In this blog we will share a few user guides to help you get the best from your new C-Tug Cart.  The C-Tug Cart design features make it the most versatile all-round cart for all kayak and canoe hulls. FAQ’s featured in this blog are …

• How to find the best position for the C-Tug on your hull
• How to protect your C-Tug kickstand from damage
• How to strap your C-Tug to avoid from slipping
• The easiest way to get over objects with your C-Tug
• How to separate your C-Tug crossbeams
• How to lock your C-Tug wheels on.
• How to fit your C-Tug straps

How to find the best position for the C-Tug on your hull

When you first get your C Tug, find the best position to suit your hull by simply flipping the kayak on its side and lining the cart up against the hull. The pads are fully adjustable so there will be a best fit for your hull.

Most often directly under or near the seat is the best position for a balanced load to pull from the bow. However, on certain hull shapes, you may find it is better to position the C-Tug nearer to the bow and pull from the stern.  The great thing about the C Tug is that you are not restricted to where the trolley can be positioned, simply adjust the pads to find the best position for your hull. Cart positioned on

Some situations require you to position the C-Tug on the bow and pull from the stern

How to protect your C – Tug kickstand from damage

The kickstand allows you to simply position the C-Tug on the ground next to the kayak and load the kayak by lifting from one end, no need to remove any of your gear onboard.

When facing away from the position you are travelling the kickstand will swing out of the way if it hits anything. If you’re concerned about damage simply reach under and lift the kickstand out of the way.  

How to strap your C-Tug to avoid from slipping

The cam buckle offers adequate tension to secure the C-Tug for transport. If concerned about movement over uneven surfaces simply run the straps through or in front of a handle, seat or other fixture on the deck which will avoid the cart moving.

The easiest way to get over objects with your C-Tug

The most effective way to get your C-Tug over larger objects like kerbsides, branches, steps etc is carefully one wheel at a time. not both wheels directly into the object which will stop you in your tracks and potential make you tip the kayak. This is demonstrated in the video above at the 1:45min mark.

How to separate your C – Tug crossbeams

“I can’t get my C-Tug cross beams apart!”

Separating your C-Tug canoe & kayak cart cross beams is a simple process once you have been shown how. The below video demonstrates this fully, here are a couple of things to note.

• If your kickstand has not been aligned correctly the beams may jam which will require more force to release them. To avoid this simply make sure the kickstand locator is engaged in its position before joining the cross beams.
• There may be a build-up of sand, salt or dust between them that makes them hard to separate.
• When new your C-Tug cross beams may need to be joined and separated a few times to release more freely. In the case where they are a little tight or jammed simply use a solid object like a fence, kayak, tree etc this will allow you to apply more pressure to release them.

How to lock your C-Tug wheels on

A very simple answer to the question “how do I stop my C-Tug wheels from falling off”?

Make it click! The green toggles are designed to be locked into place to avoid your C-Tug wheels falling off. If you don’t hear them click then they are not locked in place, see below video and follow that demonstration.

How to fit your C-Tug straps

The post Find The Best Position For The C-Tug Cart – Protect Kickstand & More FAQ's Answered appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

Hobie H-Rail Side Bar For Accessories

Currently revolutionizing the Belly Boat market is this idea created by Thomas & Holger. They have used a length of the Hobie H-rail (21″) added a pair of StarPort Attachments/Adaptors which allows the easy attachment and removal into the RIBPort StarPorts. Not only does this make it very easy to add accessories to your belly boat but you can very quickly remove the sidebar when packing down.

With the H-Rail attached you can then simply add the RailMount 31-42mm using only a screwdriver then you can add any of your favourite RAILBLAZA accessories from FishFinder Mounts, Camera Mounts, Rod Holders and much more…

Belly Boat Front Bar

The most simple solution often offers the most practical difference like this self-made removable belly boat front bar solution. By adding 2 x StarPort Adaptors to your front bar you can now simply click in or out of the QuickPort Mounts attached to your Belly Boat.

Find out more about these products here 

• StarPort Adaptor Pair
• QuickPort Mount

Hot Soup or Coffee?

