Well, it has been a couple of months since I picked up my Hurricane Phoenix 140, and I have to say it’s been a pleasure to rig. Initial rigging got me on the water with a greater level of functionality, but the final touches were recently added to prepare for the busy tournament season ahead.

To start the process, I established a paddle/stake-out pole holder at the bow using Yak-Gear products, then developed a functional (yet attractive) anchor trolley using basic trolley materials from Hook 1, as well as some 3mm Blue Niteline.  This, in addition to simple products like a Scotty Extender and a Triple Rod Holder mount, got me on the water and fishing in fine fashion.

After a winter of serious kayak angling, I realized that the Scotty mount between my legs handicapped me when fishing with both fly and conventional gear and heard many complaints from Hampton Roads boaters about the difficulty of seeing kayakers fishing the bridges at night.  For both of these reasons, I turned to Luther and the crew at Yak Attack for solutions.

I added two Yak Attacks Gear Tracs to the sides of my Phoenix 140 to address the mobility issue. The 16-inch tracks run on both sides of my legs, giving me options to mount a PanFish , MightyMount, or Scotty Base, and all these products easily stow when I’m chasing fish with the bugslinger.

The ability to quickly and securely place my GoPro, fishfinder, GPS, or rod holders without making multiple installations was very attractive, so I placed the tracks on the rails to get my maximum bang for my dollar.  The 16” GearTrac is $80, and the installation took about 25 minutes.

To address the visibility issue, I added a Luther’s second generation NiteStripe in Blue (to match the kayak). The NiteStripe is an inexpensive way to increase visibility on the water (MSRP $10 for a 24’ roll) but is worth 10 times that price if it gets you out for a night of fishing  and brings you home safely.  This is a 10 minute install and a must have for any kayak.

The final outcome was a kayak that can effectively put me on the water and give me the ability to change the rigging on the fly. Until next time, stay safe and enjoy your time on the water.

Part I – Mounting the rudder ready end cap

Part II – Installing the cable tubing and sliding foot rails

Part III – Installing the cable and rudder

Part IV – Attaching the cable to the footrails and installing the deployment line

So that’s the story! If you have any questions, just ask for Jon.

Hurricane Kayaks

According to Jon Stewart, Director of In-House Operations, “With an MSRP of only $799, the thermoformed Santee 100 LT is sure to be a popular model for us, especially given that it has features typically found on more expensive boats. We wanted to meet a competitive price point without stripping down the design, and I’d say we definitely met our goal.”

The new and improved 100 LT features a rear bulkhead not typically found in 10-foot competitors, as well as an 8″ hatch and attractive deck rigging. This kayak is available in cardinal red and is now shipping to certified Hurricane dealers! Check it out.

Hurricane Kayaks

Leaders in Lightweight

Who says sit-on-tops are a summertime craft? Get out there folks! Winter can be a great time to paddle whether you’re into angling or just enjoy being on the water.

Hurricane Kayaks

Have you hugged your Hurricane today?

Special thanks to Matt at Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company, the photographers, and that manatee for expressing kayak love on a whole new level!

References

Gerstein, E.R. (1994). “The manatee mind: Discrimination training for sensory perception testing of West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus)”. Mar. Mammals 1: 10–21.

Sometimes bad things happen to good kayaks, and clearly something awful happened to this Santee 135. The owner hypothesized that a tree branch may have hit the kayak, but (in truth) no one really knows how the damage occurred.

The bigger question for the customer was, “Can you fix it?”

We could, and we did. Check out this video of Jon working repair magic on the boat.

This wasn’t a warranty situation, so the customer had to pay freight to and from Hurricane, but we were able to repair the kayak and the customer was thrilled.

“Thanks so, so much for all your help and the repair!!  You have a wonderful company with excellent employees–and great products!  We can’t wait until kayaking season returns next spring.”  Valerie Overholt

All’s well that ends well:)

Hurricane Kayaks

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is one of my favorite fishing spots, as it’s in Virginia’s prime Cobia, Striped Bass, and Sheepshead grounds with great catches of Bull Redfish, Monster Black Drum, Tautog and Spadefish each year.  In the fall, Tautog and Striped Bass are the main attraction, and for the kayak angler this is a prime location based on the sheer diversity of the fishery. With artificial islands, hundreds of pylons, and underwater wrecks, there is sure to be something for everyone.  There are a few drawbacks though – large waves in open water, cross currents up to 2 knots, and the distance to prime grounds.

After fishing this spot for the last four years, I finally found the perfect kayak to fully exploit the tunnel’s bounty.  The Hurricane Phoenix 140 is deceptively stable enough to safely fish in 3′ swells and fast enough to make the 6.5 mile paddle with enough time left to explore all the spots one could imagine. It also it cuts through the water like a hot knife through butter.

Tautog fishing is up close and personal – an orchestrated symphony of chaos where rocks, barnacle encrusted pylons and surface clutter can quickly transform a beautiful trip into a dangerous situation.  The Phoenix 140′s Trylon construction is extremely durable and makes pylon impacts barely noticeable – the perfect mix of functionality and beauty. The 140′s maneuverability gets you into the eddys quickly and keeps you there longer, thus maximizing fishing time while minimizing effort.  All of these attributes have contributed to my largest Togs to date!

Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy Tog fishing, it is a daytime fishery, and togs do not readily take artificials, which is my favorite way to fish.  In October through January, striper fishing is at its best, and the Phoenix 140′s ability to maneuver between pylons and evade boaters sets it apart from other boats I’ve tried.  With 2011’s mild fall, few large stripers have  presented themselves in lower Chesapeake Bay waters, but there are a number of schollie stripers willing to take a variety of artificial offerings.  This includes fish on the fly, and the deck on the Phoenix 140 combined with its stability make it a great fly fishing platform.

Until next time, remember that in life, you only get what you put in!

William

Hurricane Kayaks Fishing Ambassador
http://hurricaneaquasports.com
Vice President – Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association
www.tkaa.org
Marsh Works Inshore Tackle
www.marsh-works.com
www.coastalkayakfishing.blogspot.com

- YELLOW -

Our 2012 boats are available in . . .

. . . marlin BLUE, wasabi GREEN, cardinal RED, mighty MANGO . . .

and the Open Fisherman still comes in SAND.

See you on the water!

HURRICANE

Our new customer service liaison is me – Lydia M. McGhee. I am a former specialty store GM and competitive kayaker with over 17 years of experience in the outdoor industry.  For the last few years I’ve worked part-time as a kayak instructor/guide while helping my husband expand two small family businesses – Guinea Hog Forge and Bluefield Acres Farm – but I am thrilled to be back in the outdoor industry full-time and look forward to servicing all our Hurricane’s customers (product consumers and dealers alike) at the highest possible level. See you on the web and hopefully on the water too!