Testing Elaho on the St. Sebastian River


DSCN4004

The canoe launch near routes 510 and 512.


This was my first time out kayaking alone after my little heart issue this summer.  I used the occasion to test out the refurbished rudder system on the 12 year old Necky Elaho I had purchased, and observe some wildlife.  I paddled from Dale Winbrow Park to the canoe launch near where routes 510 and 512 intersect, a distance of about six miles each way.  

DSCN3993

The St. Sebastian River was full of wildlife on this day.  I saw many large Great Blue Herons, several Little Blues, lots of turtles, more alligator than I had ever seen on the river and a huge manatee feeding in the shallows.  


DSCN3992

The Elaho paddles great!  It edge turns like a dream.  The rudder system was sticking when turning to the left.  Eventually I discovered that I had fed the rudder cable improperly on that side and it was wedging in a crack.  I have since rerouted the cable properly.  The video below covers all of this.  



 © Don Yackel 2020