“You’re into fishing for the long haul. Shouldn’t your kayak be too? Behold the Trident 15 – the longest, fastest and most stable battleship in the Trident fleet. It handles big swells beautifully, tracks like a torpedo and cradles you in comfort for those big excursions that matter most. Of course a big boat means bigger storage, and the Trident 15 takes care of that with plenty of topside cargo space, secure hatched storage and all the gear-management bungees you need.

FEATURES

• ACS2 Seat for all-day comfort
• Gunnel accessory tracks for all your RAILBLAZA accessories
• Two Flush mounted rod holders
• Oversize tank well with bungee and cooler option
• Bow Click Seal Hatch with battery storage bag in hatch
• Redesigned Mod Pod™ II
• Accessory plate with Transducer Compatible Scupper
• Support Track foot brace system
• Paddle Holder with Rod Rest
• Side-mount and bow/stern carrying handles
• Reflective deck rigging and skid plate
• OPTIONS: Rudder System

Also, read our Guide to choosing a fishing kayak

The post Fishing Kayak Review – Ocean Kayak Trident 15 appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

“Since posting my Lowrance sounder mounts on Instagram recently I have been asked by so many people about the mount so have made this video below to walk you through the setup. I did not know about the RAILBLAZA mounts until recently and wanted to show you how quick and easy it is to mount your sounder without drilling any holes in your boat”

Stainless hardware is provided with the mounts so all we need is a screwdriver and you’re done in minutes! The Fishfinder Mount R-Lock R is fully adjustable with locking joints to set it where you want it. The other great advantage of this system is the slide-lock means with one click you can either reposition your sounder or remove it for storage, transport and safety.

Watch “The QUICKEST SIMPLEST fish finder installation EVER”

Links to RAILBLAZA products Dean has used in this installation are…

• TracWedge StarPort Mount

• Fishfinder Mount R-Lock R

The post The QUICKEST SIMPLEST fish finder installation EVER: Dean Silvester appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

If you want to read this blog post in German, please click here.

I have been fishing from the Belly boat for two years now and have already experimented a lot with mounts and solutions for the assembly and organization of accessories. There were always tension straps and rubber ropes with which I had fastened fishfinder and rod holder, unfortunately the material of the boat limited me quite a lot, as it’s not possible to screw attachments to inflatable tubes! 

I had been looking at the mounts and accessories of RAILBLAZA for a long time, and with the new boat made of rubber dinghy material I could finally get started. The first RIBPorts and brackets were quickly ordered and glued. Using RAILBLAZA’s Sounder & Transducer Mount, my fishfinder and the transducer had a perfect place without anything shaking and disturbing, for transport or in shallow water you can fold the transducer up to avoid damage. The screen is adjustable into all the right angles to fish for hours without fatigue. Perfect! That’s the way I’ve always wanted it.

CleatPort rod holders, bait holders and other accessories such as Visibility Kit for safety on the big waters in the dark quickly followed.  Everyone knows the situation… you catch a good fish but nobody is there to take a picture. So in the next step the Camera Boom 600 followed, this makes it possible with the holder for the rod to bring the complete boat on a photo with me and the catch.

And so I build with RAILBLAZA and the Savage Gear Bellyboat, which is perfectly tuned to my needs, and still extremely flexible and adaptable, thanks to the RAILBLAZA system. No matter whether it is the lake, river or the coast of the Baltic Sea with the RAILBLAZA system, everything has its place and is well and safely organised throughout.

 Check out the latest blog from Journi showing how he has set up his Belly Boat for Fly fishing and Filming

Like more Tips, Trip Reports & Tackle Tips? Sign up to our Newsletter for regular updates HERE

The post Rigging Savage Gear Belly boat with RAILBLAZA Mounts & Accessories appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

“This is undoubtedly going to be one of the most popular mounts from RAILBLAZA for every tinny owner out there. I guarantee that once you try it, you will want more. “

I just got the new RAILBLAZA TracWedge for my tinny. I recently picked up a Quintrex Explorer. It’s actually my second as I have a growing family, all wanting to start to come fishing with me and we have outgrown just the 1 boat.

Image Credit: JV Marine World 

The first boat is all decked out in RAILBLAZA gear and I’m a big fan. I spent ages mounting StarPorts and SidePorts all over the boat. A little bit stressful having to drill holes all over the tinny and hoping I got them in the right spot.

Once it was done, I was extremely happy with the outcome and I had rod holders & drink holders wherever you turned. Loved it. The most underrated piece of RAILBLAZA was the StowPod. Who would have thought a little bucket would be used so often. If you haven’t got one, do yourself a favour and at least pick one of them up. It will make a world of difference.

