t bother with it anymore unless there is a video i really really want to see, but usually just skip it. 

Thanks to Lucky13s article and instructions!  My battery went out on the Sharkshield and the company wants a lot of money to swap units for just a bad battery. I was going to build a pack but lucked out and Lucky13 still had a pack he had built. 

My case is the earliest version of the Freedom so I had to
modify my case differently. I cut the plastic circuit board slot and had to trim the side supports narrower and all the way to the bottom of the case to allow the unit to slide back together. The battery is a bit larger and flexes the circuit board slightly.  No problem as it will have a bit more capacity than the old battery pack.

I turned it on and got a green light and it began to flash!   I went ahead and ran a thin bead of silicone around the seam just because. Likely overkill but it will add a bit more protection and is easy to remove if needed.

How have your boats held up over time to fishing use?  I am careful with my gear but can only be so careful with beach launching and landing.  I know the material has been used on touring kayaks for years.  My roto-molded kayaks have held up well.  I am hoping this holds up about the same.

I admit it was fun to paddle and get back to my roots.  The more complex some of our boats become, its nice to have something a but more simple and easy.

I went up to Headwaters Kayak today. Great shop, well stocked and friendly staff. They happened to have a couple Eddyline 14fb in stock.  I got to take out one for a demo and bought the demo! Lol.  I liked the yum yum yellow (I like high vis kayaks), and it was the only yellow they had in stock.

I found the new seat amazing.  Always liked my old clip in cloth seats fine but after sitting in one of these newer beach seats the kayak manufacturers are going to I am sold.  The kayak is very stable, much more than my Adventure and paddles smooth and fast.  It walks a bit on really hard paddling but thats to be expected.  The full length keel tracks very nice, even without a rudder.  I liked the room in the cockpit!  I could easily move around and sit cross legged, swing my legs over the side, get in and out of the kayak, and reach into the back.  I even stood up!  Then I got cocky and kneeled and spun to the rear well to show my wife something and fell out, lmao.  Luckily I was in 8” of water so just soaked my pride.

The weight is very nice!  50 lbs means much easier loading and toting around land, especially as I am still dealing with my shoulder surgery recovery.  I can lift it easily and its nothing to pull around on my cart. It will be great for long walks down the hills to the beaches or lakes.

I already did a simple rigging. I plan to keep this kayak very minimal.

It was not the “fishing” model but a couple flush mount rods holders fixed that.  I like the T rails and added another 4” rail to the back for some scotty gear head mounts and my flag/light.  I already have so many scotty items and rod holders I figure I would use what I had.

I had an extra transducer for my fishfinder.  The deep keel on this wont accept a foam water bath so went with some E6000 and glued the transducer in place.  I may have messed up as we are headed out tomorrow afternoon for a trial. I normally wait 24-48 hrs to let it cure, but its 112 right now so likely it will be well cured by tomorrow!  I set the transducer in the rear keel of the kayak so it’s out of the way in case I need to put rods in the hull for surf launching.

I used some bolts and slid them into the T rail and mounted a small extra ram plate I had.  Eventually I need to pick up some more T bolts.  Now I can use my same fishfinder and battery pack on either kayak.  Added in a gland nut for the fishfinder wires and glued/tightened the nut in place. 

I still need to figure out new clip locations for my game clips, rod leashes and fish finder leash. 

Rigging only took a few hours but was miserable in this heat.  I am excited to get it out for some fishing!   I still love my Hobie Adventure and it has its place for covering long distances and trolling, or fighting wind/current.  This is going to be for alot of salt fishing as well, crabbing, trout and bass fishing; but more of a simplistic kayak for easier trips when I have long walks, need a lighter boat, weedy ponds/lakes and just quick trips where I don’t feel like taking so much.  I am hopeful its a good addition to the fleet.  I admit it was fun paddling again!














Transducer glued and taped down for a cure, made a well for the glue out of tape.

Thanks to Lucky13 I am replacing the battery in my Shark Shield, I used it a lot in SLO. Kept it charged but found the pack failed the other day.  I will swap it out and be good to go.  I considered attaching it to my fishfinder battery but want to keep it more portable, most my time is in fresh water now.

I have had a few times in Montana De Oro where suddenly everything went still, my hair stood up and you could feel something was wrong.  I would look back to see if the SS was still on.

That shark BigJim saw was running for its life 😉. Cool video.

Welcome!  Hope to see you on the water.

Loaded up and headed to Lake Siskiyou for a few days. Staying at the resort and have a small bag loaded for trout and bass.  Plan to do a bit of trolling, some bait soaking; and dragging some worms, ned rig and drop shot.

Been out of the kayak game for a while due to a shoulder surgery, so will be a good shake down cruise.  Working on more of a minimalist approach.

If anyone is on the lake I will be in a yellow Hobie Adventure!  Hopefully I will have something to report!  I see rain is predicted Feiday but am going out rain or shine!!!

Happy to report some of the loading tricks have paid off and finding the Hobie loadable again.   Had to use the J racks in order to clear the wife and daughters paddle boards.

Mmmm, the flip will definitely flip you!  Was sorry to see GMS canceled this year.  Lots of personal fear still about COVID.  I am lucky where I live as nothing ever changed for me, worked every day and no masks.

Got my tackle ready and new line on my rods (especially with river salmon coming up!).  I need to make some more swimbaits for lings.  I made some glow in the dark keitech style swimbaits and hammered the lings a few years back.  Only 40 fr of water but must have looked like a squid.

I went through my kayak today.  Ordered some new rudder line due to some slight fraying (to have as backup as not needing replacement quite yet), rudder pins and new gloves.   Lubed hatches, hinges, pedals, and the rudder.  Cleaned it all up and its looking good. 

I belong to a group of Coleman/Lantern collectors and there is talk of a trip to the coast this summer.  I want to be ready for some fishing!

I would have headed out today but these high winds are keeping me off the water.  I did need the time to organize and prep my gear though.  Amazing how stuff can get scattered after a few years of non-use!!!