How I Pimped my Trident

Those last pics are truly sweet.  It's true: the forward rod holder on my P15 is just a few inches too far away for really comfortable access.  However, there are times when you are REALLY happy it is out of the way...  However, I am not sure I want it stuffing up access to the rod pod or blocking my FF, by attaching it right behind the RP, sorry.  That is possibly too close to my long knees.  The solution is your awesome "extraterrestrial" rod extenders.  Definitely a sci-fi solution.  I need to look into that.  Being able to put the rod in the perfect sweet spot for my exact reach, that is really cooking.  Thanks for the idea. 

hey yester, your green boat looks great!   do you think those rod holders would be strong enough to troll for butts- 12 oz weight, flasher and bait?

hey yester, your green boat looks great!   do you think those rod holders would be strong enough to troll for butts- 12 oz weight, flasher and bait?

I was thinking the same. I like keeping my rod holders closer to the deck in case a big fish strikes.

You guys have a point.  I haven't gotta chance do any testing with the new rod holders but I'm crossing my fingers for some of the light tackle fishing I will pursue in the delta.
As for trolling with the hali gear...I'll have see if I could find some kind of way to support the rod holders better.  It's plausible!

EK, for a joke you should put a rod in ALL of the holders on your boat & take a picture of it for us.  It would be funny!

PJ

Finally got my Ritchie Kayker Compass rigged (will be posting pix soon).  At first, I wasn't quite sure where to place it let alone drilling more holes especially useless ones.  So figured I could place it on top of the sonar shield for these reasons plus visually it sits closer by following these stepshttp://www.anglersafloat.co.uk/Trident_S59.html.  One thing different I had to do first before marking the placement of the compass was to make sure the straps on the sonar shield was secured tight.  Holding the compass I'd used #6-32 x 3/4" round head bolts that came with nuts along with some #8 washers at Home Depot. 
One more last thing I'm still trying to figure out is should I glue the nuts on the bolt so they wont slide out therefore I can take the compass off and on whenever or maybe I should wait till I get my fishfinder??? 

I just gooped mine to the rod pod lid. Holds just fine. Just make sure you get the lubber (or is it lubbar) line is centered facing you.

Here it goes!

Eric, nice pimping and I just picked up non-angler 08 model T-15 that has the sonar shield and rod pod but not rod holders. So I am closely inspecting the great rigging you and Sean did. but I am wondering about a few things:

1. Are the Scotty thread mounts stiff enough when mounted on the deck--it doesn't seem you reinforced them with a plate or anything. Just wondering how they hold up now that you've used them a while

2. Those threaded mount seem like they'd provide quite a moment of force as a lever arm with a rod holder positions as you show nearly perpendicular to the center line/center of mass--but maybe that's only an issue with big weights and fish like Sturgeon or Salmon. Any precautions based on experience with them?

3. How are the toe pilots working--they seem like a great design but I have one concern--how is it with the cables up to high--they were originally designed for closed deck boats where they shielded by the hull. My concern is that they might interfere with re-entry on an open deck boat.  Any experience or thoughts on that?

The threaded scotty mounts seem stiff enough where they are mounted.   The plastic isn't terribly thick there but they seem OK. There's really no room for a backing plate there and the nut on the back side is pretty bulky.  No problems.

Regarding the lever arm effect... not a problem.  I only really use my rodholders for trolling for stripers or halibut (or salmon if we could do it). 

I'm very satisfied with the toe pilots.   They are comfortable and seem durable enough to hold up for the long haul.

Things I'd change about my rigging...
- The scotty round mounts that were placed next to the sonar shield way up front are too far forward to be very practical.  I don't use them very much at all.
- I would have angled my flush mount rod holders that are directly behind the seat inward a bit.  I only really use those for storage of rods, gaffs, clubs, etc and I'd like them better if the rods were closer to parallel with the kayak. 

Eric, thanks for the additional information on your rigging--you did a first-class job and we are all in your debt (and Sean's and others) for showing us how the pros do it..

(or salmon if we could do it).

I am optimistic we will at some point if we can just make some changes in our water policies (dams, etc.) and postpone our gratification for catching long enough to let a healthy spawning population develop. We put men on the Moon and rovers on Mars--we are a great nation who has shown its mettle and ability to clutch hit. In comparison, this should be a cake walk if enough people care and get involved. Maybe some stimulus money needs to go into removing dams and retrofitting those we need so we get our Salmon fishery back--for all of us--kayakers and boaters. That's change *I* can believe in. I wish I had the presidents ear on this.

things needed along with the compass(x2 #6 bolts, x2 #8 washers, x2 #6 nuts, and x2 #6 locked nuts).

Good idea on a way to add a compass in case the GPS/Sounder fails. My Romany has a compass just aft of the forward hatch on the fore deck (see link below for photo). I would add a couple of rubber washers just to be sure things were water tight--but then I am a belt-and-suspenders man on the fringe as well.

http://www.atlantickayaktours.com/pages/retail/Boats/ndk/Photos/Romany-Photos.shtml

Compass great idea only problem I see is on being able to use it the same time as your ff/gps don't know where I would put on that boat what have the rest have you done that is my plan tho is gonna get that boat in a few months trying to figure out my rigging on it now tho before i buy one. Just to buy all rod holders at the same time or before I get the kayak.

Compass great idea only problem I see is on being able to use it the same time as your ff/gps

I was figuring differently--I figure you use the compass when the GPS/sonar is locked down  for launching and landing or if the GPS/sonar  fails. Though I admit having the compass giving your heading as you troll or paddle is a nice feature. I was taught sea kayak navigation with just a chart and compass and that's all a lot of people use most of the time.

3. How are the toe pilots working--they seem like a great design but I have one concern--how is it with the cables up to high--they were originally designed for closed deck boats where they shielded by the hull. My concern is that they might interfere with re-entry on an open deck boat.  Any experience or thoughts on that?

They work great.  I can still push against them with my weight balanced yet still control the rudder.

I added a line guide at the first screw (near the flags.)  That holds the cables down a bit lower.  I used a cable holder. 

I added a line guide at the first screw (near the flags.)  That holds the cables down a bit lower.  I used a cable holder.

Interesting idea. Pulling the wire down at an angle doesn't create too much friction on the rudder control? Can you show us a picture please if you don't mind? I'd like to see how you implemented your idea--I like the principle.