How to Build Fishing Kayaks
Many people who like to fish also enjoy the experience of simply being outdoors on the water. Combine the activities by building and outfitting a fishing kayak. Building the kayak yourself can save money and be a satisfying experience. Outfitting the kayak for fishing allows you to make your watercraft just the way you want it to get the perfect fishing experience.
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Things You'll Need
- Kayak plans
- Jigsaw
- Fiberglass cloth
- Two-part epoxy
- Sawdust
- Marine plywood
- Copper wire
- Sandpaper
- Paint
- Rod holders
- Depth finder
- Drill with a 1/8-inch bit
- Small anchor
- Two cleats
- Anchor rope
Instructions
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Build the Kayak
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1
Order the kayak plans and purchase your materials. It's important to use marine plywood because it has additional glue holding the layers of wood together. This makes the watercraft stronger than it would be with standard plywood.
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2
Use the jigsaw to cut the plywood into pieces as shown on the kayak plans. Most plans have four side pieces, two bottom pieces and one top piece. Drill 1/8-inch holes every 2 inches along the edges of each piece of plywood. Use the copper wire to stitch the the bottom and side pieces together. After stitching the sides and bottom, the project will look like a kayak without the top.
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3
Mix the epoxy following the instructions on the bottles. Add sawdust to the epoxy to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Apply this paste in seams on the interior of the boat over the stitches. Smooth the seams of epoxy to approximately 2 inches wide and 1 inch deep using a spatula. Allow to dry for at least two hours.
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4
Cut the fiberglass cloth into 3-foot lengths approximately 2 inches wide. Lay the pieces of fiberglass end to end along the seams inside the boat. Using epoxy glue without the sawdust and a paintbrush, apply the glue to the fiberglass cloth until it is thoroughly soaked. Let it dry for at least two hours.
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5
Lay the top piece of plywood into place. Stitch the top to the sides using copper wire in the same manner as described above. Reaching into the interior of the boat apply epoxy/sawdust paste to the interior scenes and let dry for two hours. Remove the copper wire and apply fiberglass tape in the same manner as step 4.
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6
Make additional epoxy/sawdust paste. Use the spatula to apply the paste to fill in any cracks or holes. Allow to dry at least two hours, then sand using sandpaper until the exterior of the kayak is smooth. Repeat this process as many times as needed until you have a smooth surface. Paint the exterior of the kayak with a coat of epoxy glue. After the epoxy glue dries, paint the exterior any color you desire. Launch the kayak and check for leaks. Apply epoxy/sawdust glue over any leak.
Outfitting the Kayak for Fishing
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7
Mount the rod holders, using the included hardware mount, 2 to 3 feet in front of the cockpit. Attach the cleats just to the rear of the cockpit to be used to hold the anchor line. Store the anchor and the anchor line inside the kayak until needed.
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8
Mount the depth finder just behind the rod holders. Use the hardware included with the depth finder to mount the holding bracket. Route the wire to the depth finder transducer to the rear of the kayak. Drill a small hole in the bottom of the kayak. Extend the transducer wire through this hole and fill it in with epoxy/sawdust paste. Mount the transducer on the bottom of the kayak. Place the battery for the depth finder inside the cockpit and connect the wires from the battery to the depth finder.
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9
Test the kayak with the added equipment. Move the anchor or battery, if needed, to keep the kayak level in the water. Adjust the rod holders so they keep the fishing rods at the desired angle.
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Tips & Warnings
Feel free to add or delete any equipment to personalize the kayak.
