[Guest]

Hey guys,

I picked up my new Prowler Elite 4.5 today fron Anaconda. I've christened her 'Fuego' which is Spanish for Fire, seemed appropriate due to her colours etc. my wife is from Argentina so she seems happy with the spanish inclinations as well

Attached are a few picutres, she's stock standard at this stage but mods will start ASAP

First thing to do is source a Scotty Triple Rod Holder for the front mount, this will be fitted with 2 PowerLock Rod Holders, and I'm still not sure if I will mount my sounder on the scotty mount up front, or wait until OK bring in their custom bracket which mounts in the cockpit area.......could go either way at this stage?

Not sure what then, need a fish storage solution sorted out as my old method is no good in the Elite as the front hatch cavity is shallower than the Tarpon and wont take my collapsible cooler, I have to find something to fit in the tankwell to keep my catch cool.

I'll post more pics as additional things are added

 

[PeterJ]

Sweeeeeet 8)

 

[fisher]

Very nice Dallas - I look forward to your first fishing report! Re fish storage I've been keeping my eye on a collapsable 'fish bucket' on ebay - its rectangular and I reckon it would fit in the first rear recess on my P15 - maybe the Elite has the same rear storage? all the best with it!

 

[Peril]

Very nice Dallas. Hope she meets all your expectations

 

[Scott]

Onya Dallas, very sexy looking boat mate.

Catch ya Scott

 

[Guest]

Thanks Guys

Cant wait to get her out on the water for a test paddle. Even though the weather was awesome today here I had work commitments which stopped me from getting out on the water.

I'm pretty happy with her so far, although its alot longer than my Tarpon's its just as easy to load/unload as amazingly its about the same weight even with the rudder fitted. My Tarpons are definately heavier than the advertised weight on the website (one of them substantially more so) I cant say for sure why but the plastic on the Tarpons is very thick compared to the Prowler. I wondered to myself if WS had maybe thrown some more plastic into the mould to improve the strength of the boat or something.

 

[kingfisher111]

Thats one great looking kayak you`ve got yourself there Dallas. Also I like your storage technique. Out of the way but still easily accessable. Mines also out of the way but hoisted 13ft up under the ceiling of the garage! Makes it hard to just go check something out. Have a great time fitting it out. Steve.

 

[Guest]

Thats one great looking kayak you`ve got yourself there Dallas. Also I like your storage technique. Out of the way but still easily accessable. Mines also out of the way but hoisted 13ft up under the ceiling of the garage! Makes it hard to just go check something out. Have a great time fitting it out. Steve.

Cheers Steve,

The Kayak Hanger I have there was one of the best things I've ever bought for the yaks.

It only cost about $45 delivered, and was purchased from the US.
I think I posted in another thread where I bought mine from, but its slipped my mind just at the moment.

 

[Peril]

I ordered one from Cabelas the other day. Included in an order of FF/GPS and some lures so price will be even less than Dallas paid

 

[Guest]

I ordered one from Cabelas the other day. Included in an order of FF/GPS and some lures so price will be even less than Dallas paid

they are great, worth every cent....

 

[Dodge]

Dallas

Good to see Fuego on your wall, a much better home than Anaconda :wink:

Look forward to seeing it at Wivenhoe on the 12th

 

[Davey G]

mate, good stuff. your garage is starting to look like hairymicks now!

I was wondering about the weight factor as I agree the tarpons seem to be bloody heavy!

cant wait to read your first trip report.

re fish storage, i have used a collapsible insulated cooler bag that I bought from big w for about $10. fits in the rear hatch behind my esky (or crate) and is tied onto the esky (or crate) with a short length of line.

I just reach around, grab the line and pull it forward, pop the fish in (bag also contains froozen 2 litre waterbottle) and then zip it up and drop it back into rear tankwell - this may work OK for the elite?

 

[Gunston]

Mate
That is one nice yak!!
You've done well

 

[JB]

dallas,

Check out http://www.oceankayak.co.nz then look uop the elite fishing edition. It has the mounting bracket for sounder you are after. They have the full add ons to mount the transducer as well. Unfortunately they have only made this to fit Hummingbird Fishfinders due to there corportate tie up with hummingbird (bugger - I like lowrance and eagle). Mounting the fishfinder on the scotty tripple will mean it sticks up high and might get a bit of a hit if you get a few big waves.