Percherry has combined these great products and their innovative thinking to come up with their very own custom holder for the Jetboil. This bracket was made by them using aircraft aluminium, they have then added the StarPort Attachment/adapter to allow easy attachment and removal to the RailMount 32-41 fitted the H-Rail sidebar. 

Who Is Percherry ? 

We at Percherry specialize in catching perch from the belly boat. Perch is our great passion. So we have been able to catch specimens well over the magic limit of 50cm. We have already caught fishes of 54cm, 55cm and 56cm and hold the current Dutch perch record with 56,5 cm and 3,05 kg

We are also working with Float Plus to further develop and promote the electric drive for belly boats and develop innovative products for the bellyboat sector. We also put together an annual competition team and have been able to achieve the following successes since 2018:  

Find out more about Thomas and Holger by clicking on the Pro team Profile images below.

Like more Trip Reports & Tackle Tips? Sign up to our Newsletter for regular updates HERE

The post Belly Boat Innovation With Percherry & RAILBLAZA appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

At RAILBLAZA HQ we have been working over the last 12 Months on improving our friction joints. The result is a new system, where the rotating joints can be locked, and the middle knuckle joint is adjustable. We have named it R-Lock, and we think it’s the easiest camera holder to use.

As users of our camera mounts will tell you, the easy, single-handed adjustment of RAILBLAZA camera mounts makes them a market leader. The new camera mounts still do all the same things, but have the added lock feature on the swivels, and the knuckle joint is now adjustable. As usual, these are made in New Zealand from high quality materials, and are fully UV proof.

• Quick and easy single-handed adjustment using the lockable R-Lock friction joints
• R-Lock swivel joints can be locked, adjustable knuckle joint
• Unscrew GoPro mount to use ¼ 20” screw
• Light-weight and rigid

 The first two products getting the R-Lock upgrade are the Camera Boom 600, and the Camera Mount, these will be followed by a range of mounts for sounders.

There’s a reason why these fully adjustable GoPro mounts are so popular! Like all RAILBLAZA products, these camera mounts are super easy to install and the ideal way to mount your GoPro Hero 4, GoPro Hero 5 and all other brands of action cams. It certainly makes capturing those niggly wide shots a breeze while you’re on the water. These are one of the most popular GoPro mounting accessories on the market for capturing heavy duty action – you can literally mount them anywhere and they’ll just hold the camera how you need it. 

The post RAILBLAZA R-Lock Camera Mounts appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

Hobie Cat Dealer Bulletin

New mounting systems by RAILBLAZA for Hobie! We have selected a range of mounts and accessories PLUS created three new H-Rail RAILBLAZA mounts which will be “Exclusive” through Hobie dealers!

RAILBLAZA is a diverse, flexible and user-friendly mounting and accessory system . The StarPort™ can be mounted just about anywhere! Then add the desired accessories to mount onto the StarPort™.

84620204 H-RAIL STARPORT HD (Available through official Hobie dealers ONLY)

The Hobie H-Rail StarPort HD allows you to mount the four-screw base mount, which comes with the popular RAILBLAZA locking slide to the 12-sided H-Rail without any drilling or tools needed.

84620202 H-RAIL MINIPORT (Available through official Hobie dealers ONLY)

The Hobie H-Rail MiniPort allows users to fit and re-task the full range of RAILBLAZA accessories to Hobie H-Rails. It clamps to the 12-sided H-Rail without any drilling or tools needed.

84620200 H-RAIL G-HOLD (Available through official Hobie dealers ONLY)

Secure paddles, push poles, nets, gaffs or anything of moderate size up to 2 inches in diameter. The flexible quick-release strap has two securing points for security of minimum and maximum diameters, providing strong retention. It clamps to the 12-sided H-Rail without any drilling or tools needed.

72026207 RB STARPORT BLACK

The StarPort is the unique and versatile multi-functional mount, which allows users to fit and re-task the full range of RAILBLAZA accessories. The StarPort can be used as either a deck mount or flush mount base. This base not only comes with a gasket and cap, but also features a slide locking mechanism to confidently lock the RAILBLAZA accessory in place. Stainless Steel mounting hardware included.