Anyway… the new boat I have been a bit reluctant to drill holes all through the boat, so I put a few RailMounts on. The rails aren’t in the best places for rod holders but would do the job. And then I saw the TracWedge.

To say I was excited was an understatement. I had to get my hands on a few of these. This is probably one of the best inventions I think they could have come up with and it is the answer to all my problems. It’s the most basic mount and so easy to install. The best part is, no drilling is required, they don’t get in the way and you can put as many in as you want by just tightening the two screws. if you’re not happy with the location, unscrew it and move it. No holes in the boat!!!

I have both the StarPort and SidePort TracWedges and it has solved my problem of not having rod holders in the right spot. I have drink holders in the perfect position for the kids and my fish finder isn’t mounted on the outside of the boat and at risk of falling overboard on the off chance I don’t lock it into position.

I can now see the bottom of the boat as everything that was once just dumped on the boat floor now has a home in one of the various RAILBLAZA accessories. The SidePort wedge is perfect for rod holders, bait boards and platforms and the StarPort wedge is perfect for drink holds and my favourite – the StowPod.

The post Product Review: RAILBLAZA TracWedge appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

Tests on RAILBLAZA product were conducted at the University of Auckland, Centre for Advanced Composite Materials. All items were tested to destruction and failed at significantly higher loads than the published rating. Published ratings have had a conservative safety factor applied. Results below…

1. Sideload refers to applying force in the manner shown below in 4,5,6 and 7.
2. Straight pull refers applying force in the manner shown below in 8.
3. All loads stated here are a guide only for static applications, as each application of RAILBLAZA products is different, and both static and dynamic loads occur in normal use.

The post How Strong Are RAILBLAZA Products? – Break Test Results appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

I was recently given the chance to demo the new Railblaza StarPort HD mounting base before the product release.   As a Yak Gear Brand Ambassador, I am no stranger to the extensive line of Railblaza products, however, when I heard that this base was a rectangular, four-point installation base to be used as a replacement for other “stock bases” that kayaks now come equipped with, I became really interested!

A New Base in the Railblaza Line

We all know the main Railblaza bases (StarPort, SidePort, RibPort and RailMounts) that were first released domestically in 2010.  Since then, Railblaza has become the foundation of many creative kayak anglers rigging styles around the globe.  However, kayak anglers looking to customize their kayak with Railblaza have run into one problem: stock bases!  Kayaks – especially angler versions of kayak models – now come with pre-existing, stock bases in the prime mounting positions.  Well, if I don’t want to use an accessory that is compatible with this pre-existing, stock base, what do I do?

With the invention of the Railblaza StarPort HD – a rectangular, four-point installation base similar in size to that of Scotty, RAM, Cannon, Fish-On, and many others – kayak anglers can now easily remove and replace their old bases with a Railblaza StarPort HD!  Not only does this transition to a Railblaza base give you the comfort of the Railblaza ‘slide locking mechanism’ fit to all of the bases and the versatility to effortlessly retask accessories from one base to another, but the transition also opens up your accessibility to Railblaza’s large selection of accessories and limitless rigging possibilities!  Now we’re in business!!

First Impressions

The first thing everyone notices on a product is the packaging.  Right away I noticed that the new packaging by Railblaza (which is present now on all products, not only limited to the new StarPort HD) was very well designed.  Clear instructions, awesome lifestyle pictures, and the ability to touch and feel the product without taking it out of the packaging.

The packaging and instructions were very impressive and definitely an upgrade from their original packaging that the Railblaza bases used to come in when they were first trickling their way into the USA circa 2010.

Second, I couldn’t help but notice how low profile the base was.  From top to bottom, the base only measures less than 1” at it’s tallest point as opposed to the 1.5” height of the original Railblaza StarPort.  For comparison, the Scotty 241 Deck Mount sits 2” off of the deck.

Installing the Railblaza StarPort HD on my FeelFree UniBar

I didn’t have any Scotty, Ram, or Cannon mounts to remove on my FeelFree Kayak so I did not use the base as a replacement base.  However, I did decide to install mine on my FeelFree UniBar for a quick access point for my Railblaza Rod Holder II.

Installation was very easy and literally took minutes using just a simple screw, nut, and screwdriver at the four points of the rectangular base.

My Thoughts on the Railblaza StarPort HD

Once installed, I slapped the very rigid and secure Railblaza Rod Holder II into the base.  Low profile and works like a charm!  In my opinion, the best feature that all Railblaza bases come with is the slide-locking mechanism – making it very easy to switch from rod holder to camera mount (or from any accessory to any accessory) in seconds.