Just working on a fish storage solution for mine now. Will post it once its ready to go in a few weeks.

regards

 

[Guest]

dallas,

Check out http://www.oceankayak.co.nz then look uop the elite fishing edition. It has the mounting bracket for sounder you are after. They have the full add ons to mount the transducer as well. Unfortunately they have only made this to fit Hummingbird Fishfinders due to there corportate tie up with hummingbird (bugger - I like lowrance and eagle). Mounting the fishfinder on the scotty tripple will mean it sticks up high and might get a bit of a hit if you get a few big waves.

Just working on a fish storage solution for mine now. Will post it once its ready to go in a few weeks.

regards

Hey JB,

All the fishing accessories (sounder bracket, transducer mounting hardware etc) are still a month or so away over here apparantly. I received an email from OK NZ and they said 4 weeks or more depending on a few variables.

I am thinking of going with an Eagle Trifinder 2 rather than the Humminbird, I like the idea of having the 150 degree tri-beam, I fish alot of freshwater dams and I think this type of sounder would be perfect for locating schools of fish and fish along the steep drop offs and edges, while still being powerful enough for some of the shallow offshore reefs around the coast here.

I couldnt find any Humminbird units with such a wide beam angle?

I ordered the Scotty Tripple from Cabelas in the US, and grabbed the model which comes with 3 x QuickDraw Rod Holders. I realised if I used the PowerLocks I already have that with two rods up front trolling it would be difficult to get the rods at the angle I wanted as the butts will end up hitting each other in the centre. The rods will sit differently in the QuickDraws and allow me to run two rods relatively flat and out 90 degrees.

 

[andybear]

Very nice yak, love the name too.
I just love to see a house tastefully decorated in kayaks. I must organise mine one day, have one under the verandah, one just lying in the garden from the day I gave the neighbour $20 for it. My main kayak is given place of pride in the garage :roll: or is that pride of place?...whatever..

Never mind, will get on with it one day. :lol:

Cheers all Andybear

 

[Guest]

Awesome looking yak, so nice and clean. Just like that garage. Whats going on there mate? Just moved in have we? :lol:

Hehehe.......when you have as much camping gear, camper trailer, fishing gear, and kayaks as I have, to fit in a single garage you learn to be organised!!

Its a fairly small 3br villa in a secure complex, our first home.

I can't wait for the home upgrade so I can have a bit more room, but its still 5 or 6 years away yet according to the financial plan!

 

[Guest]

Dallas

Good to see Fuego on your wall, a much better home than Anaconda :wink:

Look forward to seeing it at Wivenhoe on the 12th

Indeed Richo! not long to go now mate!!

I didnt think I would, but its looking as though I will have the Prowler rigged to fish in time for Wivenhoe.

I ordered an Eagle Trifinder2 today (should be awesome for impoundment fishing) rather than go with the Humminbird, so I'm going to make up my own bracket similar to OK's from aluminium.
I'll go see a small engineering place next week to make up the necessary bits to mount the transducer as well.

My Scotty Tripple should arrive from the US in time to be mounted up front I dont think there is anything else that I would consider urgent.

8) 8)

 

[Dodge]

Indeed Richo! not long to go now mate!!

I didnt think I would, but its looking as though I will have the Prowler rigged to fish in time for Wivenhoe.

We'll toast the Fuego, Saturday night in a proper and copious manner :wink:

 

[Guest]

Dropped by a fabricator today who specialises in S/S Boat Bits and handed over my measurements and design for the tranducer mount.

The Eagle Trifinder has a massive transducer which is slightly larger than the recessed area on the bottom of the yak, so my transducer will protude a bit from the bottom of the boat, but not too much, 1cm or so I think.

This shouldnt be too much of a problem, I'll just need to be more careful when putting the yak on the ground or when running very shallow. The 150 degree tri-beam should be worth the small inconvenience, especially for my freshwater fishing 8)

The guy said they should have it ready by the end of the week, in time for the Big W trip which is great