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Topics - DarthBaiter

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 5
1
I need rain pants since my wife donated my prototype Patagonia rain pants by accident. 

I fish off a boat a lot, I fish off my kayak a lot, and I fish off shore in the rain a lot.  I figured the rain pants may as be multitaskers.  I would wear them at work if need be.

sizing?  I am right between a L and XL.  you liking them? 

2
wow.  I kept postponing my DMV visit due to other things happening in my life.  yesterday, I ran out of excuses and showed up at my appointment.

1st point:  anyone that doenst make a DMV appointment and would rather show up as a "walk-in"...that is true grit.  me?  no..appointment please.  the line was around the building!!!

I walk in to the empty appointment line and get a number.  5-10 minutes of sitting next to a dude that smell faintly of cooked cabbage.  I got CALLED!! I got a nice lady!  her eyes did glaze over as I explained my situation. 

I registered a kayak, one month later; I notice a crack, Hobie replaced my hull, new hull # means I need a new registration.  Billy did give me a new STATEMENT of ORIGIN for the new hull.  no bill of sale, no receipt.

the lady went into action.  she first made me fill out a statement of fact, and totaled my old hull. 

then she made me fill out that standard form 100something and treated my new hull like a free gift from Hobie.  I bought a new mussel sticker, and was out the door for $35!!!!

no big deal.  I fist-bumped the kind DMV angel and skipped out the door.

just in case this happens to you.  get that Statement of Origin..and a bill of sale showing FREE would be helpful, but not necessary. 

3
The new hull is better than my last one.  1st my pedal drive clicks in smoothly and stays put.  My other kayak it would pop itself out like it was possessed.  2nd, the new one floats straight.  My old one canted to the left side. I would have to move my butt to the right side of the seat to get it to run level.  I think my old one was warped from the get go.    Whatever. 


The bass were FIRED up.  Pics later.  Just happy with the better hull.  If it cracks again, I’m plastic welding it. 

4
Hobie Kayaks / Well. My 2022 Outback Hull cracked.
« on: February 25, 2024, 08:27:51 AM »
I’m gonna trust the warranty process.

My Hobie cracked on both sides.  Same location. Right at the bottom of the gap in the cupholders. The opening where the “Ear” of a coffee cup would go, and where water is allowed to drain. Hobie should close that opening and simply put a scupper hole in the bottom to drain out.

Saddened.   
But I did catch my two first LMB of 2024.  Happy!  😃

5
I went to the sportsman's Expo last weekend. 

I finally laid eyes on one of those 14', Seadoo fishing jet skies.  really cool looking and according to the pitchman, they are very difficult to flip over.   my friends tell me they are popular in Florida.

have you guys seen them out in the Pacific?  I built retaining walls along Hwy-1 in normal for months.  (sorry for the 1-way traffic control, for you guys heading north of Jenner);  and I have never seen a jet ski blast past me way out in the sea.  I've pulled out binoculars and seen some of you kayakers!!

6
I went down a path.  Invested time, brain power, and money.

Yesterday was my maiden voyage. I hit Clearlake. I have the battery inside my Yak-black-box.  Towards the rear.  I’m gonna source a battery box, and I’m gonna relocate it right behind my Hobie Outback seat.  Almost 2-feet forward.  I thought about putting it into the front hatch, but I bet that will be too nose heavy…and when I flip, it would be a complicated situation. I’d rather lose the battery, than myself.   Current location feels tail heavy. 
 I just raised the motor up 3”. Under power the motor leverages the back down, big time. I;; need to experiement w this.
Loading and unloading the kayak was a new thing.  More trips back and forth from kayak to truck. Eck!   More time as well.  Double eck!

I made the decision to only use the motor when I need to. Big lakes, long hauls, etc.  kicking the pedals is no big deal.  A lot to be said about the simple life. Haha.

7
I don't mind pedaling at all.  I can go 3mph for a very long time. 

let me back up:  I fish 100% fresh water and pretty much only for Largemouth Bass.  I have gone 4 years with leg-power.  I'm fine with it.  but there are some more distant waters I want to get to this year.  well, I can get there eventually, but the push home can get exhausting. 

