The Slider

It's obviously a piece of safety equipment to keep your legs and lower body secured in place when you flip your kayak.
The framing also makes makes it easier for a grappling hook to catch when the kayak is sunk...

 

if your a girl... you might need this.. lmao...

It's obviously a piece of safety equipment to keep your legs and lower body secured in place when you flip your kayak.
The framing also makes makes it easier for a grappling hook to catch when the kayak is sunk...

+1 - I use my front hatch waaaay too much to have that there. I don't mind reaching behind me or going sideways. Keep it simple.

Slider to the face...slider to the FACE!!   that's gonna leave a scar for sure.

This is actually scary the amount of stuff in the way, so this is for people who can't reach a tackle box behind them? I appreciate the thought in developing this but no thankyou. Lets see a vid. when a 25mi. wind kicks up, high fast swells and you have to dig in hard to paddle.

Let's see the surf wipeout!  And the self-rescue!

What's wrong with keeping stuff in the tankwell, or hatch, or (heaven forbid), the spot specifically designed for holding a small tacklebox?

This must be targeted for the SoCal boys.

lol, in all fairness, I don't think "Yakdaddy" spends much time in open water.  Looks more like a contraption aimed at FW or flats style fishing.   

Slider to the face...slider to the FACE!!   that's gonna leave a scar for sure.

   

wonder what bluekayaks' opinion of it will be ????   

Long post...I warned you!!!

I'm glad you folks are discussing the Slider (didn't someone once say there's no such thing as bad press?), but since I'm pretty sure none of you have actually seen or used a Slider, I'd like to see if I can't address a few of your concerns. 

First, no, Duane is not getting a commission, but if his boat will accommodate a Slider, I'd be happy to send him one for free so at least one of you can speak from first hand knowledge. In fact, if Duane is not interested, I'll extend the same offer to the first one of you who would be willing to give a Slider a fair and honest workout.

Second, AGarcia suggested that I haven't spent much time in open water.  Well he's right...I've never fished NorCal waters...but I fished out of Stinson Beach from 1992 to 1998 (before most folks had even heard of kayak fishing) and since then I regularly fish both sides of Florida and routinely fish several miles offshore.  These days I am partial to flats fishing around the Cape (Canaveral), but I am no stranger to big swells and being bitch slapped by mother nature's salty hand.

Third, the Slider, like any piece of gear is not for everyone or every use.

CGN-38 asked "What's it's purpose?". It's purpose is to let you push your rod holders and whatever else you like to keep close at hand well forward and out of the way, precisely so you can "dig in hard and paddle" when you need to, or clear the deck to do a self-rescue.

Do you need a tackle box that large fishing saltwater?  If I'm fishing live bait, then no, I personally don't need that much tackle, which is why I also created the Mini-Slider, which puts a single rod holder and my fish finder within easy reach.  But when I use lures, I like a larger selection (which doesn't necessarily translate to a lot of weight).  Different strokes and all that.  The point is, whatever I carry, it is never out of reach, and never in the way.  That is the purpose of the Slider.

A "Slider to the face" is a valid concern (nice one!!!), but then you best not mount any rod holders, fish finders, live bait tanks, or anything else to your deck, because they are all just as dangerous when things get dicey.  If you do use rod holders and such on your fore deck, then you might appreciate being able to slide everything well forward, especially when doing a re-entry, which is when these things are tossing around close to your face to begin with.

No, it won't fit on a Hobie, and it can make the front hatch a bitch to get to if you routinely climb forward to your front hatch while on the water.  Funny thing is, I've heard lots of folks talk about accessibility of their front hatch, but in 20 years of kayak fishing I've never once seen anyone actually climb forward and open a forward hatch while on the water.  I guess the Central Cal and Florida folks are just not gymnastically inclined.  In any case, if you do access your forward hatch while on the water, then no, the Slider is not for you.

AlsHobieOutback said it "kinda looks flimsy".  Fair enough...pictures only show you so much.  The fact is, it is made from the same material as most SOT kayaks (polyethylene, aka, Starboard), and you are as likely to pull the two mounting bolts clean out of your deck as you are to pull the Slider apart.  I know because I've tried.

Will it hold up to a surf wipeout?  In all fairness, it will not survive getting hammered and scrubbed along the bottom...but I don't know if anything that will.  I've seen Scotty mounts and RAM mounts ripped right out of the deck and I've seen a Hobie folded in half.  That being said, last year I got caught in a rip-rap cross current with six foot waves coming from all directions that capsized me several times before I could get to shore, and the Slider came through unscathed.  I've been slapped silly by heavy waves, but I've never seen a Slider damaged by one.

Does it get in the way when fighting a fish?...yup, it can...I suppose...but less so than rod holders or other gear that you can't move out of the way.

Does it add weight topside?  Yes, a bit...most of it being the weight of the RAM Mounts.  The rest sits low enough to the deck that it is not a problem...which is to say I've never had anyone who has actually used one complain about any tendency towards being top heavy.

Minikeg and a gatling gun??? Wish I'd thought of that.  I have considered a paintball gun mount for those yahoos that don't know what a "no wake zone" is.  Yes, the Slider is a universal mount...why would I  stash my lipgripper or pliers or knife behind me or below deck when I can have them within easy reach?

Is it for everyone?  Nope!  If you don't use rod holders or a fish finder now, you probably won't find the Slider of any interest...unless the reason you don't use them now is because you can't find a place to mount them where you can comfortably reach them without them getting in the way of your paddle stroke.

Enough of the sales pitch.  Now, I've heard that NorCal kayak fishermen are manly men, young and fit, immortal and immune to the effects of aging, but if there were to be any older kayak fishermen not yet banished to Southern California, then they might appreciate not having to touch their toes or throw out their shoulders or backs just to do a little paddling and fishing.

In all seriousness, what do you say, Duane?  Interested in trying one?  Give me a call.

Keep the wet side down!

YakDaddy

Excellent response, Yakdaddy!
Very classy way to address our collective concerns--I respect that. Thanks!
PK

Excellent response, Yakdaddy!
Very classy way to address our collective concerns--I respect that. Thanks!
PK

he didnt even blink once.......   Now i can see it as a useful piece of equipment

AlsHobieOutback said it "kinda looks flimsy".  Fair enough...pictures only show you so much.  The fact is, it is made from the same material as most SOT kayaks (polyethylene, aka, Starboard), and you are as likely to pull the two mounting bolts clean out of your deck as you are to pull the Slider apart.  I know because I've tried.
...
Keep the wet side down!

YakDaddy

Well, that's interesting, I didn't know it was made of poly.  But the "two mounting bolts" is the part that looks flimsy to me.  If you were say targeting Halibut or WSB, or other large game fish, I wouldn't want to have only two mounting points and no back plating to help support it when a big fish hits and my 300$ combo goes in the drink along with the lost fish.  

But, as I read the instructions I figured I could mount it in other ways that would be probably be more stable.  I actually like the idea of sliding forward rod holders, such as the Slide Trax systems on Tarpons, and have wanted something like it for my X-Factor.  

I actually asked Karen from Hook1 to get a quote for the mini, but she never got back to me and I didn't pursue it further.

If Duane doen't want it I'll give it a road test will it fit an X-Factor. I'm an Old fart too 

Excellent response, Yakdaddy!
Very classy way to address our collective concerns--I respect that.

While I don't necessarily see need for the slider, I do agree with Patrick.