SOLO SKIFF PROGRESS THREAD - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ctfphoto · 10-08-2020, 08:07 AM

Mark, I like that cart.

At first, I thought you had a cart for the launch ramp which will shred your solo.

How are you dealing with the launch ramp road rash?

tak100 · 10-08-2020, 02:24 PM

Mark,

I would love to see your ramp and wench set up as well.

That last 6 inches is a major B.

Thanks!

NICKWORN · 10-09-2020, 03:45 AM

Got limits in 1.5 sets, sent plenty swimming on the last few hoops.

Buggzilla!!

FISH11 · 10-09-2020, 04:06 PM

Those are some nice big bugs, congrats.

FISH11 · 10-09-2020, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctfphoto

Mark, I like that cart.

At first, I thought you had a cart for the launch ramp which will shred your solo.

How are you dealing with the launch ramp road rash?

I never drag any of my kayaks or the Solo Skiff across that concrete ramp with those diagonal groves and rough textures, it's like running your palm on a cheese grader. On ramps offloading is not a problem bow will float and I can ease the rear down into the water while sliding it down, for loading I use the same 2 piece ABS pipe ramp, I use at the Shores beach launch. It is actually easier at the beach because there is no boat wakes to deal with when aligning the Solo Skiff with the two ABS pipes. Then I use a strap hand crank winch to pull it up the ramp and into the truck bed. Here's a picture from a video clip taken on Thursday the 8th. Took out my dog to get her more used to the open water in the Solo Skiff. If she continues to like going out I will take her out sometimes to La Jolla when the surf forecast says it's going to be a lake.

FISH11 · 10-26-2020, 10:28 PM

Today I went out and launched my Solo Skiff at La Jolla and after making bait started trolling a live mac south. After getting down 3/4 of the way to the South La Jolla MLPA, the wind picks up and keeps getting stronger. It was blowing harder than the forecast had for a small window of higher wind gusts. Long story short, is that as can often be the case, the forecast was off. It got real nasty and provably as bad as I had been in one of my kayaks. The huge difference is I was dry and other than consistent rocking, I had no problem either drifting or trolling at engine idle. If I had decided to wear my waders and waterproof jacket, I could even have cut through most of the chop at even higher speed. The temperature drop in air and water didn't help the fishing and made it a little cold while only wearing my board shorts and sweatshirt. The sun being out helped. It was a blast getting airborne so often when going through the larger chop and swells. Best of all, I wasn't even tired when I landed, was still dry and running around La Jolla for 5-6 hours uses $2.05 of regular gas. The SOLO IS A STUD!............................................. ........... This is a 60 second video of highlights from some of the rough water crossing.

tunaseeker · 10-27-2020, 06:06 AM

Saw your skiff on the beach but missed ya. The swell was super bad! 4' easy. Almost capsized at 80', had not seen it that bad in a long time. Managed a limit of goats though... Hopefully the weather forecast is more accurate next time! Cheers!

FISH11 · 10-27-2020, 08:05 AM

Yeah when I was setting up and launched there were around 5 other kayaks I saw. A couple guys were having problems in trying to surf launch. The surf height wasn't bad at 6:45 but the intervals were close. I couldn't believe how high the swells got. Some times when drifting as a tall one would come up, it seemed as if I could reach out and touch the top of the peak just as the Solo floated right up the face of the swell and the swell had gone under the Solo. That was a wild ride that could have been fun if dress in waterproof gear. Congrats on the sheeps limit, that's some nice meals there.

tunaseeker · 10-27-2020, 10:32 AM

I help the guy who had a hard time, it was his first time in LJ. Trying to paddle a large Hobie outis not the best plan, use the pedals!

FISH11 · 10-27-2020, 12:33 PM

Yeah, that's what I told him. I was telling him, put your drive in, that his legs have more power than his arms. Told him not to even use the paddle. He fell off twice in front of me, so I had to hold my launch until he was clear. You must have been the guy I saw come over to help him.