72026208 RB STARPORT HD BLACK

This is a stylish, four-screw base mount that comes with the popular RAILBLAZA locking slide and is lower in profile than others on the market. The base combines the strength of a deck mount with the cosmetic appeal and practicality of a flush mount. The StarPort HD can also be centrally mounted on many popular track systems. This comes with the added versatility of tool-free adjustment. Stainless Steel mounting hardware included.

72026210 RB RAILMOUNT AKA STARPORT COMBO

AKA StarPort Mounts are simple to use mounts allowing the easy attachment of a RAILBLAZA StarPort to your Hobie AKA (V2). The StarPort Mount is designed to fit securely on the AKA of an Island or Tandem Island without twisting.

72026206 RB BLACK RIBPORT / STARPORT

Expand the rigging capabilities of inflatables, stand up paddleboards or coolers (without drilling). The i-Series Base allows the addition of useful StarPort attachments. The 6×4-1/2 inch base is easily applied to any flat surface with the included 3M backing adhesive.

72026200 RB ROD HOLDER II ONLY BLACK
72026209 RB ROD HOLDER II WITH STARPORT HD

Hold a bait caster, spinning rod, trolling rod, or fly rod. The rotating collar secures rod in place and the rear gimbal lock reduces rod rotation for compatible rods. Also offered with the StarPort HD mount (Stainless Steel mounting hardware included with 72026209 Rod Holder II / StarPort HD).

72026202 RB G-HOLD 50MM(2”) SINGLE BLK

The G-Hold 50 is recommended to secure paddles, boga grips and anything of moderate size up to 2 inches around. The flexible quick-release strap has two securing points for security of minimum and maximum diameters, providing strong retention. G-Holds install in any RAILBLAZA base.

72026203 RB GUNHOLD (EA)

The RAILBLAZA GunHold allows you to safely stow and transport your rifle or shotgun. The flexible rubber fingers shape to fit different gun butts and the strap secures the shotgun/rifle against vibration and damage. The GunHold is compatible with all RAILBLAZA Bases and can be used on ATVs, kayaks, boats, SUPs, and all other hunting vessels.

72026205 RB CAMERA MOUNT KIT

With the RAILBLAZA Camera Mount Kit, you can securely mount your camera on your kayak, paddleboard, or many other surfaces by simply making it StarPort compatible. The kit is compatible with any camera featuring a ¼-20 thread insert while also including a GoPro tripod adaptor to make the kit compatible with all GoPro cameras.

72026204 RB CAMERABOOM 600 PRO SERIES

The Camera Boom 600 is the perfect way to hold the camera and capture the action. Capturing your adventure from the perfect angle is now made easy. Over 30 inches long and fully adjustable with 5 moving joints, capturing any angle is possible. This camera mount will fit into any RAILBLAZA StarPort.

72026201 RB ROTATING PLATFORM 102MM

The Rotating Platform allows for 360 degrees of rotation, easily clips in and out of your StarPort. Perfect for mounting fish finders, cameras, or other electronics.

Hobie Pro Angler RAILBLAZA Fit Out

Hobie Tandem Island RAILBLAZA Fit Out

The post Hot news from Hobie Kayaks : Now offering RAILBLAZA appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

The Versa SUP lends itself well to adding RAILBLAZA mounts and accessories using the trac system, the polyethylene construction means drilling into this SUP to fit other StarPort mounts is easy to do but those that have epoxy SUP’s can also use our RIBPort mounts to attach a StarPort mount (see how this is done HERE) .

Rigging camera mounts, rod holders and more to our SUP for fishing could not be easier when you have the track mount system built into the SUP like this Versa Board from Native Watercraft.

The StarPort HD mount is fitted using the StarPort HD TracMount Kit and the Mobi Mobile device holder is fitted using the MiniPort TracMount.. 2 completely tool less mounting solutions for your SUP if fitted with track.

TracPort 350  fitted to the front with Camera Boom 600 and 2 x Rod Holder II. StarPort HD and Rod Holder II fitted to the esky or cooler

Showcased here is the use of our StarPort mounts on the Esky/cooler box.. a great way to add Rod Holders and more to your fishing SUP or recreational SUP without needing to attach anything the the SUP itself.

Secure fly rods, tackle and more to your esky or cooler with RAILBLAZA StarPort mounts and accessories for any easy way to rig your SUP for fishing. 