Wrapping it up, the Railblaza StarPort HD is a winner! If you are looking to upgrade from your existing mounting system and are worried about leaving extra holes in your kayak, the HD is your solution. It’s got the same screw pattern and the same size as the pre-existing stock kayak bases with the improved strength, security and number of accessories in the product line that Railblaza is known for.

You can find out more about Derick Burgos and follow his adventures at his website PHATFISH Kayak Charters

The post Railblaza StarPort HD Base Product Review | Derick Burgos appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

Ever thought about using your trailer boat as a mothership for kayak fishing? in this guest blog post Jason shares with us some of the reasons why you might want to consider it and how he is using our products in this concept.

Exploring the concept of kayak fishing using a trailer boat as a mothership

Here’s a different take on kayak fishing mother ship trips,  yesterday fishing with my boys for Father’s Day in the 6m Fyran, I loaded the 2.7m Viking Kayaks Ozzie into the boat with the intention of using it to paddle into the shallows and gather a feed of Green Lipped Mussels.

This was a test run to feel out the concept both myself and Stephen Tapp from Viking Kayaks have recently discussed. We both see many advantages in using trailer boats, in this case the 6 m Fyran, as a mini mother ship to access bits of coastline or outer islands that would take the best part of the day to paddle to if at all. Whilst I fully understand and know the rewards of getting yourself to a location like these under your own paddle power I also recognise that for some people this is just not achievable for many reasons be it fitness, experience or just time. So for that reason I am exploring this idea and will hopefully have Stephen on board one day soon to test it out with me. I have rigged the Ozzie with a few basic fittings for now which will likely evolve as we explore this concept further, read on below for my set up explained.  

Now before you say it, I know many of you are thinking “why bother with the kayak if your taking the boat?” Well the answer is detailed but 2 of the key reasons in brief are:

1.  The majority of the time boats scare off the fish in the shallows, bigger shadow, more noise etc…we know there are good fish to be caught in the shallows but these fish are generally more savvy. using the boat to get close to a location we can then drop the kayak in the water and hunt around the shallows to present baits or lures without spooking the fish “stealth”
2. With the kayak it’s easier to target fish in the wash against the rocks and gives greater ability to get a fish out of the foul should it run you to ground. They also make for a great platform when freediving or spearfishing from a boat.

So with that in mind and after my first trial in the Ozzie I am excited at the potential of this concept and will be putting it to the test over the summer.  I can also see this being an effective way to film kayak fishing events using the boat to cover larger areas. Once near someone to film I will anchor the boat well away, launch the kayak with cameras and paddle alongside them so as not to disrupt their stealth fishing with the noise of the boat

The kayak set up

As mentioned for now I have kept things simple as far as outfitting goes the Ozzie comes with a couple of useful hatches, removable storage buckets, flush mount rod holder and saddles for attaching, seat,  leashes or fitting a grab line. The addition of the RAILBLAZA system is essential for this set up allowing me to regularly change the set up to suit.

TracMounted StarPort HD

In the pic above you see 300mm lengths of track are fitted to the sides allowing me the ability to mount StarPort HD to this surface. The recess on the kayak does not allow for surface mounting which works out great because this option with the StarPort HD tool less TracMount kits means I can re-position the mount or even fit extras as required.

CleatPort

The new CleatPort  mounted off the bow offers a 2 in 1 solution,..

1. As in the above pictures a solid tie point for securing the kayak alongside the boat or even towing it between locations
2. This position off the bow is great for a camera angle the will either allow me to capture all the action looking back over the cockpit and is great for pointing a GoPro at a subject to capture them without any of my kayak in the peripheral of the lens as in the below image. I will use both Pro Series camera boom options in the CleatPort.. Camera Boom 600 & Platform boom 150

StarPort HD surface mounted

Mounted to the end of the footwells is another StarPort HD, this will be my go to mount for working accessories, I will likely fit a TracPort 350 which has 3 StarPorts so I can use it a dashboard for adjustable Rod Holder II ,  a sounder (The Lowrance Elite 4 will be ideal for this size kayak) and camera position… great solution for such a compact kayak.

Keep an eye out for updates from me putting this concept into practice over the summer, for now I can tick off the first trial as a success with a nice feed of Green Lipped Mussels which will be enjoyed for lunch.. to see any of the products I have used in this blog post just click on the products mentioned above which are hyperlinks to the web listings…thanks for reading PG

The post Kayak fishing mother trips on trailer boats using new CleatPort & StarPort HD appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

Whilst this plastic is very strong and considerably lighter, vacuum formed plastic is thinner and flexes more than a rotomolded kayak. This is not ideal when using cameras on booms, the camera has more movement even with reinforcing and bracing, and I like to use the Beachcomber for a lot of filming opportunities like surfing, kayak fishing or general coastal paddling.

