Fishing kayak rigging part #2 - PVC trolley

So 25mm PVC tube is not really 25mm in internal diameter for god knows what reason...

I went back to Bunnings for an exchange and took the 20mm instead, which are about 23mm...

After an hour of calculating the dimensions, sawing the tubes with multiple adjustments, I finally built my kayak trolley in about an hour.

Here is the result:

I just need to apply some PVC cement to finalize it all. I will also probably buy some pool noodles and wrap it around the horizontal top tube to protect the kayak's hull.

All these DIY creations are not my designs, I found some tutorial on the internet and adapted them to my needs.

My kayak fishing adventures begin

After several months looking around gathering for info and thinking if it would be something for me, I decided, with the approval of the missus, to buy a fishing kayak. I was hesitating between getting an inflatable boat and a kayak with a budget of about $380.

There are pros and cons for each.

The inflatable boat does not require space for storage and would allow more than one person on it. But on the other hand it takes times between parking the car and getting on the water. Being inflatable means there also is a risk of getting punctured. A friend of mine just bought one and it just confirmed that it is not for me.

A kayak does require storage place and for transportation, but I personally feel safer on it. And paddling with a kayak is easier too. For my budget I can only get a single seater 'yak but I'll be on my own most of the time. If the missus wanna join we can always change turn or hire one. 

So there I went going to that warehouse that had a kayak in discount for $320, the reason was people usually don't like its color, camo finish sells quick but not those blue uni-color ones.

The only thing that bugs me a bit is storage. But it was easy enough to take it into the unit in the second bedroom we are using for storage. And owning a Honda Odyssey, the 'yak can fit inside. I'll get a roof rack anyway cuz once inside the car, only me and my son on his child seat can be inside.

Now it's time to get some safety gears. I will build my own flag pole with an old fishing rod, I need a PFD, setup some first aid kit and other stuffs. For those interested in kayak safety, here is a great website:

http://modernkayakfishing.com/articles/safety

I'm lookng forward my first kayak fishing session!

Re-spooling my Alvey reel

After using the 630 A1 "Surf Champion" my cousin gave me, I decides to change the line. The current one is a high visibility yellow fluorescent that I find awesome as I can see it event fishing at night from the beach. So I went for a Talema Super Hi-Vis 6.6 Kg 500m.

The packaging is cool, the spool is in a plastic box you can reuse for tackles.

What surprised me is I wasn't expecting a thin line it's a 14.5 lb and seems like a 6 or 8. Usually 15lb mono are around 0.33 - 0.38mm this line is 0.23mm, good for distance casting.

So as Alvey recommends, I dunked the spool in water before reeling it on the reel. Trying to make the line at an angle facing out for easier unspooling when casting:

That's it, ready to go. One more thing:

Ball bearing swivel and snap swivel for twist management and ease of rig change. The swivels are rater 15 and 10 Kg, more than the line rating but they are the smallest I could find.