AlwaysFishing · 01-20-2021, 11:21 PM

Mark I appreciates if you could post a video of how you've made the ramp and a demo of it in action.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FISH11

I never drag any of my kayaks or the Solo Skiff across that concrete ramp with those diagonal groves and rough textures, it's like running your palm on a cheese grader. On ramps offloading is not a problem bow will float and I can ease the rear down into the water while sliding it down, for loading I use the same 2 piece ABS pipe ramp, I use at the Shores beach launch. It is actually easier at the beach because there is no boat wakes to deal with when aligning the Solo Skiff with the two ABS pipes. Then I use a strap hand crank winch to pull it up the ramp and into the truck bed. Here's a picture from a video clip taken on Thursday the 8th. Took out my dog to get her more used to the open water in the Solo Skiff. If she continues to like going out I will take her out sometimes to La Jolla when the surf forecast says it's going to be a lake.

FISH11 · 01-21-2021, 09:12 AM

I will, sorry for the delay. I was going to go today and do that but this crazy weather made me change plans. Were I live we've had those 40-60mph winds for multiple days, hail, snow Tuesday and strong winds and rain yesterday. Tomorrow looked like another window and now it's rain part of the day in SD. This weekend and next week looks like rain and snow at home. Next change in weather I'll film some of unloading and loading using the ramp I made with ABS drain pipe and the removable hand winch set up. I'm hatting having to stay at home and not be out at LJ.

AlwaysFishing · 01-21-2021, 10:32 AM

Thanks in advance Mark. I will be picking up a used Solo next week! Can't wait to get it all together and get it in the water. It's going to be a learning curve coming from an OldTown Topwater 120 PDL but I think it will be a lot of fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FISH11

I will, sorry for the delay. I was going to go today and do that but this crazy weather made me change plans. Were I live we've had those 40-60mph winds for multiple days, hail, snow Tuesday and strong winds and rain yesterday. Tomorrow looked like another window and now it's rain part of the day in SD. This weekend and next week looks like rain and snow at home. Next change in weather I'll film some of unloading and loading using the ramp I made with ABS drain pipe and the removable hand winch set up. I'm hatting having to stay at home and not be out at LJ.

ctfphoto · 01-21-2021, 01:04 PM

Mark while you are at it please show the wench set up as well.

And video all the accessories you have put on your solo.

I want to deck mine out when I get it and use your ramp method.

Hoping for February delivery.

FISH11 · 01-21-2021, 08:43 PM

Tomorrow I'll see if the weather holds off a little, I'll try to film some of it at home although it won't be like when loading at the beach. At least I can show the winch set up and how I put it on the top edge of the truck bed and what the ramp looks like. If you are setting up the Solo make sure the you install some H rail or other grab bar on the right side gunnel for holding on. At the speed the Solo can move, it is real important to be able to stay on the Solo when it changes direction or to keep balance when hitting chop. It doesn't have to be the long one, unless you prefer using that as a mounting platform for rod holders. Personally I'm not fond of the Hobie H rail rod holders (mostly due to the cost of each holder and each base). I installed two 9" H rails that I bought new on EBay for like $23 each with free shipping and purchased longer stainless steel bolts for through mounting on the gunnel at Ace hardware. It works awesome for holding on. One I put on the right for holding on and the other is on the front of the hatch base. The left gunnel has my paddle mounted so it would have been in the way and on the front of the hatch base it still works for holding on and protects the live well switch from accidently getting turned off. I personally didn't want the long H rails because I wanted the gunnels to be clean and unobstructed on the front part of the cabin deck, for landing fish and ease in getting in or out of the Solo Skiff.

10-09-2020, 04:06 PM	#4
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,637	Those are some nice big bugs, congrats. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

10-26-2020, 10:28 PM	#6
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,637	SOLO SKIFF in rough open water Today I went out and launched my Solo Skiff at La Jolla and after making bait started trolling a live mac south. After getting down 3/4 of the way to the South La Jolla MLPA, the wind picks up and keeps getting stronger. It was blowing harder than the forecast had for a small window of higher wind gusts. Long story short, is that as can often be the case, the forecast was off. It got real nasty and provably as bad as I had been in one of my kayaks. The huge difference is I was dry and other than consistent rocking, I had no problem either drifting or trolling at engine idle. If I had decided to wear my waders and waterproof jacket, I could even have cut through most of the chop at even higher speed. The temperature drop in air and water didn't help the fishing and made it a little cold while only wearing my board shorts and sweatshirt. The sun being out helped. It was a blast getting airborne so often when going through the larger chop and swells. Best of all, I wasn't even tired when I landed, was still dry and running around La Jolla for 5-6 hours uses $2.05 of regular gas. The SOLO IS A STUD!............................................. ........... This is a 60 second video of highlights from some of the rough water crossing. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