In this pic we have the StowPod mounted for holding tackle, Rod Holder II for Fly rods and G-Hold 50mm for fish grips. These are all secured using StarPort HD mounts fitted direct to the Esky or cooler.

SUP fly fishing for Bass with Shane Bretz . With Native Watercraft Versa Board… send us your questions if you want to know more about the products used on the video above and how to rig your SUP for fishing. .. leave a comment below and we will reply. Thanks RB

The post Fly fishing from a stand up paddleboard (SUP) with RAILBLAZA appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

The Native Watercraft designs offer multiple options for fitting a RAILBLAZA mount, from TracMount, RailMount, Surface mount StarPorts and more..these images show just a few of the ways you can make your Native Watercraft RAILBLAZA ready. The great thing with the cockpit layout of the Native Watercraft and the range of StarPort mounts, is in most cases you will never have to drill into the kayak.

TracMount – Native Watercraft have a great cockpit layout and a standout feature would be the track system making it easy to rig without drilling into the kayak and giving the option to reconfigure your set up on the water. This example uses our TracMount options to secure a SidePort & StarPort HD into the track and fit the Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount.

TracMount options include

• StarPort TracMount Kit
• StarPort HD Trac Kit
• MiniPort TracMount
• Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount

Propel Drive - The Native Propel Drive comes standard with a thread on top that fits our MiniPort TracMount, simply remove the tracnut and the MiniPort TracMount screws directly into this thread. Once installed you can attached any of our accessories, the most popular use in this scenario is mounting an action camera, with our wide variety of camera mount options you can find a solution.

• MiniPort TracMount
• Camera Mount options

RailMount – Another easy  way to mount a StarPort without drilling into the kayak is to use the RailMount 19-25 kit as shown in this image. Again any of our accessories can be fitted to the StarPort once installed.

• RailMount 19-25

LOOK FOR A DEALERSidePort – when you have a vertical surface the SidePort is just the mount for the job. Using the supplied hardware this can be mounted in seconds ready to take any RAILBLAZA accessory. In this image we have mounted the SidePort tot he inside cockpit of the Mariner 12.5 and fitted the DrinkHold.

•  SidePort

Surface Mount Starport - In many cases you may prefer to mount a StarPort somewhere on the Native Watercraft surface or as in this case on a cooler/esky or similar. Both our StarPort & StarPort HD offer the ability to mount to any surface using the hardware provided with each mount.

• StarPort
• StarPort HD

Choose an accessory –

Once you have your RAILBLAZA Mounts fitted the choices of accessories is almost without limits. With our StarPort slidelock system you can change or remove accessories in one easy click. Below are just a few examples of how you can make your Native Watercraft and even better fishing platform..for our full range of accessories see HERE

Rod holder II and StowPod cockpit organizer fitted to StarPort HD mounted into the Slayer track using StarPort HD trac kits

TracPort 350 fitted to StarPort HD which is fitted to the track on the Versa Board fishing SUP using the StarPort HD with StarPort HD Trac Kit. Also the Mobi Device holder (holding the iPhone in dry case) is fitted to the track using the MiniPort TracMount. Both options are completely tool less.

GoPro mounted to CameraMount Kit using the RailMount 19-25

Get extra extension using the StarPort Extenders..available in fixed or adjustable

The SwivelPort is ideal when you need to make small adjustments to the angle of your Rod Holder I or works as a great option when yo need a smaller extension

RAILBLAZA  Mounts & accessories in action on the Versa Board fishing SUP

Native Watercraft Slayer 12.5 rigged and ready for action

LOOK FOR A DEALER

The post Rigging Native Watercraft with RAILBLAZA mounts & Accessories appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

The Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount has been developed for kayak anglers needing an easy way to install and remove fish finders or sounders. With this mount and the Native Watercraft Slayer 10 & 13 track system you can install and un-install your fishfinder/sounder in a matter of seconds, no messy adhesives or excessive drilling of fittings required. Suitable for all fishfinders including Lowrance, Humminbird, Raymarine & Garmin.

