Puncture Proof Sidekicks

Hi all,

I just wanted to add a small tidbit for those who may be interested.
I first want to say "I LOVE MY INFLATABLE SIDEKICK AMAS" for sailing that is.
I have found for fishing I get very nervous with beach balls & fish hooks.
We all have that occasional sloppy cast or the fish that goes where we don't want it to with a mouthful of hooks so I decided I wanted my outriggers to be puncture proof when fishing.

Much like Apalach's outrigger I made two foam outriggers with the 5" x 11" buoys that attach onto the Sidekick arms. Using a 1" Schedule 40 PVC 'T' perpendicular to the floats with a 1" to 1/2" slip reducer then the balance of the 1/2" Schedule 40 PVC t-frame, foam buoys & end caps as pictured in Apalach's post. I use 2 rubber 1/8" x 1" 'O' rings on the sidekick arm to keep them from sliding since the 1" PVC 'T' inside diameter is just a hair bigger than the sidekick arm diameter. Place the 'O' rings inboard just far enough to keep the "T" up against the spring clip.

Apalach's post on his Ourigger:
http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2431

If you hook those they won't go "POP" and you go kersplash!

Kayakfishingstuff.com sells them too:
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/Mercha ... gory_Code=

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

I wanted to add some pics and also mention that I was fishing the flats in Chocoloskee Bay area and skimmed over some oyster bars. I must say they can tear up a hull and I know they would slice right through an inflatable outrigger. Was like skimming over knives.

Here are the puncture proof sidekicks I talked about. They fit on the Sidekick arms.







The 'O' rings keep them from sliding back & forth on the pipe.

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Those are great Rev..
I guess I better make myself a pair too.
My split seam sidekick already cost me a new digital camera not to mention I still have not replaced my damaged float. I need an online dealer to get a new float and the plans to make these "no flat" side kickers .
thanks
Kepnutz

Revo, very nice adaptation -- great job!

Lookin' good guys! All I know is that it might not take much to slice open a new Sidekick air escape valve on the oyster reefs/bars that we have up here in the Northern Gulf.

For example, here's what you do NOT want to run over, or thru, in your Hobie, especially with sidekicks.



Unfortunately, the skipper of this steel-hulled fishing boat misjudged the channel depth at Cedar Key and ran well up onto this oyster reef, much to his chagrin. Not only are the oyster shells extremely solid, but they are also extremely sharp and can slice thru most any average footwear in a heartbeat should you be forced to get out and wade.

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Thx for the compliments all,

Best part is :

Buoys $6 each + shipping = $34.00
PVC parts = $12.00 +/-
'O' Rings (4) @ $1.00 = $ 4.00

Total $50.00 +/- Nice and Cheap for a pair

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

What a clever adaptation of Apalach's outriggers! I'm especially excited because my new-to-me trade-up yak comes with outriggers, so that hardware is already installed. Since oyster bars are a reality here, I think I'd better follow your example. I see exactly how you made them. Thanks, Revo!

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Becky
Crystal River, FL

I have to stress that I made this adaptation for fishing not sailing. The inflatable amas are more aerodynamic and have much less drag. These puncture proof ones would create alot of drag since the floats are in two pieces and not a continuous streamlined foam float. You can find a continuous foam float on the web but at much higher the cost. For added stability for fishing these work fine.

When sailing I use the inflatables. I won't be sailing over any oyster bars or fish hooks.

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Hi Ya Rev.. !!
Im going to be sailing with mine so what/where might I find the foam one piece ones.?
I only use floats to tell me when the boat is heeling over too far or to PREVENT us from flipping over when a sudden stronger gust comes along.
We do not sail around in heavy winds with one sidekick buried underwater and then relying on that float to keep us upright..
As long as it will prevent a roll over then it will work for my needs.
Thank you
Kepnutz

Revo said:


Whoa--someone hasn't been paying attention. The puncture proof amas (i.e. the lobster pot buoys) were designed to be as aerodynamic as possible (with a little jackknife modification), so that the flat ends snugged up against each other. There were no big gaps of any kind when I made mine, as you can see here.



Then, during my on the water tests, you can see the outriggers in action creating a nice ole WW II tin can "bone in the teeth" when underway at flank speed (or as close to it as I could get!).

The point being that the lobster pot buoys, (if designed properly) are just about as aerodynamic, and really no more subject to drag than the store-bought inflatable jobs, IMHO.

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Hi Kepnutz & Apalach,

I STAND CORRECTED. The gap I left between the bouys is not aerodynamic and would cause drag. Thank You Apalach for the clarification. I did not experiment with cutting the lobster buoys around the PVC (wasn't sure if it would diminish the integrity and did not want to waste one) but yes they can be trimmed to fit them together tightly. The end caps really hold them tight.

Kepnutz that answers your query and you could easily make use of them.

Again Kayakfishingstuff.com sells them for $6.00 each.

I also was not so concerned with aerodynamics when I put mine together for there is a method to my madness soon to come.
Though I will make future use of the knowledge .. Thanks Apalach

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Added note:

The PVC 'T' is not the same width as the sidekick end bar space between the clip and the fixed stop thus I use 'O' rings to keep the "T" tight against the clip which is fine for stability but under the pressure of hiked out sailing it would slide back and forth on the pipe. The 'O' rings would not prevent that and they would just get pushed up against the fixed stop.

Solution: Add a 1" PVC slip coupler between the 'T' and the fixed stop. You will need to cut down the length aproximately 3/16" and this will act as a spacer filling the gap and keeping the float from wobbling. Do Not
glue the coupler to the 'T' by means of a piece of 1" PVC because the inside diameter of the 1" Schedule 40 pipe is too small to go over the sidekick arm and you may find yourself having to start over again. TRIAL and ERROR!

OR: remove the rivet in the fixed stop on the sidekick bar and relocate it and re-rivet.

The fit is not perfect but it works for stability .. I will have to test it for sailability.

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Hey Folks,
As Revo noted with his rig, it’s interesting that even with the flat bases of the lobster pot buoys snugged up against one other in my case, even a slight gap between them (~1/8 in. or less) can still generate some drag, no matter how slight. Note in my pic above that there seems to be a small, but still noticeable secondary “bow waveâ€

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Thanks for sharing that experience Apalach .. something we all should be mindful of and another thing since you mentioned the thunderstorm 5 miles away. Lightening can strike in a clear blue sky 6 miles from a thunderstorm. When you see storm clouds building it is best to clear off the water especially with a metal mast. Florida being the lightening capital of the world we get lots of it. There is nothing more unnerving than that FLASH/CRACK-BOOM in a clear sky especially when you are on the water.

I can see where the drag is minimal with the buoys tight together.

Revo

_________________
I would rather be kayaking and think about work than to be at work thinking about kayaking.
A Thrill Ride is being dragged around in your kayak for 40 minutes by an extremely large fish.

Hi ya Rev.. Hi Ya Latch Patch
Thanks for the clarification on the lob buoy o-riggers.
I think any small gap betwen the two halves will have a very negligible impact on the overall hydrodynamics of the kayak.
I always rotate my floaties skyward anyway so they are not in the water unless the boat is already heeling way over.
I then use this quick visual and audio clue to ease sheets or correct direction with regards to wind changes and also to hike over in the cockpit as needed.
I guess Ill be ordering some Lob Bobs and pestering you dudes for the 411 if I get stuck.
Thanks for the Helps
Kepnutz