BoatU.S. - May/June 2012

PRACTICAL BOATER
GEAR

COOL NEW TOYS
GET OUT OF THAT BOAT! Here are four new activities to try from your boat. Get on the water and under it, and make your summer more fun

SLEIGH RIDE TO FISH TOWN

Want to get close to the fish and get a little exercise while you’re at it? Launch your fishing kayak from the mother ship the next time you anchor out, and enjoy fishing in a stripped down and, some would say, more relaxing form. Though dedicated fishing yaks have storage for lots of tackle, most kayak anglers tote just one or two rods, and while you can mount a fishfinder in a kayak, simple sight fishing holds a greater appeal for many kayak fishermen. After all, kayaks excel at getting into skinny water where a fishfinder is of little value.

Sit-on-tops rule the fishing kayak scene, but here are a few other things to
look for in a fishing yak: a dry storage space with a big hatch in easy reach; an
area behind the seat that’s large enough to hold a milk crate or bucket for tackle;
mounting points for your GPS, rod holders, or fishfinder if you want one; and a
relatively wide beam for its length, giving you stability to cast safely.
Resources | Wilderness Systems Ride 115 www.WildernessSystems.
com | Ocean Kayaks Tetra Series www.OceanKayak.com | Hobie Cat
Mirage Pro Angler www.HobieCat.com/Kayaking/
Resources | www.SeadooSeaScooter.com |
www.SeaBob.com

98 | BoatU.S. Magazine
BY MICHAEL VATALARO

Always carry a handheld VHF and life jacket aboard your kayak, no matter how shallow the water, or how far you intend to venture from your mother ship.

GO SCOOTING

Always dreamed of a secret underwater lair à la James Bond “Thunderball” but never had the undersea scooter to pull off the act? Well, your time has come. Highly maneuverable and neutrally buoyant scooters have made it possible to enjoy free diving in a whole new way. Given that many of us can’t afford to drop “five figures” on a super-sleek, 12-knot SeaBob (but check out their videos at the website below), the new RS line of scooters from Sea-Doo can fill in nicely. Powered by lithium-ion batteries that keep you going for up to 90 minutes, the 21-pound RS1 has automatic-buoyancy control, making it easy to stay where you want in the water column, an important safety consideration if you don’t have tanks strapped to your back. Three speed settings topping out at nearly 4 knots, comfortable handles, and rugged construction make the RS1 the one you want. And at $1,449, it’s cheaper than buying that underwater cave.