Crab trap/pot rig

I’ve been tinkering with different designs for rigging my 2 Danielson crab traps to my Revo 16.
I’ve seen some posts that use pvc pipes, but I can’t find them. That’s a cool idea, but I was looking for a much simpler idea. Something that would be easy to store, light to carry, no maintenance, and functional of course.
The pictures explain it all. It’s stable, holds one or two traps really well, won’t accidentally drown, and can be used for other things. Most importantly, it’s safe. You can cut or remove the cords in case of emergency, and under excessive force they’ll just tear.
On Amazon, the bungeee cord was about $17 for 50ft and the hooks $13 for 10.

KISS

Even a dowel sticking up from your rod holders, will give you that extra bit you need to keep your pots from slipping off as you're stacking pots and playing twist-around-in-your-seat games as you secure the pots.  Just toss the pot on top, with the dowel going through the mesh of the pot.

-Allen

I dont recommend your setup.  The Revo 16 is pretty narrow, I suggest you put some kind of posts, at least one of them.  I can assure you if you tip with the pots stacked like that, you will have a hard time being able to cut the cords.  Also, until you get used to it, pulling a pot could make the Revo 16 lean to one side.  That lean may cause the 2nd pot to slide.  If that happens, now you have two pots hanging and very likely ropes on your laps or across on the other side of the kayak.  Yes, you can let go one of the pot, but that bunch of ropes could cause issue in a hurry.

Also, I suggest that you keep pots folded and stack the rope and buoy on the highest pot.  The main idea is that let the pots dump but be able to recover them.
I do wish you the lean to be caused by a full pot at all time!

Here's a link to some PVC rack ideas

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=93795.msg1056917#msg1056917

Also, you can flatten one of the traps and put it on the bottom so you aren't so top heavy.

I do wish you the lean to be caused by a full pot at all time!

that would be sweet!

I dont recommend your setup.  The Revo 16 is pretty narrow, I suggest you put some kind of posts, at least one of them.  I can assure you if you tip with the pots stacked like that, you will have a hard time being able to cut the cords.  Also, until you get used to it, pulling a pot could make the Revo 16 lean to one side.  That lean may cause the 2nd pot to slide.  If that happens, now you have two pots hanging and very likely ropes on your laps or across on the other side of the kayak.  Yes, you can let go one of the pot, but that bunch of ropes could cause issue in a hurry.

Also, I suggest that you keep pots folded and stack the rope and buoy on the highest pot.  The main idea is that let the pots dump but be able to recover them.
I do wish you the lean to be caused by a full pot at all time!

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I’ve been thinking about it too. My idea is to undo the cords once and for both pots. Let #1 sit on the kayak while I deploy #2. If I see it’s not safe, I’ll use the cord to hold #1 while I handle #2. When I check a pot, I’m not gonna have anything at the back. When I’m done, pick #1, strap it, then pick #2, put on top of #1, move cord hook from #1 to #2. Should work.

Also - what’s your thoughts on keeping all the gear inside the trap? Seems like a reduced entanglement hazard, no?

Also - what’s your thoughts on keeping all the gear inside the trap? Seems like a reduced entanglement hazard, no?

I have done it both ways.  I think it depends on your kayak stability and weather conditions.   I stacked the two pots together and put buoys and ropes at the top, secured by PVC posts through the scupper hole (you can buy 12" irrigation pipe and put caps and what nots so the posts are in the whole; I dont use Hobie's cart though).  I use velcro to keep the ropes in bundle, but just barely.  I know the buoy pull will release the velcro, I tested it in calm water. 

With the Revo 16, I have PVC posts and clean everything up after I am done crabbing (i.e. nicely stacked per original stacking when I launch).  With my Raptor and Outback, I just pull and dump the rope to the back, no cleaning up, just a heap of stuff.  PVC posts on Outback, just nothing on the Raptor since it is very stable and it has mega space.

Also - what’s your thoughts on keeping all the gear inside the trap? Seems like a reduced entanglement hazard, no?

I have done it both ways.  I think it depends on your kayak stability and weather conditions.   I stacked the two pots together and put buoys and ropes at the top, secured by PVC posts through the scupper hole (you can buy 12" irrigation pipe and put caps and what nots so the posts are in the whole; I dont use Hobie's cart though).  I use velcro to keep the ropes in bundle, but just barely.  I know the buoy pull will release the velcro, I tested it in calm water. 

With the Revo 16, I have PVC posts and clean everything up after I am done crabbing (i.e. nicely stacked per original stacking when I launch).  With my Raptor and Outback, I just pull and dump the rope to the back, no cleaning up, just a heap of stuff.  PVC posts on Outback, just nothing on the Raptor since it is very stable and it has mega space.

Raptor is the ideal crabbing platform. 

This is pvc through the scupper holes on an oasis. Works well at keeping the traps in place, but it is pretty cumbersome trying to stack and unstack these traps on the water since the traps sit behind me. If you can find a way to stack these traps in front of you, that would be ideal.

Yeah, that’s my biggest issue with the PVC pipes.

Another question - if the standard white-red bullet buoy and the rope are inside the Danielsen trap, and the trap falls into the water, would it float? And would it be possible to lift it up?
Sound like it should be

Yeah, that’s my biggest issue with the PVC pipes.

Another question - if the standard white-red bullet buoy and the rope are inside the Danielsen trap, and the trap falls into the water, would it float? And would it be possible to lift it up?
Sound like it should be

Everything I've read says no and you should store the buoy/rope outside the trap. If you have access to a shallow body of water, maybe tie an extra rope to the trap and try chucking it in with the buoy inside and just see what happens?

Yeah, that’s my biggest issue with the PVC pipes.

Another question - if the standard white-red bullet buoy and the rope are inside the Danielsen trap, and the trap falls into the water, would it float? And would it be possible to lift it up?
Sound like it should be

Everything I've read says no and you should store the buoy/rope outside the trap. If you have access to a shallow body of water, maybe tie an extra rope to the trap and try chucking it in with the buoy inside and just see what happens?

That’s interesting. I would have thought that loosing a trap and all the hardware is better than getting tangled in it... what’s the rationale?

Yeah, that’s my biggest issue with the PVC pipes.

Another question - if the standard white-red bullet buoy and the rope are inside the Danielsen trap, and the trap falls into the water, would it float? And would it be possible to lift it up?
Sound like it should be

Everything I've read says no and you should store the buoy/rope outside the trap. If you have access to a shallow body of water, maybe tie an extra rope to the trap and try chucking it in with the buoy inside and just see what happens?

That’s interesting. I would have thought that loosing a trap and all the hardware is better than getting tangled in it... what’s the rationale?

It will break away from the kayak when flipped and the buoys will surface. Unlikely to tangle if you're also using leaded line.

These gear ties help me keep all the ropes organized and tangle free.

Nite Ize Original Gear Tie, Reusable Rubber Twist Tie, 12-Inch, Assorted Colors, 12 Count Pro Pack, Made in the USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SHBN38U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_psUPFb87M33ST?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1