My current Beachcomber sea kayak was yet to go under the knife for rigging (only a couple of months old), once I got my hands on the new StarPort HD the tools came out. First up was to make a backing plate for the HD mounts, to do his I used a piece of off cut plastic from Barracuda kayaks factory, the backing plate gives me 2 x the thickness, reinforcing the HD mount even further.

The best position for 2 HD mounts is behind the seat, I will use these as my primary camera boom positions, Rod Holder positions, visibility kit and for G-Holds when securing the Paul’s fishing kite longline on occasions.

For occasions where I need more than 2 ports behind me I can add the TracPort 500 to the HD mounts giving me 4 StarPorts, this offers endless options and lots of flexibility.  You can see the results of my last few sessions using these HD mounts in the images below. I am very happy with how solid the mounts are and the movement on the camera at the end of the boom has definitely been reduced.

Not forgetting the standard StarPort as it very much has a place on the Beachcomber, I have recess mounted one in front of the cockpit using the collar on the inside as the backing plate. Nice and clean and solid, this position is very useful for many options including camera positions and Rod holder..when using the rod holder in this position I like to combine it with the Swivel Port for easy of adjustment on the water.

Here is a list of the parts used and links to the products for more info.

StarPort HD

StarPort

TracPort 500

Telepole 1000

Pro series camera boom

G Hold 35mm

Pictures from my recent sessions using the new StarPort HD

GoPro mounted to Telepole fitted to Tracport 500 fitted the StarPort HD..kayak fishing at Army Bay on sunset

Surf session at Orewa, Pro series Camera Boom 600 mounted to HD Mount

Pro series Camera Boom 600 mounted to HD Mount with extender and G-hold 35 as support brace

The post StarPort HD mounted to Barracuda Beachcomber sea kayak | Guest blog appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

The options for capturing amazing footage from your kayak has never been more exciting as it is right now, with the constant advancement in compact cameras and versatile mounting systems like RAILBLAZA there really is no angle that we cannot capture.

I have been filming from my kayak both for my personal productions and contracted productions for a few years now and have learnt many things along the way about capturing footage of a quality that audiences will find engaging. Along with the camera itself the ability to mount the camera to a versatile and reliable system go hand in hand as far as priority of importance goes.

This blog is dedicated to mounting tips for those of you who are looking to capture high quality footage from angles that are usually hard to achieve when on your own. These angles also lend themselves well for those showcasing sponsored products or capturing angles that are useful when doing how to tips or instructional videos and images.

Regardless of the camera you are using a variety of angles will be what sets your productions apart from the rest. To achieve the angles seen in many of my productions and still shots I am using the versatile RAILBLAZA mounting system, I think of it like lego, you can plug and play as you need for the occasion or change the configuration on the go.

The video above and below photos show just some of the ways I am using the RAILBLAZA system to get extra angles that almost give the look of a 3rd party view..yes it is pretty crazy to look at but the footage captured is hard to beat.

Tip – stable and smooth footage is easier to watch and will keep people watching longer

Tip – variety of angles keeps the viewer engaged for longer

On  both my Viking Profish sit on tops and the Barracuda sea kayak, I have tried to get as much height and/or distance away from the kayak. This allows me to capture all that is going on in the cockpit as well as the rest of the environment in the peripheral, really bringing the viewer into the experience as if they were there.

These pics show the  latest configuration I have been using to get stable footage from camera positioned out wide behind me, I am controlling the GoPro using wifi to my iPhone, this one gets a few funny looks at the beach when you head out  The footage captured from this angle features in the video above.

Tip  – Set up your mounts the same on the left as the right side so that you can swap the camera according to the best light.

Tip –  When the cameras are positioned out of easy reach use a water pistol or spray bottle with fresh water in it to spray clean the lens of cameras that have salt water on them (thanks Stephen Tapp for that idea )

This series of pics shows a similar set up on my Barracuda sea kayak..the footage captured on this trip would have to be my most memorable to date and I am soon to publish the full video from this session exploring the caves at Hahei… incredibly smooth stable footage of an amazing environment.

Over the shoulder view

Slightly out to the side and over the shoulder for a different perspective

The Gear

The RAILBLAZA Telepole is a critical part of this set up as well as various extenders… the bracing of this configuration is important so to take away any movement at the camera end (which is significant when the Telepole is fully extended) … a combination of adjustable extenders, fixed extenders and G-Hold 35mm allow me to stabilize this set up.

