James RickardA little reverse engineering
May 25th 2008 00:21
I think having a fishing cart like the one in the picture would be great IF I needed it.
I first saw fishing carts when I was pier fishing on the Outer Banks and figured that everybody made their own until I did a little research and found out that you can buy these things PRE-made!
I'll talk a little more on that subject in a moment but for those of you who have never heard of fishing carts, here's a brief description.
A fishing cart, essentially, is simply a wagon with high sides made just for fishing. Sizes vary but you can carry four or six rods, an ice chest, tackle box, bait bucket, and often some odds and ends before running out of room. On some models you have a cutting board attached so you can clean and gut your fish as soon as you pull them from the water. Also, on some models is a small basket to hold a few pieces of bait. As I said, sizes vary and some even fold up to fit in the back seat of your car or stow in the trunk.
If you look at the picture, I think an enterprising person ought to be able to turn out one of these in an afternoon using tools as common as a drill, screwdriver and wrenches. I've thought about this QUITE a bit so, let me share some of my untested wisdom that I am SURE will work.
I'll talk a little more on that subject in a moment but for those of you who have never heard of fishing carts, here's a brief description.
A fishing cart, essentially, is simply a wagon with high sides made just for fishing. Sizes vary but you can carry four or six rods, an ice chest, tackle box, bait bucket, and often some odds and ends before running out of room. On some models you have a cutting board attached so you can clean and gut your fish as soon as you pull them from the water. Also, on some models is a small basket to hold a few pieces of bait. As I said, sizes vary and some even fold up to fit in the back seat of your car or stow in the trunk.
If you look at the picture, I think an enterprising person ought to be able to turn out one of these in an afternoon using tools as common as a drill, screwdriver and wrenches. I've thought about this QUITE a bit so, let me share some of my untested wisdom that I am SURE will work.
Taking a kid's wagon and making it over is NOT very advisable although it's tempting. One reason is that you should use aluminum or plastics wherever possible because if you're around the water, especially salt water, rust is inevitable. If you decide to try an old wagon, I'm no rustproofing expert so all I can say is paint, paint, paint!
Another reason not to use a kid's wagon is the tires. Narrow tires are not going to turn easily in sand, gravel, or loose dirt. This may not seem like a big deal now but wait until you get a cooler 3/4 full of ice and try and pull it on those skinny wheels! Your best bet will to use WIDE tires with a knobby tread if possible. However, width is more important than tread type.
If you look again at the picture you'll notice THREE wheels. If your load is unbalanced, this may cause problems with stability. For this reason, I prefer FOUR wheels. The main thing to focus on if you DON'T use four wheels is to make sure you have two wheels as far back as possible to make the load tow easier.
Some people try to rework a lawn cart. Some models only have TWO wheels. With two or three wheels you always run into problems balancing the load.
Sometimes you have to take what you can get or "make do." If that's the case, know what you're getting into and know your limitations.
Once you have the basic cart/wagon part made, you're well on your way. Around now, people often take a step back and ask about the rod holders. You can use pieces of PVC pipe for this. Pipe 11/2" in diameter usually works for this task and you only need a piece around a foot long (30 cm.). Assuming you're using a rectangular cart, rod holders usually occupy each corner with another half way down the length of each side but, that's just a suggestion. You may think you only need one rod holder or two but you never know when you're going to go out with a friend! You can bolt or glue your improvised rod holders but, depending on your design, I think it's a lot easier and sturdier to use hose clamps to hold them to the frame.
The practicality of using a fishing cart is the only thing preventing me from having one. Before you go off the deep end, you have to decide if a cart is right for you. If you're primarily a pier angler, a cart is going to be PERFECT. On the other hand, if you fish a lot of farm ponds, country lakes, or go down several steps or trails, a cart may me more of an inconvenience that an help.
Another reason not to use a kid's wagon is the tires. Narrow tires are not going to turn easily in sand, gravel, or loose dirt. This may not seem like a big deal now but wait until you get a cooler 3/4 full of ice and try and pull it on those skinny wheels! Your best bet will to use WIDE tires with a knobby tread if possible. However, width is more important than tread type.
If you look again at the picture you'll notice THREE wheels. If your load is unbalanced, this may cause problems with stability. For this reason, I prefer FOUR wheels. The main thing to focus on if you DON'T use four wheels is to make sure you have two wheels as far back as possible to make the load tow easier.
Some people try to rework a lawn cart. Some models only have TWO wheels. With two or three wheels you always run into problems balancing the load.
Sometimes you have to take what you can get or "make do." If that's the case, know what you're getting into and know your limitations.
Once you have the basic cart/wagon part made, you're well on your way. Around now, people often take a step back and ask about the rod holders. You can use pieces of PVC pipe for this. Pipe 11/2" in diameter usually works for this task and you only need a piece around a foot long (30 cm.). Assuming you're using a rectangular cart, rod holders usually occupy each corner with another half way down the length of each side but, that's just a suggestion. You may think you only need one rod holder or two but you never know when you're going to go out with a friend! You can bolt or glue your improvised rod holders but, depending on your design, I think it's a lot easier and sturdier to use hose clamps to hold them to the frame.
The practicality of using a fishing cart is the only thing preventing me from having one. Before you go off the deep end, you have to decide if a cart is right for you. If you're primarily a pier angler, a cart is going to be PERFECT. On the other hand, if you fish a lot of farm ponds, country lakes, or go down several steps or trails, a cart may me more of an inconvenience that an help.
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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Comment by tlcorbin
Raven
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
You and me both! I would LOVE to use one but, alas, I could only use it about 1/3 of the time!!!!!