The transducer will be in the water giving 100% true reading rather than reading through the hull. if you need to get the transducer deeper in the water simply add an extension, if you entering shallow water the factory set friction joints will allow you to lift the transducer out of harm’s way.

The Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount can be completely removed with one click of the StarPort slide lock,  protecting your sounder when in transport, when using the kayak for other activities or when you need to transfer the sounder to another kayak or canoe.

We have 2 new product options available to you see below for whats included in each of these products.

The Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount (02-4060-11)

Ideal if you want to remove the whole sounder unit and transducer.  Comprised of the following components:

• SwivelPort
• Adjustable Knuckle joint (not available as a separate part)
• Fixed StarPort Extender
• Cheek mount adaptor (not available as a separate part)
• Rotating Platform
• Cable Ties

The Kayak/Canoe Transducer Arm (02-4061-11)

Ideal if you only need to remove the transducer or have the sounder unit permanently mounted.  Comprised of the following components:

• SwivelPort
• Adjustable Knuckle joint (not available as a separate part)
• Fixed StarPort Extender
• Cheek mount adaptor (not available as a separate part)
• Cable Ties

The mounts needed

The following mounts are best suited and will require no drilling into your kayak or canoe. The added benefit to this system is the whole thing can be moved to either side of the kayak easily.

For the Sounder head unit mounted to the Rotating platform you will need a StarPort HD & StarPort HD TracMount kit. This is a completely tool less option, easily position the mount in the track. For the Transducer mount you will need a SidePort & StarPort TracMount Pack. Again easily fitted and positioned anywhere in the track.

If you find the transducer needs more length to get deeper in the water, in particular if you’re using side imaging and need to shoot clear of the hull you can simply add extensions as required. Look at any of these options for extensions. Small increments use the Swivel Port, for longer increments use either the fixed StarPort Extender or Adjustable StarPort extender.

Battery options

Native Watercraft offer a couple of different battery storage options and you will see in the video at the top of this post we showcase another option from Berley Pro.

If you have any feedback we would love to hear it, send us an email through our contact page HERE. Please  share this around and sign up to our newsletter so you can stay updated with any new products and helpful tips from RAILBLAZA.  Follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE

Find  dealer

The post How to fit a Fishfinder to Native Watercraft Slayer 10 & 13 with RAILBLAZA Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

The Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount Kit has been developed for kayak anglers needing an easy way to install and remove fish finders/sounders. With this kit you can install and uninstall your fishfinder/sounder in a matter of seconds, no messy adhesives or excessive drilling of fittings required. With our extensive selection of base mounts, this kit can be adapted to fit any kayak or canoe. We also have a large range of Fishfinder base mounts to choose from to suit the brand or size of your fishfinder – you can read more on those fishfinder base mounts HERE

The Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount offers a unique advantage for kayaks or canoes that do not have a transducer scupper,  now the transducer will be in the water giving 100% true reading rather than reading through the hull. If you need to get the transducer deeper in the water simply add an extension, if you entering shallow water the factory set friction joints will allow you to lift the transducer out of harm’s way.

This mount can be completely removed with one click of the StarPort slide lock,  protecting your sounder when in transport, when using the kayak for other activities or when you need to transfer the sounder to another kayak or canoe.

The Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount (02-4060-11)

Ideal if you want to remove the whole sounder unit and transducer.  Comprised of the following components:

• SwivelPort
• Adjustable Knuckle joint (not available as a separate part)
• Fixed StarPort Extender
• Cheek mount adaptor (not available as a separate part)
• Rotating Platform (fishfinder base mount)
• Cable Ties

The Kayak/Canoe Transducer Arm (02-4061-11)

Ideal if you only need to remove the transducer or have the sounder unit permanently mounted.  Comprised of the following components:

• SwivelPort
• Adjustable Knuckle joint (not available as a separate part)
• Fixed StarPort Extender
• Cheek mount adaptor (not available as a separate part)
• Cable Ties

Select a mount

The first step you will need to make is choosing the correct RAILBLAZA mounts we have illustrated options in the images below which have been trialled extensively by our field agents and proven very effective in all situations.

TracMount option

For kayaks or canoes with Trac systems like Native Watercraft, Hobie kayaks, Wilderness systems, FeelFree kayaks and others the following mounts are best suited and will require no drilling into your kayak or canoe. The added benefit to this system is the mounts & kit can be moved to either side of the kayak easily.