Before committing your StarPorts make sure you can capture footage without having any of the mounts holding the camera in the shot.  Sometimes this is hard to avoid, in those cases the editing suite will allow some cropping to cut them out of shot if ness.

Here is a list of all the RAILBLAZA parts I use and recommend

Telepole 1000

Camera boom 600 pro series

Platform boom 150 Pro series

Fixed and adjustable extenders

G-Hold 35mm

The post Capture great footage from your kayak with RAILBLAZA appeared first on RAILBLAZA Canada.

(Some of the RAILBLAZA options used on the Superfly, see further down for more info on each of these accessories used)

Press release 22^nd April 2014

A new concept in recreational fishing boats will be on show for the first time at the Hutchwilco boat show.   Constructed in high-modulus polyethelene (HMPE) and thermoplastic extrusion welded, the Superfly 19 is a major departure from conventional boat building materials.

Unashamedly targeted at serious sport fishers, the Superfly 19 was born from a desire to produce an uncompromising fishing machine to perform in shallow water harbours and lagoons, as well as being open water capable to reach remote fishing locations.  The boat had to be stealthy quiet in the shallows, light and manoeuvrable, have excellent sea keeping qualities, be a good load carrier, easily pushed and economical to run.

Built to MSA survey, the boat will operate as a salt water fly fishing charter boat under ‘Salt Fly Fish’ skipper and salt fly expert Matthew von Sturmer.

“The choice of HMPE material was logical. It is a very tough material, with the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic presently made” says owner Brett Patterson.

“When we are stalking big fish in skinny water a quiet boat is vital to our success.   Alloy was out of the question.  We also land anglers in remote and rocky locations.  We needed a boat that could take a hard grounding with no concerns.  We have a casting platform in the bow with a leaning bar, and sealed buoyancy chambers around the gunwales, but you would never know that by looking at it.”

(Rod Holder II mounted to the 20mm rails using 19-25mm Railmount StarPorts)

The naval architecture and engineering was handled by Jim Pauling Yacht Design. “We are excited to be involved in this project and the boat is a development of our earlier PE longboat. It was a perfect marriage between the customer’s charter fishing requirements and our original longboat hull, and the two came together seamlessly. The design features higher topsides with a traditional and elegant sheer line which has allowed us to incorporate a “buoyancy ring” for additional safety (even though the material is buoyant in its own right). We have developed the original hull shapes, taking an already efficient and sea kindly hull to another level, making the boat both economically viable as a charter boat and very comfortable and safe for her passengers and crew. The vertical accelerations of the boat underway are significantly reduced compared to conventional boats and she can run comfortably all speeds, as there is no major transition from displacement to planing. That means she is efficient even in the semi planing range and is fully planing at a lower speed than other boats of this length.” Says Pauling.

(SidePort mounts offer a useful way to mount Rod Holders and Cameras at the back of the boat)

Construction is handled by the highly experienced Gerard Richardson of PFP Plastics Ltd, one of NZ’s leading HMPE welding experts and is built under contract to Rêvo Boats  “I have worked with HMPE for years, so know its advantages; no rust or corrosion, shock absorbent, UV stable, and low maintenance” says Richardson.

The Rêvo Superfly 19 is a semi-production boat, available turnkey, in centre console or tiller steer variants. The boat comes standard on an all alloy custom designed trailer and can be optioned for jet drive or outboard.

Specifications:

• Overall length:  6.0m
• Beam: 1.758m
• Deadrise:  Variable warped plane
• Recommended horse power:  40-60
• Passengers: 5
• Weight: 654kg

Contacts:

• Brett Patterson ph 09 634 9860 brett@sportfishadventures.co.nz
• Jim Pauling ph 09 5308374 designer@jimpauling-yachtdesign.com or boats@revo.co.nz
• Matthew von Sturmer ph 021 865 593 matt@saltflyfish.co.nz
• Gerard Richardson ph 09 838 5247 info@pfp09ltd.co.nz
  

StowPod mounted to Railmount 19-25mm alongside Rod Holder II, a great place to store tackle and other key accessories keep them close at hand, easily accessible. The Railmount 19-25mm pairs have been mounted at 400mm centers on all 4 rails, this allows the angler to re-position the Fillet Table II to any of these for positions to suit the occasion

StowPod mounted to Fillet Table II with a StarPort. This is a great addition to the Fillet table and again means all key accessories or tackle can be at easy reach and off the work surface

Fixed StarPort Extenders offer a little more height for the Rod Holders mounted to SidePorts at the back of the boat,

This is what the Superfly is all about, Salt water fly fishing, Rod Holder II is a great option for fly reels

Low Profile Mobi Device holder mounted to center console looking after your mobile phone.

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