Having finished the work, I can report that the kayak got the job done, but realistically this project would have been best approached with 3 people: 1 at the gun, 1 to maneuver the kayak, and 1 to man the rod. I did it solo with a robot, and between the challenges of maintaining station while placing the rod through the muck and maintaining lock while dealing with overhanging brush, I wasn't very efficient. I also missed by field work estimate by a factor of 3. (Live and learn.) It was kind of a fun experience, though. And now I own a kayak!
I've got one of those Sea Eagles in the 2 person mode. I go down the Hiwassee on it all the time in it. It does great in the rapids. Class 2-3. I've even been in 4 with it. I haven't had the balls to try it on the Ocoee yet. It's a great boat.
makerofmaps, post: 349765, member: 9079 wrote: I've got one of those Sea Eagles in the 2 person mode. I go down the Hiwassee on it all the time in it. It does great in the rapids. Class 2-3. I've even been in 4 with it. I haven't had the balls to try it on the Ocoee yet. It's a great boat.
Although my kayaking experience is limited to still water -- prior to this project I'd only operated one on a lake -- I'm pleased with the design and construction quality of the Sea Eagle, particularly given its reasonable price point. The fact that the whole shebang, including pump and paddle, fits into a sturdy nylon sack about 4'x2'x1.5' was a big plus. I was able to get everything I needed to prosecute the work (robot, tripod, DC, prism pole, pole extensions, kayak, even an electric air pump and battery to run it) into my hand cart. Since parking in the vicinity of the site is very limited, being able to haul everything in one trip was an important time- and work-saver.
"I don' know what it be either, Huck. Might be some kinda fancy camra."
Dang it. I wanted to be first to make a comment about Tom and Huck out for a joyride.
It's been a long time since I read the novel, but my recollection is that Huck mostly shared the raft with Jim.
From this distance I can't tell if it's Tom or Jim. So I went with Tom.
Holy Cow, post: 349817, member: 50 wrote: From this distance I can't tell if it's Tom or Jim. So I went with Tom.
Nah, don't think neither o' dem would wear no puffy orange jacket.
Jim Frame, post: 349663, member: 10 wrote: Having finished the work, I can report that the kayak got the job done, but realistically this project would have been best approached with 3 people: 1 at the gun, 1 to maneuver the kayak, and 1 to man the rod. I did it solo with a robot, and between the challenges of maintaining station while placing the rod through the muck and maintaining lock while dealing with overhanging brush, I wasn't very efficient. I also missed by field work estimate by a factor of 3. (Live and learn.) It was kind of a fun experience, though. And now I own a kayak!
I was wondering how the single person crew would work out. I do my kayak based hydro with two people. One (me) in the kayak and the second working the total station. It helps that the instrument operator is good at following a moving target. I can brace myself with the rod, but with a little wind or current I am seldom motionless. I would not want to be in the position of pressing buttons while in the kayak.
The work goes surprisingly quickly once started.
Wait till July use and an inner-tube connected to a case of beer and a 8 foot level rod..
[USER=9981]@Norman Oklahoma[/USER] did you rent the Hydrolite depth sounder or buy one?
Robert Ellis, post: 349998, member: 1183 wrote: and a 8 foot level rod..
I guessed that the depth wouldn't exceed 5 feet, so I made a 6-foot rod out of 1" PVC pipe. That worked well for most of the reach, but near the end I had to add a 2-foot extension, which was a little clunky. In hindsight, an 8-foot rod would have been a better solution.
Thanks for the update! No pics?
Chr.
Pics. Since I needed to measure the depth of the soft silt layer, I graduated the rod in tenths of a foot using strips of vinyl tape. I used a paint marker to annotate the feet, though some of it subsequently chipped off. The threaded stud is just a standard 5/8-11 hex-head bolt that I hot-glued into a PVC cap before cementing it to the pipe. Since the pipe is hollow and capped at both ends, I *think* it floats, but I never tested that.
