Very good video. You covered everything that I needed to make a similar replica of your kayak yoke. It is now ready to go on my next trip up to Algonquin Park. You did a great job. Thanks
I only recently viewed this video. I am impressed by your design. I am going to try to duplicate your yoke for my Impex touring boat. I have done several solo trips in Algonquin and portaging have been very difficult for me in the past. Thank you for sharing your design and love for paddle exploration.
Your comment landed in the 'flagged for review' bin, which I never remember to check. For the life of me I can't figure out what in your comment would have looked suspicious. In any case yeah, the pool noodles work great - as long as I line the inside with duct tape. Otherwise the yoke cuts into them pretty quickly. They'll usually last me 2-3 trips before I make new ones.
Good luck and safe journey. When you return, can you post a followup, showing how you attach it to your kayak and carry it. Do you empty your gear into a pack when you portage, or portage the kayak loaded?
I will definitely do so. Attaching the yoke takes roughly 3 seconds, and I load/unload a canoe pack at each end of a portage with a few dry bags kept in the hatches.
I forgot to mention, much of what you're asking is already here on my channel. While I've changed yokes and made a few adjustments to my packing, you can see me put the yoke on my kayak and unload my hatches here: Packing a kayak for multi-day camping trips (with portaging) You'll see me pack up my canoe pack here: Kayak Camping: Packing a Canoe Pack I'll post an updated version after my next trip!
Kayak Camper Right! Of course you did and I just forgot. This is the same system I used the one time I went kayak camping last fall. I just need to work on that yoke. Im surprised to see how that snapped into your kayak. Is it really just a friction fit?
Les Dempsey Pretty much, yes. A kayak cockpit has some flex to it which helps make it fit snugly, and a typical portage has the bow higher than the stern, which means gravity is continuously reinforcing that bond. But it's held in place well enough that even if the bow dips down, the yoke is unlikely to go anywhere. I've been experimenting with hard rubber (a cut up hockey puck) as the under-pieces to add even more friction, but the current method so rarely fails I haven't had much incentive to change it up.
Nice!! I'm planning on a day 10 trip to Algonquin May 2019 --- unfortunately I have a 17.6" Tsunami 175 kayak. Don't really want to spend the $300+ to rent a canoe (I may end up regretting that). Do you have a full build video on this yoke? thanks.
I know you've built yourself a yoke at this stage (saw it on Facebook), just wanted to apologize for never responding to this one - your comment got flagged as 'held for review' and so I didn't see it until just now (I always, always forget to check there).
Martin - did you really get to portage your Tsunami 175? (Am the proud new owner of a used Cape Horn 17 and didn't consider it possible to portage all 63lbs of it).
@@gwynjones7801 I yearly portage a 58 lbs kayak on 7-8 day BWCA trips using a home made kayak yoke while doing single portages. That said I'm fairly fit (6 ft 200 lbs) and am used to heavy loads due to my military training. Your experience portaging may vary based on single vs double portages, gear choice, experience, and stature. Hope that this helps :)
Can you please update us with your thoughts on the yoke this year. Is that 1x8 pine? What is the angle you found was best front to back? It also looks like there is an angle of the pad supports from front to back. (3 angles)
Hey Kimik, Your post got flagged for review and so I'm just seeing it now for the first time - my apologies! I've been using the same yoke for a few seasons now and I'm super, super happy with it. It's 1x8 pine, yes (avoid knotty pine which could give structural issues). It's about 15 degrees 'up' and 15 degrees 'in'. I have a 3d PDF of it and some other instructions if you're interested. Use the 'contact me' section on my website to get in touch and I'll send it along (can't post attachments here, and don't want to post my email address or I'll end up getting spammed).
My apologies for the super slow reply! I just checked for comments that got flagged for review (potential spam) and that's where your comment landed - so I didn't see it until just now. I don't have a video (although that's on my to-do list), but I do have a template with dimensions and angles on it. Nobody wants to post their email address here on RUclips, but you can use the "Contact Me" form on my website to get in touch, and I'll send you back the template: www.kayakcamper.com/contact.html Congrats on buying a Delta! You'll love it I"m sure.