For the Sounder head unit mounted to the Rotating platform you will need a StarPort HD & StarPort HD TracMount kit. This is a completely tool less option, easily position the mount in the track. For the Transducer mount you will need a SidePort & StarPort TracMount Pack. Again easily fitted and positioned anywhere in the track. Both the StarPort HD TracMount kit & StarPort TracMount Pack have been designed to fit most track systems including Wilderness, Harmony, Yak Attack, Yak Gear and others.

Need to get the transducer deeper

If you find the transducer needs more length to get deeper in the water, in particular if your using side imaging and need to shoot clear of the hull you can simply add extensions as required. Here are some product options for extensions. Small increments use the Swivel Port, for longer increments use either the fixed StarPort Extender or Adjustable StarPort extender.

Kayaks or Canoes without Track

There are endless ways to adapt this to any kayak or canoe,  these descriptions and images are just a few of the more common uses we have found.

Select a mount

As per the TracMount options you will need to select the mounts for the job, in most cases these will be permanently mounted either using the stainless hardware supplied in each mount or hardware of your choice.

The above example uses the same mounts used in the Track option fitting a StarPort HD & SidePort directly to the gunwales.  In situations where you do not have internal access to use a nut and washer options we suggest the use of rubber well nuts as a more solid fixture.

Many fishing kayaks have useful centre storage wells, as demonstrated in the above image you may prefer to have the sounder head unit mounted centrally. In this option you would mount the sounder head unit fitted to Rotating Platform (fishfinder base) direct to the centre well lid using either a  StarPort or StarPort HD or just mount it direct to the lid. The Transducer Mount can be fitted in a few different ways…

This is where the versatility of the RAILBLAZA accessories can be utilised to the maximum. If you need more extension to get the Transducer Mount Kit  over the side of the kayak, keeping it level,  then the addition of another SwivelPort might be all you need. If you prefer to use a StarPort or StarPort HD you simply add an Adjustable StarPort Extender to get the transducer over the side of the kayak. You can then re-task that StarPort mount for other accessories when not using it for the transducer.

Using the kit in conjunction with our TracPort system as pictured above is another ideal way to keep your workstation compact and tidy.

Endless possibilities

As you can see the applications for the Kayak & Canoe Sounder & Transducer Mount are endless…If you have any feedback we would love to hear it, send us an email through our contact page HERE. Please  share this around and sign up to our newsletter so you can stay updated with any new products and helpful tips from RAILBLAZA.  Follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE

Find  dealer

Where does the battery go…

As there are many different battery storage options available on the market we have left this one to the individual to find or make the best solution for the occasion. There are off the shelf battery storage options supplied by many manufacturers as pictured below as an example.

Or you can make you own customer battery box or storage solution. The addition of a StarPort adaptor to many DIY solutions has meant the battery box can be mounted on the deck and made completely removable. We have a range of specialised dealers around the world who can offer solutions for your needs. If you don’t know of any in your area please send us an email and we will try to assist in finding some advice for you.

The post How to fit a Fishfinder to a kayak or canoe with the RAILBLAZA Kayak & Canoe Sounder Base & Transducer Mount appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

Ok well where do I start, the project I was undertaking was quite big but needed first to know what to put on the kayak that would make my life at sea more comfortable. So I then got a list of what I thought I’d like, but it’s not as simple as that trying to make sure all the components work with each other so made a diagram showing how it would all work together this took me about a week to do.

Next came the kayak, now the choice of kayak was quite hard as what I needed to put on it would have to fit, so I went to a show and made up templates of everything and doing so enabled me to position and work out quite easy where to put everything this was why I went for the Old Town Predator 13 due to the amount of blank space there was.

OK so there I am with the new Predator 13 and boxes full of electronics happy days. first thing I installed was the fusion 205a sound system this had two speakers and I bought an additional docking station plus the Wi-Fi module, in order for this not to overheat I had to place it in an area which was roomy this I why I choose the space at the front, it acts like a giant boom box!!

