How to: Wilderness Systems "Ride 115x" fish finder install
Written by Mark Watanabe
In this month’s How-To Kayak Rigging segment, Wilderness Systems Pro Staff member Bobby Clark walks you through the basics of installing a fish finder in the Wilderness Systems “Ride 115x”. Unlike many of today’s fishing kayaks, the Ride 115x makes installation a snap with a few basic tools.
So you have a kayak and you like to fish, and now you’ve decided to install a fish finder. So after picking out that cool new unit you’ve been wanting, you realize that you need to get a battery and you’re wondering what size and type to purchase. Maybe you have a basic understanding of electrical principles, or maybe you have no idea what any of those numbers mean. This article is aimed at giving you a basic understanding of what you should know.
Last winter I picked up my brand new Jackson “Illuminati Cuda 14”. Between hockey practices and games, a Boondoggle, and building a new bed for my son I am finally (five months later) getting around to rigging for the coming fishing season. In 2012 I set my last Cuda up with a YakDaddy “Slider” that worked very well for me and made it a very versatile kayak. This year I decided to see if I could rig the new kayak by drilling or cutting as few holes as possible.
You are going out on a nearby lake or pond, and need to rig your kayak for the numerous possibilities that might occur while paddling and casting for your favorite fish. By now you have a kayak that fits your type of fishing, and you are able to transport it easily to the water. Most everything you need can be preassembled so that when you arrive at your launch point, you can load and launch in less than five minutes.
I have up to three GoPro cameras mounted to my Ocean Kakak “Big Game”, so when it came to rigging the Hobie “Outback” I also needed to take the photography aspect into consideration. It does take me quite some time to plan and rig my kayaks; I sit back, consider everything, and try to produce the cleanest setup possible that matches all rigging possibilities.
I’ve had the Hobie “Outback” for a few months now. The rigging process has been steady, if unhurried. Parts have been slow to arrive, a lot of time has been spent planning, and there’s been fishing, Christmas, Easter, and other holidays and weekends away in between. It’s now complete. There are a couple of minor changes that I’ll embody in time, but for all intents and purposes it’s finished and ready to tackle anything I throw at it.
I picked up my Jackson Kayak “Cuda" last week. After researching how I wanted to do my rigging, I’d like to share what I decided to do in case it helps anyone looking to do something similar.
Some folks say that Jackson Kayak has thought of everything. It’s the little details such as the scuppers found on Jackson boats that help solidify that claim. The underside of the kayak boasts some large openings that serve a couple purposes besides draining water from the deck. Their large size makes great hand holds if you’re car-topping on top of an SUV. They’re also the perfect home for your fish finder transducer.
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