This one also ended up 'held for review'. Were you a spammer in a former life? ;). My current yoke is number 6 or 7 in a line of improvements, but this one I've been using for quite a few years now as there's very little I can think of to improve upon. There are some minor things I could do, like the part of the yoke where the pool noodles rest could be properly shaped and sized cylinders, for example - it'd mean less pressure on any one part of the pool noodle. As it currently stands I run long stretches of duct tape in the inside of the pool noodles for added toughness. Otherwise the edges of my yoke start biting into the foam of the noodle and eventually it will start cutting through. With the duct tape it's a non-issue though, so I've not found a reason to build a new yoke just for that. Also - I just bought a new kayak. It's an updated version of my previous one so it's *almost* the same, but my yoke didn't quite fit right (the inside pieces were leaving the yoke too far forward). So I replaced those inside pieces with a cut-in-half lightweight hockey puck, which is something I thought of long ago but never tried. The hockey puck is more 'grippy' than wood is on the inside of the cockpit, so it's even less likely to slip. At least that's the theory - I haven't done a trip with my new kayak yet, so we'll see!
Sorry for the late reply Dan! I just did something I rarely remember to do, which is to check for comments that got flagged for review (potential spam) and that's where your comment landed - so I didn't see it until just now. I do have a template with dimensions and angles on it. Nobody wants to post their email address here on RUclips, but you can use the "Contact Me" form on my website to get in touch, and I'll send you back the template: www.kayakcamper.com/contact.html
I like the look of this kayak yoke. I think the video would have been even better if you could have shown it attaching to the actual kayak. I assume it attaches the same as in the video here, ruclips.net/video/zfdo6Q0XgOU/видео.html minus all the straps and bungy cords.
Nice video! I will look into it to make one for myself. I think it is a great way to transport your kayak in situations that wheels won't work :)
Very good video. You covered everything that I needed to make a similar replica of your kayak yoke. It is now ready to go on my next trip up to Algonquin Park. You did a great job. Thanks
Thanks Dave - good luck on your trip, and let me know how it went when you get back!
I only recently viewed this video. I am impressed by your design. I am going to try to duplicate your yoke for my Impex touring boat. I have done several solo trips in Algonquin and portaging have been very difficult for me in the past. Thank you for sharing your design and love for paddle exploration.
Thanks Raymond! If you end up with any questions while you're building it, feel free to get in touch!
awesome!...nice design
DOllar Store pool noodles. Don't go camping without em. Well done lad.
Your comment landed in the 'flagged for review' bin, which I never remember to check. For the life of me I can't figure out what in your comment would have looked suspicious. In any case yeah, the pool noodles work great - as long as I line the inside with duct tape. Otherwise the yoke cuts into them pretty quickly. They'll usually last me 2-3 trips before I make new ones.
Good luck and safe journey.
When you return, can you post a followup, showing how you attach it to your kayak and carry it.
Do you empty your gear into a pack when you portage, or portage the kayak loaded?
I will definitely do so. Attaching the yoke takes roughly 3 seconds, and I load/unload a canoe pack at each end of a portage with a few dry bags kept in the hatches.
I forgot to mention, much of what you're asking is already here on my channel. While I've changed yokes and made a few adjustments to my packing, you can see me put the yoke on my kayak and unload my hatches here: Packing a kayak for multi-day camping trips (with portaging)
You'll see me pack up my canoe pack here:
Kayak Camping: Packing a Canoe Pack
I'll post an updated version after my next trip!
Kayak Camper Right! Of course you did and I just forgot. This is the same system I used the one time I went kayak camping last fall. I just need to work on that yoke. Im surprised to see how that snapped into your kayak. Is it really just a friction fit?
Les Dempsey Pretty much, yes. A kayak cockpit has some flex to it which helps make it fit snugly, and a typical portage has the bow higher than the stern, which means gravity is continuously reinforcing that bond. But it's held in place well enough that even if the bow dips down, the yoke is unlikely to go anywhere. I've been experimenting with hard rubber (a cut up hockey puck) as the under-pieces to add even more friction, but the current method so rarely fails I haven't had much incentive to change it up.
great video, thankyou
Thanks!
Great vids!!! I'm making one of these this week. What do you use for the height of your shoulder pieces?