You will note the position of the 205 and the docking station these just slid into place, I also had a thought to not only increase the sound quality but to also reduce hull slap this is where I choose to soundproof the hull inside with 10mm close cell waterproof self-adhesive foam. I must warn people using this stuff once you place it down its not coming back off so make sure you get the position right before sticking down.

Once the 205 and station plus speakers were in, I connected the station to the 205a which keeps the phone watertight and fully charged when not in use. Next came the 798 si hd Humminbird really easy to fit and the si transducer fitted in no problem. Then came the Simrad this works with all fusion equipment and connects in series with the use of its cables to create a complete system that can communicate with each other, also the Simrad chart plotter can change all the tracks for music as well.

The reason why I opted for a separate plotter is that it can take the platinum plus charts but the 798 cant. All of the cables are taken through self-adhesive trunking which goes the length of the boat this keeps all wires etc. neat and tidy.

Now for the lights this was the hardest thing to do on the boat as there were so many wires involved, but the trunking kept it all tidy. I went for blue in the cockpit because it’s the best known night vision color without affecting your main night vision, the red was just so I could see the back of the boat really, and four strips of 16 leds for front and back these green leds are supposed to attract baitfish that means it can also attract predators as well. These lights are also a safety feature on the boat when launching first thing in the morning or last thing at night  you can see what you’re doing, all these lights work on 3 independent switches blue ,red, green.

I decided to put on the MinnKota power station this can take up to a size 27 battery everything is powered by this box, the 55lb riptide also powers from this.

RAILBLAZA, the perfect solution

I had to come up with the perfect solution for moving things around the boat like rod holders, cup holders I needed flexibility and the only company that provided this was RAILBLAZA, their products are awesome,  the combinations and versatility is unmatched this is why I chose them.

Everything can be easily un-done and moved with this product, would recommend it to anyone, well done for such a great line of products guys. Well that’s all for now please feel free to ask more in-depth question, as I could go on forever, Regards Mark B, UK. leave a comment below

Fillet Table II – mounted on SidePorts

To find out more about our products head over to our Product Gallery

Check out the feedback Marks kayak has received on the Old Town Facebook page HERE 

The post Mark Beilby's Old Town Predator 13 fully blazed! appeared first on RAILBLAZA International.

Whilst this plastic is very strong and considerably lighter, vacuum formed plastic is thinner and flexes more than a rotomolded kayak. This is not ideal when using cameras on booms, the camera has more movement even with reinforcing and bracing, and I like to use the Beachcomber for a lot of filming opportunities like surfing, kayak fishing or general coastal paddling.

My current Beachcomber sea kayak was yet to go under the knife for rigging (only a couple of months old), once I got my hands on the new StarPort HD the tools came out. First up was to make a backing plate for the HD mounts, to do his I used a piece of off cut plastic from Barracuda kayaks factory, the backing plate gives me 2 x the thickness, reinforcing the HD mount even further.

The best position for 2 HD mounts is behind the seat, I will use these as my primary camera boom positions, Rod Holder positions, visibility kit and for G-Holds when securing the Paul’s fishing kite longline on occasions.

For occasions where I need more than 2 ports behind me I can add the TracPort 500 to the HD mounts giving me 4 StarPorts, this offers endless options and lots of flexibility.  You can see the results of my last few sessions using these HD mounts in the images below. I am very happy with how solid the mounts are and the movement on the camera at the end of the boom has definitely been reduced.

Not forgetting the standard StarPort as it very much has a place on the Beachcomber, I have recess mounted one in front of the cockpit using the collar on the inside as the backing plate. Nice and clean and solid, this position is very useful for many options including camera positions and Rod holder..when using the rod holder in this position I like to combine it with the Swivel Port for easy of adjustment on the water.

Here is a list of the parts used and links to the products for more info.

StarPort HD

StarPort

TracPort 500

Telepole 1000

Pro series camera boom

G Hold 35mm

Pictures from my recent sessions using the new StarPort HD

GoPro mounted to Telepole fitted to Tracport 500 fitted the StarPort HD..kayak fishing at Army Bay on sunset

Surf session at Orewa, Pro series Camera Boom 600 mounted to HD Mount

Pro series Camera Boom 600 mounted to HD Mount with extender and G-hold 35 as support brace

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