10-27-2020, 08:05 AM	#8
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,637	Yeah when I was setting up and launched there were around 5 other kayaks I saw. A couple guys were having problems in trying to surf launch. The surf height wasn't bad at 6:45 but the intervals were close. I couldn't believe how high the swells got. Some times when drifting as a tall one would come up, it seemed as if I could reach out and touch the top of the peak just as the Solo floated right up the face of the swell and the swell had gone under the Solo. That was a wild ride that could have been fun if dress in waterproof gear. Congrats on the sheeps limit, that's some nice meals there. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids ) Last edited by FISH11; 11-13-2020 at 08:37 PM. Reason: spelling typo

10-27-2020, 12:33 PM	#10
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,637	Yeah, that's what I told him. I was telling him, put your drive in, that his legs have more power than his arms. Told him not to even use the paddle. He fell off twice in front of me, so I had to hold my launch until he was clear. You must have been the guy I saw come over to help him. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

01-21-2021, 09:12 AM	#12
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,637	I will, sorry for the delay. I was going to go today and do that but this crazy weather made me change plans. Were I live we've had those 40-60mph winds for multiple days, hail, snow Tuesday and strong winds and rain yesterday. Tomorrow looked like another window and now it's rain part of the day in SD. This weekend and next week looks like rain and snow at home. Next change in weather I'll film some of unloading and loading using the ramp I made with ABS drain pipe and the removable hand winch set up. I'm hatting having to stay at home and not be out at LJ. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )

10-08-2020, 08:07 AM	#1
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	Mark, I like that cart. At first, I thought you had a cart for the launch ramp which will shred your solo. How are you dealing with the launch ramp road rash?

10-08-2020, 02:24 PM	#2
tak100 Recruit Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 152	Mark, I would love to see your ramp and wench set up as well. That last 6 inches is a major B. Thanks!

10-27-2020, 06:06 AM	#7
tunaseeker TB Metal Art Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 651	Saw your skiff on the beach but missed ya. The swell was super bad! 4' easy. Almost capsized at 80', had not seen it that bad in a long time. Managed a limit of goats though... Hopefully the weather forecast is more accurate next time! Cheers!

10-27-2020, 10:32 AM	#9
tunaseeker TB Metal Art Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 651	I help the guy who had a hard time, it was his first time in LJ. Trying to paddle a large Hobie outis not the best plan, use the pedals!

01-21-2021, 01:04 PM	#14
ctfphoto Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 901	Mark while you are at it please show the wench set up as well. And video all the accessories you have put on your solo. I want to deck mine out when I get it and use your ramp method. Hoping for February delivery.

01-21-2021, 08:43 PM	#15
FISH11 Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Pine Valley when not fishing La Jolla Posts: 2,637	Tomorrow I'll see if the weather holds off a little, I'll try to film some of it at home although it won't be like when loading at the beach. At least I can show the winch set up and how I put it on the top edge of the truck bed and what the ramp looks like. If you are setting up the Solo make sure the you install some H rail or other grab bar on the right side gunnel for holding on. At the speed the Solo can move, it is real important to be able to stay on the Solo when it changes direction or to keep balance when hitting chop. It doesn't have to be the long one, unless you prefer using that as a mounting platform for rod holders. Personally I'm not fond of the Hobie H rail rod holders (mostly due to the cost of each holder and each base). I installed two 9" H rails that I bought new on EBay for like $23 each with free shipping and purchased longer stainless steel bolts for through mounting on the gunnel at Ace hardware. It works awesome for holding on. One I put on the right for holding on and the other is on the front of the hatch base. The left gunnel has my paddle mounted so it would have been in the way and on the front of the hatch base it still works for holding on and protects the live well switch from accidently getting turned off. I personally didn't want the long H rails because I wanted the gunnels to be clean and unobstructed on the front part of the cabin deck, for landing fish and ease in getting in or out of the Solo Skiff. __________________ MARK ......... 2016 MALIBU X FACTOR, 2020 SOLO SKIFF (Fishing Kayak on Steroids )