Fishing Forum

I'm really starting to like this thing! I had two concerns a few weeks ago, both now solved.

My anchor was rubbing against the stern, but I fastened a square of "cutting board" material used to cut fabric onto the stern using the straps on the anchor bracket.. The cutting board material is flexible enough to "fit" the tube, yet hard enough to protect the boat for a long time.

The answer I got from NFO was to use chain anchor instead. That was not an option for me, as I want to use the anchor I have, like its ease of use, and know how it performs.
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I also moved the side bags back so that they did not interfere with the oars any more. I did this by simply fastening them further back on different D-rings already on the boat. the bags remain tightly secured, easily accessible, yet out of the way of the oars. I just changed how they were attached.
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One problem I had this weekend was breaking one of the plastic snaps that secures the backrest on the seat to a D-ring on the boat. Cheap plastic, because all I did was lean back a little and the snap snapped! I'm all of 5'7" and 150 pounds on a good day, so the snaps are a problem. I'll just replace both plastic snaps with stainless ones. In the mean time, a zip-tie held up all weekend!

As with any craft, modifications have to be made, even on $1,000 'toons! Shouldn't have to, but that's just the way it is.

I'm still getting used to the "short" oars, but I must say, they definitely do the trick and move the boat nicely. Longer ones would be even better though, and that's my next, and hopefully last, modification..

The boat also carries my two favorite fishing/camping buddies, separately of course. The younger small one, who weighs 60 pounds, rides nicely behind me.
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The older 100-pounder is just a bit too large to be comfortable, but still wants to go!
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Fishing, buy the way, was a little slow. I caught some fish slinging wooly buggers, but there was no hatch at all to bring any fish up for dries. I was fishing around the Indian Crossing/Taylor Flat area of the Green. Floating moss made chucking the streamers kind of a pain too. I never fished a nymph.

The weekend was basically to cast my new 6-wt Orvis Hydros, get out of town during the Villa Derby on the Gorge, play with the Renegade some more, and get the dogs in their summer fishing mode. Mission accomplished.
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Looks good. I know that I am really liking mine. It is so responsive and light for its size.

The cutting board is a great idea, but I can see that there is just not enough PVC glue on board there yet! [laugh]
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First off, slow for me this weekend on Idaho Stillwater, and I too was flinging Woolly Buggers.

Secondly, My clip broke on my seat on my Escape as well. I know NFO doesn't make these seats, but I agree, the plastic swivel clip is a bad idea.
I am going to replace mine with metal DOG leash clips, but I learned a long time ago, always carry a couple carabiners....[]

Great pictures!!!!

I don't use anchors much, but I have the same one you do.
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Let NFO know about the seat snap. I had one fail too, and Dave sent me a pair of those stainless "S-Biners" that they use for the foot bar. Just cut off the plastic ones and put one side of the S-Biner through the strap loop, snap the other onto the D-ring as you did with the plastic snap.

If they won't send them, they are about three bucks at REI.



http://www.rei.com/product/771123
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[quote flygoddess]Secondly, My clip broke on my seat on my Escape as well. I know NFO doesn't make these seats, but I agree, the plastic swivel clip is a bad idea.[/quote]

After Dave sent me the pair of S-Biners (which work great, BTW), I was re-watching the "how to pack your boat in the duffle" video, and toward the end when he is showing some of the assembly stuff, you can see the boat he's working on has S-Biners there instead of the plastic snaps.

I have a feeling those plastic snaps have failed enough times that NFO worked out the S-Biner solution. I think they ought to ship them with the S-Biners instead of waiting for the customer to complain.

But, maybe they don't fail that often.
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