So, we got a couple of kayaks a while back. After a bit of research, and not a little advice from experienced yakers (that’s slang for kayakers… I’m trying to learn the lingo) we decided on Wilderness Systems’ Tarpon 140 for the Mrs. and a Ride 135 for me. Both are set up specifically for fishing, but I’ll get more into a full review of them later.
First, we had to add rudders. When your hands are full with a fish on the line, you need a way to steer. Large fish, especially salt water fish, can easily tow you and your kayak and it’s important to keep the bow pointed at the fish so as not to get tipped over (which is generally considered to be a “bad thing” when the fish on the line is a 6-foot shark) and tossed into the water with the fish you’re fighting. Rudders help keep you pointed at the fish, and they also make it easy to steer while drifting the flats.
After getting the Harmondy Rudder kits, I realized the instructions were completely useless. They try to address EVERY make and model of kayak, and every installation variation that might exist, and the resulting mess, which is completely devoid of pictures, is more hindrance than help.
Here then is a rough step-by-step how-to guide for installing the Harmony rudder system onto a Tarpon 140 or Ride 135.
Click on any of the images for a full-size version. (Also, if you’re going to hotlink to my images, and I know you are, at least do me the courtesy of throwing an actual link up to this article.)