Any Kayak Modification Regrets?

Alright, birds and gulls... I'm wondering if any of you out there have put something in, on, or through your kayak that you ended up regretting later? I was thinking about the milk crate thread and the rails thread and wondered if anyone here went back and thought, "Huh. I could have done without a milk crate when it comes right down to it." Or, "Did I really HAVE to put rails or a mounting bar in my kayak?"

I have the rails constructed (not attached) and I'm at that point where I don't want to have to look my Revo in the eye next year and say, "Baby, I'm sorry... I never meant to hurt you or drill that many holes in you." But I'll feel much better if I know that there are people out there who have made modifications that they absolutely LOVE.

Thanks in advance for sharing!

True

I'll start.

I mounted a jam cleat nearly horizonal right next to seat on the F-n-D.  It worked great for anchoring but every time I took a paddle stroke on the right side I'd hit that #%%(*& cleat.

Also on the F-n-D, I couldn't find a way to run the FF cables thru the hatch so I drilled a small hole, cut the FF cable, ran it thru the hole and re-connected.  Who'd have thunk I might want to use that FF on a another yak?

-Spot-

See DAMHIK forum 

Oh you mean lately? 
I installed a surface mount scotty rod holder socket in the pocket on my Adventure. I saw it on somebody's boat and I thought it was sheer genius. It looked like it should have been a perfect mount; solid, secure, out of the way, yet well within reach.

First two counts were spot on. The "out of the way" part... not so much.  I plan to try it for the fishfinder, but I'm not going to drill any holes till I try it out on the water (a VERY good idea before you make any permanent mounts).



It's really not that bad, but it's a bit too close for my taste. The flat just in front of the pocket (above the rudder control) works much better for me.



 
Here's a link to a post I stuck up a while ago that outlines a bunch of things you don't want to do.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,572.msg3891.html#msg3891

I mounted a jam cleat nearly horizonal right next to seat on the F-n-D. 
-Spot-

Hey! I know that one! (wish I didn't ) 
The upside of that is you get to learn how to weld plastic.

On my old tarpon I put my fish finder right behind my rod holder.  I kind of got around it by using an extension arm on my rod holder and getting a ram mount for the fish finder.  It was never perfect but it got the job done. 

Mounting my GPS on the center hatch of my Revo was a bad idea.



Line and other things would easily wrap around it and it made it difficult to sit side saddle and access the front hatch.  I would argue mounting anything in the middle of the seat area of that boat isn't a good idea.

For the most part I don't have any regrets on any of the drilling I've done on any of my kayaks so far.  My OCD has my brain go through a vast series of scenarios that usually overcome most foreseeable issues.  I like to refer to it as the "Ripple Effect".  If I do "this", what kinds of issues will I have if I do "this", or "that", or "this", or "that" with it?  This could take several mental installs that usually result in some kind of "Ah-ha" moment that could be 360º from the standard way of doing something, or my original thought in the first place.  I usually don't act on something, until I have this "Ah-ha" moment.

Closest I can muster up would have been to put RAM balls on my T-13 where I have the Scotty mounts seen below. 
I had these mounted before I ever hear of of the magic word "RAM".  However, RAM has the wedge mounts that work just dandy in the Scotty mounts, so I guess I'm all good! 

I installed a 1.5 inch RAM mount on my outback which currently goes unused.  I used it all summer long and it worked fine but two issues with the Ram mounts.  1) I can never tighten them down enough where they will "lock" what a pain in the butt.  2) Having used the folbe rod holders, they are going to be my go to rod holders. 

So not that I regret the install so much, I regret buying them at all for rod holders.  I will likely put my sonar there.  Maybe for light stuff the ram mounts work but they don't work for rod holder at ALL in my applications like trolling big flashers and planers.  Maybe there is some trick like scuffing them up for more friction.  I cannot tighten them down enough to make them rock solid.  If I do, I can't get them off by hand at the end of the day.

Rudy,
Don't  know what to tell you regarding the RAMs not locking. Remember, on most RAM arms, one end is smaller than the other.

Mods and installations i do on military equipment are using the same size,quite possibly the same model, and in two instances the weight of the monitors and mount brackets or computer units exceeds 20 lbs, and we have the opposite issue. When tightened , we have to use an adjustable wrench as a fulcrum to loosen the screw sets because we can't get them to easily swivel.

Could you by chance have the arms upside down or just have a wrong size ball at the one end?

Rudy,
Don't  know what to tell you regarding the RAMs not locking. Remember, on most RAM arms, one end is smaller than the other.

Mods and installations i do on military equipment are using the same size,quite possibly the same model, and in two instances the weight of the monitors and mount brackets or computer units exceeds 20 lbs, and we have the opposite issue. When tightened , we have to use an adjustable wrench as a fulcrum to loosen the screw sets because we can't get them to easily swivel.

Could you by chance have the arms upside down or just have a wrong size ball at the one end?

No, it's all set up properly since its idiot proof.  The rod holder is on one end and the ball is on the other.  I am sure its rock solid for most applications but it's not for me using 9 ft rods, trolling big flashers with big planers.  I first had it set up in a way I saw here where I had two arms and two balls so i can move it around.  Worked great until I started trolling the big stuff.  Then I removed one of the arms and it still doesn't lock down well enough.  With only one ball in the system it works ok most of the time until a big fish hits, then it doesn't hold and I have just about lost my rod on more than one occasion.  Maybe I can build a "key" to really leverage down on the tightening handle.

But yeah, I don't think any of my stuff is pulling 20 pounds.  I have switched over to the folbe rod holders which so far seems to me the only way to go.  So now all my flush scotty mounts are camera holders and such.  The Ram mount is going to get dedicated to the fish finder.

I was worried about the same problem (trolling the big stuff) with my Ram rod holder so I used an extra Scotty flush mount and got the Ram wedge adaptor.  I use the Ram as a holder when I need to be able to adjust it easily and need more positions.  Then, I pull the wedge mount and put in the Scotty holder when I need it rock solid for trolling heavier stuff.  That way I only needed to drill into my kayak in one location.

Ditto with the RAM vs. other for rod holders.  I use my RAM 1-1/2" balls for my FF (love it for positioning), and a Scotty for the rod holder.   In rough water I need to really tighten the FF ball mount or it starts to sag.  It may be the water that helps lubricate the ball. 

Which bringa up the question; is the ball Delrin or aluminum?  If Delrin, ambient humidity just may be the problem. Moisture lubricating the ball and socket. The stuff i referred to earlier uses all aluminum balls. We hardly ever have issues with them even when used in exterior applications.

My balls may be coated aluminum, but they are not bare aluminum, though some have suggested they are brass.

My balls may be coated aluminum, but they are not bare aluminum, though some have suggested they are brass.

BWahahaha...Good stuff. 

I'll have to take a look at mine....my RAM mounts that is....

should'aknown..... oh well, never a dull moment with this crew....