captken

Recently I watched (And waited on) a couple of yak fishermen rig and launch their yaks for about 10 minutes. They were taking up the entire launch site (low spot on the river bank) so I launched about 1/4 mile away then paddled upstreampast them. They were still piddling when I rounded a bend and could no longer see them. It would have been soooo cool to catchthe 1 legal Redfish I needed for dinner then paddle back and load before they got launched.

I don't have a clue how long it took them to rig and launch but it takes me only about a minute then a couple of minutes to lock my trailer in the back of my truck. When I get back to my yak, all I have to do is slip my paddle together and go fishing. Of course, I've launched that puppy a couple of hundred times.

My yak is ready to fish 24/7/365 unless I am making modifications. Some days I add or subtract a rod or two to fit my plans for the day. Generally I make the changes the night before and go ahead and load my yak into the back of my truck, a 2 minute job.

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Captken
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Linda

It takes me about 5 min, but I don't launch at boat launches normally - one of the advantages of fishing from a yak, much easier to access the water. So I usually take my time, making sure I'm ready & have everything I need and rechecking to make sure my plugs are in.

Linda

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Big Red

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">IMHO, these would be the same people you find loading up their 16' tin stinkpot while it is jacked sideways taking up two spaces at the launch ramp. :banghead<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">This has been a problem since man made the second boat &amp; the first boat ramp or pier.:doh<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I do not have a trailer &amp; carry my Yak on top of my van. On a good day, it takes me about 10 minutes to unload &amp; rig my Yak. <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">However, it only takes me 2 minutes to launch it.<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Likeevery Yaker I know, we rig our Yaks beside our vehicles in the parking area on our carts &amp; pull the Yak to the water. The only "Waiting Time" at the ramp is when I return the cart to the van. <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">

Framerguy

Yup, my kayak is rigged before it leaves the side of my truck. I pull it out of the bed, slide the portage wheels into the scupper holes, load all my gearand paddle in the 'yak, and rods in the rod holders, (unless there is some reason to leave them lying in the 'yak until I clear some obstacle, and I am good to go. If I have to use the wheels, I only have to return them to the bed and lock the top.

I have found that many of those "slow" launchers are new kayakers and they really haven't gotten a routine down pat yet so I usually cut them some slack and not make an issue out of something so minor. Keep in mind that you too were a greenbean to kayaking sometime in the past and maybe you held up someone too in your "slow" times.

When I see how motorboaters hog the ramps all the time with little or no regard to moving their craft off the ramp to a dock or a spot on the bank to load up, while there are others waiting out in the water to trailer up and leave, I think that even the slow kayaker is much faster and more helpful and considerate than many of the motor guys. Most larger ramps have parking docks for boaters to use when they launch. I never could understand how one guy launching his boat would not be cognizant of others waiting for the ramp while he pulls his truck and trailer back into the parking lot and then dusts off his dash or makes a cell phone call before returning to clear the ramp that he tied up!!??

WW2

From my first attempt, I would probably still be there. :-)

Team Hobie

Dude, you probably don't have all the cool stuff I do. The radar, stereo speekers and 52 inch TV take time. Plus, I don't want to be caught 5 miles offshore without beer for 7 hours so two or three trips are needed to fully provision the Pimp Yak.

Seriously, I carry too much gear but can usually be on the water in 5 to 10 minutes (including a pull across 200 yards of sand and a long rest afterward) If it takes longer it is because I did not rig my lines the night before and have to tie leaders/hooks.

I don't often have people waiting on me. My regular fishing partners have the routine down pretty well and we can launch together. It is frustrating if someone comes along and is on a much slower pace. It makes you feel awkward to launch without them. This does not happen very often. Instead we end up helping each other across the sandto avoid heart attacks and strokes.

ps. kayaking is by nature a slow sport.

Ted