Nice!! I'm planning on a day 10 trip to Algonquin May 2019 --- unfortunately I have a 17.6" Tsunami 175 kayak. Don't really want to spend the $300+ to rent a canoe (I may end up regretting that). Do you have a full build video on this yoke? thanks.
I know you've built yourself a yoke at this stage (saw it on Facebook), just wanted to apologize for never responding to this one - your comment got flagged as 'held for review' and so I didn't see it until just now (I always, always forget to check there).
Martin - did you really get to portage your Tsunami 175? (Am the proud new owner of a used Cape Horn 17 and didn't consider it possible to portage all 63lbs of it).
i.e. with a yoke
@@gwynjones7801 I yearly portage a 58 lbs kayak on 7-8 day BWCA trips using a home made kayak yoke while doing single portages. That said I'm fairly fit (6 ft 200 lbs) and am used to heavy loads due to my military training. Your experience portaging may vary based on single vs double portages, gear choice, experience, and stature. Hope that this helps :)
Can you please update us with your thoughts on the yoke this year.
Is that 1x8 pine?
What is the angle you found was best front to back?
It also looks like there is an angle of the pad supports from front to back. (3 angles)
Hey Kimik,
Your post got flagged for review and so I'm just seeing it now for the first time - my apologies! I've been using the same yoke for a few seasons now and I'm super, super happy with it. It's 1x8 pine, yes (avoid knotty pine which could give structural issues). It's about 15 degrees 'up' and 15 degrees 'in'. I have a 3d PDF of it and some other instructions if you're interested. Use the 'contact me' section on my website to get in touch and I'll send it along (can't post attachments here, and don't want to post my email address or I'll end up getting spammed).
do you have a video that shows how you made it? or a template maybe? :p just ordered a delta 17 so just getting ready to make one of these puppies.
My apologies for the super slow reply! I just checked for comments that got flagged for review (potential spam) and that's where your comment landed - so I didn't see it until just now. I don't have a video (although that's on my to-do list), but I do have a template with dimensions and angles on it. Nobody wants to post their email address here on RUclips, but you can use the "Contact Me" form on my website to get in touch, and I'll send you back the template: www.kayakcamper.com/contact.html
Congrats on buying a Delta! You'll love it I"m sure.
Have you made any updates to this in the last 6 years, based on your experiences?
This one also ended up 'held for review'. Were you a spammer in a former life? ;). My current yoke is number 6 or 7 in a line of improvements, but this one I've been using for quite a few years now as there's very little I can think of to improve upon. There are some minor things I could do, like the part of the yoke where the pool noodles rest could be properly shaped and sized cylinders, for example - it'd mean less pressure on any one part of the pool noodle. As it currently stands I run long stretches of duct tape in the inside of the pool noodles for added toughness. Otherwise the edges of my yoke start biting into the foam of the noodle and eventually it will start cutting through. With the duct tape it's a non-issue though, so I've not found a reason to build a new yoke just for that.
Also - I just bought a new kayak. It's an updated version of my previous one so it's *almost* the same, but my yoke didn't quite fit right (the inside pieces were leaving the yoke too far forward). So I replaced those inside pieces with a cut-in-half lightweight hockey puck, which is something I thought of long ago but never tried. The hockey puck is more 'grippy' than wood is on the inside of the cockpit, so it's even less likely to slip. At least that's the theory - I haven't done a trip with my new kayak yet, so we'll see!
to you have a pattern/ template to share?
Sorry for the late reply Dan! I just did something I rarely remember to do, which is to check for comments that got flagged for review (potential spam) and that's where your comment landed - so I didn't see it until just now. I do have a template with dimensions and angles on it. Nobody wants to post their email address here on RUclips, but you can use the "Contact Me" form on my website to get in touch, and I'll send you back the template: www.kayakcamper.com/contact.html
I like the look of this kayak yoke. I think the video would have been even better if you could have shown it attaching to the actual kayak. I assume it attaches the same as in the video here, ruclips.net/video/zfdo6Q0XgOU/видео.html minus all the straps and bungy cords.
Hey Brent,
You just set it on and tap it forward. No straps or cords, correct.