10-08-2005, 01:07 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I posted more of a fishing trip report on the Utah Board, but thought I would put up some additional tubing related info and pics over here. The weather was great but the fishing was almost a no-show. I did get one decent white bass and a dandy 7.8# channel cat for my efforts.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been tinkerin' in the garage again, and put together a new sonar mount, both for the display and for the transducer. I have some modifications in mind and will post pics when I get the final design worked out. In a nutshell, I put the sonar display mounting bracket on a strapped down base, up through the left front pocket of my Super Fat Cat (see the pic). It stays put and I just detach the display and put it in a special little cooler that also holds the battery and fits behind the seat (watch for pics soon). I also changed the location of the transducer rod mount to the left rear, rather than the front rear. It is now out of the way, still easily reachable, and can be left installed. I just rotate it to raise or lower it at launching and beaching (pics later).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One of my most important experiments was the new molded plastic chair. I have been fighting the wimpy seat design of the Super Fat Cat since I bought it over two years ago. The standard seat back is too low, and the bottom tends to be very uncomfortable after awhile, and allows me to slip forward too easily. I need to keep adjusting my position for comfort and to avoid slipping off the front.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had considered getting one of those fold down boat (and pontoon) seats, but they are heavy and bulky. I had also been wondering about using a cut down lawn chair seat. I actually made one in Arizona, but never tried it before we moved. It got trashed without ever seeing the water.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Recently, I flashed on using one of the plastic contour seats from one of those cheap chairs you sometimes find in waiting rooms. I spotted one at a yard sale a few days ago and scored it for $2. Took the padded (luxury) seat off the chrome base and plopped it onto my SFC. Just the right fit. I drilled a couple of holes, one on each side of the lower bend, to accomodate the hooks from a bungee cord. I then ran the bungee cord around the back of the back rest of the tube's seat, to hold my chair in place.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When I launched yesterday morning, the chair felt strange at first. It made me ride a couple of inches higher. But, after "settling in" for a few minutes it was comfortable. I kicked around for several hours yesterday, with much more comfort than usual, and I only needed to adjust my position a couple of times all day for comfort.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The cushion in the chair soaked up some water, and it was heavier when I took it off than when I launched. But, otherwise, I like it. If I have to carry the SFC very far to launch it, I will probably go without the seat, but for closeup launches it is great.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My only "negative" is that the back is still just a bit shorter than I would like. I am tall and the seat could have been about two inches higher for my tastes. I will keep looking for another score, and hopefully find one with a higher back.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I can see where these chairs would also be good for folks in tubes and toons that do not have the raised seating. I sat "low in the
dle" myself, for many years, and tried to use high density foam, inflated cushions and other devices to raise me up a bit. Once they started making tubes and kickboats with elevated seating, both TubeBabe and I thought we were in heaven...compared to the old style.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Well, back to the garage. I have a new idea for incorporating the sonar mounting base with an "outrigger" holder base. Sound wierd? Wait and see.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have been tinkerin' in the garage again, and put together a new sonar mount, both for the display and for the transducer. I have some modifications in mind and will post pics when I get the final design worked out. In a nutshell, I put the sonar display mounting bracket on a strapped down base, up through the left front pocket of my Super Fat Cat (see the pic). It stays put and I just detach the display and put it in a special little cooler that also holds the battery and fits behind the seat (watch for pics soon). I also changed the location of the transducer rod mount to the left rear, rather than the front rear. It is now out of the way, still easily reachable, and can be left installed. I just rotate it to raise or lower it at launching and beaching (pics later).[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One of my most important experiments was the new molded plastic chair. I have been fighting the wimpy seat design of the Super Fat Cat since I bought it over two years ago. The standard seat back is too low, and the bottom tends to be very uncomfortable after awhile, and allows me to slip forward too easily. I need to keep adjusting my position for comfort and to avoid slipping off the front.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I had considered getting one of those fold down boat (and pontoon) seats, but they are heavy and bulky. I had also been wondering about using a cut down lawn chair seat. I actually made one in Arizona, but never tried it before we moved. It got trashed without ever seeing the water.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Recently, I flashed on using one of the plastic contour seats from one of those cheap chairs you sometimes find in waiting rooms. I spotted one at a yard sale a few days ago and scored it for $2. Took the padded (luxury) seat off the chrome base and plopped it onto my SFC. Just the right fit. I drilled a couple of holes, one on each side of the lower bend, to accomodate the hooks from a bungee cord. I then ran the bungee cord around the back of the back rest of the tube's seat, to hold my chair in place.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When I launched yesterday morning, the chair felt strange at first. It made me ride a couple of inches higher. But, after "settling in" for a few minutes it was comfortable. I kicked around for several hours yesterday, with much more comfort than usual, and I only needed to adjust my position a couple of times all day for comfort.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The cushion in the chair soaked up some water, and it was heavier when I took it off than when I launched. But, otherwise, I like it. If I have to carry the SFC very far to launch it, I will probably go without the seat, but for closeup launches it is great.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My only "negative" is that the back is still just a bit shorter than I would like. I am tall and the seat could have been about two inches higher for my tastes. I will keep looking for another score, and hopefully find one with a higher back.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I can see where these chairs would also be good for folks in tubes and toons that do not have the raised seating. I sat "low in the
dle" myself, for many years, and tried to use high density foam, inflated cushions and other devices to raise me up a bit. Once they started making tubes and kickboats with elevated seating, both TubeBabe and I thought we were in heaven...compared to the old style.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Well, back to the garage. I have a new idea for incorporating the sonar mounting base with an "outrigger" holder base. Sound wierd? Wait and see.[/#0000ff]
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