Jackson Cosa Mods thread

[MidTNKayakAngler]

Nice mods Mike, I really like the paddle holder, just make sure the cinch your pants up real good. I've seen some others do the paddle holder also, but I think yours is one of the best.

About the only mods I'm doing to the kayak now is an anchor trolley, and Conseal. Of course I run a Lowrance, use other tools like drift chutes, and that kind of stuff.

Jeremy

[jkilday4]

Now that I have a Coosa, I need to get 'er ready with some mods of my own.

Wonder what you all recommend for an anchor trolley.  Saw this DIY'er; what do you think? http://kayakfishinggear.com/anchortrolleyhow-to.aspx

Also, how heavy an anchor do you all recommend, where to buy, etc.  I'll want to make a drag chain as well - the one I borrowed wasn't but about a foot-and-half of 3/8" chain - I guess that's enough?

[MikeA]

I use a retractable dog leash for the rear. There are two places on the back of your coosa made just for a drag chain to lay. There are also some loops there to run the rope through. What I did was drill a very small hole like 1/8" in the boat and ran the retractable leash cord through that hole (from the inside out). This keeps the retractable leash inside the hull and outa the way. Be sure to tape the leash handle so that it can't lock before you place it inside the hull.  I picked up a zig zag boat cleat and mounted just behind the seat on the side of the boat. Ill take some photos later. It's a pretty sweet system and cleaner then mounting the dog leash outside the boat. Wal Mart is carrying a retractable leash made in Germany now and it's a very nice one for about $12.

For the front I took a 1/4 20 SS eye and replaced one of the 1/4 20 bolts on the front handle with it. Added a few eye straps to route the rope through and a zig zag cleat to tie it off mounted in the spot just behind the dry storage bin. I just use a 10 pound dumbbell and it works fine.

[Bfish]

3 lb dumbell for me.  Dog leash ziptied to the side handle, line ran through the grove and out the back handle. 
That should be long enough for drag chain, unless you raise the handle (use pvc for spacers and longer bolts), that way you can raise it all the way out of the water.  I like the chain, just to use as a rudder, while drifting, set at about 2 ft of line.

[MikeA]

The rear drag chain

Here is where I drilled a small hole and ran the retractable leash cord through the hull.


Front eye bolt.

Rope eye straps. Also notice the tennis ball. This helps get the paddle under the bungee.

Just a zig zag cleat to secure the rope.

[jkilday4]

That's a big help, Mike - thanks for posting that.

Bfish, I'm trying to grasp the raised handle thing - any chance of getting a pic of that?

[Bfish]

Not my picture, but exactly the same: