Kayak Fishing? Consider a Trailer.
TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS FOR HEAVIER BOATS
BY: SCOTT FINLAYSON, MALONE AUTO RACKS
A few years ago I was representing a well-known manufacturer of kayaks and canoes when they introduced a game changing fishing kayak. I got one of the early samples and brought it home from the factory. Rigging it up in my barn, I soon realized that this boat weighed significantly more than any other boat in my demo fleet and was awkward to handle. In the driveway, my long suffering partner Karen, watched as I struggled to find the balance point and snatch and jerk the boat up into the Malone DownLoaders on the roof of my sport wagon. Needless to say, I lost control of the boat and it came down hard denting one of the doors and luckily missing me and my rear view mirror. Karen cringed. “You’ve already had 3 hernias repaired, let’s not go for a fourth.” She had a point.
Flash forward a couple of years and the proliferation of fishing kayaks in the category has grown, so have options like pedal drives, integrated electric trolling motors, and a whole range of rigging and accessories. All this adds significant weight, with some models now topping 200lbs. This is a challenge for traditional kayak roof top transport. To meet these challenges Malone Auto Racks has stepped up and now offers a range of trailers and trailer packages that allow you to tailor the trailer to your needs. Malone has had two models of trailers that have been available for a number of years; the smaller Xtralight and the versatile Microsport. Both are marine grade trailers that can transport one or more kayaks or canoes and are easy to load and store when not in use. However, for 2017 Malone introduces a new trailer specifically designed for the fishing kayak category. The heavy duty half ton load capacity MegaSport. The MegaSport can handle up to 4 large fishing kayaks with the optional 2nd Tier load bar system as well as large tandem kayaks and canoes up to 20 feet. All Malone trailers are light and easy to maneuver both on and off the vehicle. Another nice feature is a trailer acts as a temporary storage unit during the season. Leave the boats on board and simply hook up and go.
Make Life Easier
Kayak fishing is a gear intensive sport, and the MegaSport offers a complete range of accessory options to help manage tackle and rod storage, the organization and transport of both wet and dry gear, flood lighting for pre-dawn rigging at the boat ramp, and even USB and 12 volt integrated recharging for GPS, fish finders, cameras, and batteries. The MegaSport has all the stuff necessary for the kayak fisherman to conveniently transport everything to the water.
Except, now that you’ve trailered your big boat and gear to the put in, sometimes it can be an over land haul to get to the water. Malone has you covered. The new Yak Hauler and Beach Hauler fishing kayak carts are big, stable, and rugged 250 lbs. capacity carts. The choice of 15” airless all terrain wheels or 12” low pressure high flotation beach wheels work great for all conditions. Strap the boat to one of these carts, load up all your gear on the kayak, and easily make your way to the waters’ edge.
Back at home, Malone offers a variety of storage options for your fishing kayaks. The new EleVate large boat portable stands fold up and stow away easily, but allow you to store your kayak off the ground. They are also very handy for supporting your boat when you are working on your rigging or doing repairs.