I figured I will try a motor.  I went for the Newport Vessel NK180, coupled with a Dakota Lithium 24v 60aH battery.  the battery fits inside my blackpak easily.  the back of a Hobie Outback is very rigid.  the mount doesn't move at all.   I think I will only use the motor on lakes like Clearlake and Berryessa.  last year my friend almost wiped me out on a Berryessa marathon where I had to keep up with him and his motored kayak..with my legs.  I did 4mph for way too long.   he was eating jerky and sipping coffee...I was mouth breathing.  :D

small lakes and the Delta, I will stay human powered.  I tend to hunt the skinny waters in the Delta anyways. 

pics later.

8
I've been a member here for a minute now.  it is always that white seabags article.  nobody cranking out new stories?  :D

maybe some Freshwater love?

9
Fishing Pics / my BUCKET LIST fishing done. but i am going back
« on: October 25, 2023, 09:53:34 AM »
i just got back from the Amazon Rain forest!!


10
General Fishing Tips / excuse my confusion. do I need nav-lights?
« on: September 18, 2023, 11:07:01 AM »
I had a game warden suggest I get nav-lights.

I am not sure if I need them or if they are even wanted on my regular Outback, without motor.

going bass fishing now, the daylight hours are shorter.  I slip into a dark lake.  I got lights. 

are they required?

11
i wonder if they are staying in Sonoma County?

and they are offering 25% off on some kayaks.  wow..good time to buy a Hobie.

12
I hooked three without trying.  While bass fishing.  I boated a 12lb cat, and lost two giants.

Heads up if you’re into that kinda thing.

13
my last two trips have been pretty good.  hard to find fish, but the ones  i found have been GREAT FIGHTERS and very repectable fish.


14
General Fishing Tips / picking a paddle for my Hobie Outback.
« on: July 28, 2022, 09:25:51 AM »
i'm lost.  i use my paddle quite often.  usually standing and paddling looking for life in the shallows.  i also tend to fish weeds that render my pedal-drive useless as well.   AND, it is wild how often i will put a lure into a tree, jussssttt out of reach.  last weekend i was thinking, why dont they make a hook in the end of a paddle?  come to find out, they do!!  in addtion, i sometimes feel i am gonna break my OEM Hobie paddle pushing off in rocks, and docks, etc.

maybe i should upgrade.  the Bending Branches website says i should get a 250cm paddle.  the OEM is 230?  would a 240 be a decent enought length jump?  help?  am i overthinkng this?

15
General Fishing Tips / Big Boats around tiny kayaks.
« on: July 07, 2022, 07:38:48 AM »
i took the challenge and fished the friday before the July 4th holiday weekend.  to say boat traffic was epic was an understatement.  i fished the CA Delta.  got there early at the crack of dawn.  i wanted to launch at one place, but the marina manager waved me off.  she said there is a local yacht parade in the channel, and everyone is showing up for it.  i passed and went elsewhere.

in the morning it was tranquil.  as the sun went up, boat traffic slowly ramped up.  it was subtle.  then NOON.  WOW.  i saw it all.  giant yachts towing a wake boat, towing a rubber dingy!  (how rich are these folks?).  there was a penis size contest between two guys in cigarette style boats.  they passed us RACING!  girls in tiny bikinis pretending to enjoy it, holding onto big floppy hats on their heads.  Bass boats were like mosquitos. 

we tried to "Surf" a big yacht wake, but i sucked at it.  my buddy that surfed did better.   at about 12:30 we felt unsafe and saw a break in traffic and crossed the channel to fish the marina and shallow water beyond.  silver lining?  i now have a better understanding of the stabilty of a kayak in a boat wake.  it isnt as dire as i imagined.  loose at the hips, and it felt pretty stable. 

Saturday, i hope to get to the spot the manager waved me off.  IF i ever i buy a boat, i will be considerate to the kayakers.  haha..i feel them, and understand. 

you think most boaters just dont know?  i quickly realized you dont want to be right up against the bank when a wake comes.  it's downright violent there. 

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