Fishing on floating-water It's a way to get to the most remote and fish-rich places in the water, but not only do we catch them, but we also keep them fresh for the rest of the day or for the rest of the day, and that's why fishermen use a cage, which is an essential part of their equipment when they're actively peeling.
A properly fitted and properly secured PVC cage allows you to free your hands without worrying about the safety of the trophies. Unlike metal boats, which have regular seats, inflatable boards have to improvise with fasteners. Mistakes in the choice of material or method of fixation can lead to damage to valuable catches or even damage to cylinders.
Criteria for choosing a cage for an inflatable boat
The first thing to look at is the fabrication material. PVC and Hypalon The best fits are capron thread or plastic-coated stainless nets. Uncoated metal mesh can oxidize and rust, causing stains on the sides and reducing structural strength. Caprons are lighter and more compact when folded, which is critical for the limited space of an inflatable vessel.
Cell size is key depending on the target, pike and pike require a small cell to prevent the fish from sticking their head in and damaging their gills, and a large cell is suitable for carp, carp or bream, providing better water flow. Frame rigidity It is also important: soft frameless models are easy to transport, but they are more difficult to fix so that they do not hang around inside the cockpit.
- 🐟 Material: hood, coated stainless steel or combined variants.
- 📏 Dimensions: The diameter of the neck and the total length shall be appropriate to the size of the intended catch.
- ⚓ Type of attachment: the presence of carbines, rings or the possibility of installation on the bracket.
Seasonality is also important when choosing: in summer, when the water is warm, the fish in the cage quickly fall asleep without good flow, and in winter, when fishing from ice or in the cold season, it is important that the cage does not freeze to the sides and does not lose elasticity. The optimal length of the cage for a PVC boat is from 1 to 1.5 metersThis allows you to keep the fish in the water even when the load level of the boat changes.
Methods of fastening the cage to the sides and the transom
Fixing a cage is the most important step, because it depends on the safety of the boat. Simply tying a rope to a crumb may not be reliable enough in high winds or excitement. There are several proven methods: attachment to the crumbs, the use of special brackets or fixation to the transom plates. Each method has its advantages and limitations in strength.
The use of loose bolts is a classic option, but the constant load on the same bolt can lead to it loosening or rubbing the material of the cylinder. stretch-bar Or plywood adapters that spread the load over a large area, which is especially true for boats with a thin bottom or sides.
⚠️ Warning: Never attach a heavy-catch cage directly to an inflatable cylinder without a protective gasket. Friction of wet nets and metal on PVC when rolled is guaranteed to result in scuffing and holes.
A more advanced way is to install a stationary bracket, which can be made of stainless pipe or durable plastic, and it can be fixed rigidly to the stringers or bottom, taking the cage overboard or holding it vertically in the water, which frees up the inner space of the cockpit and prevents the mixing of gear.
Manufacture of a bracket for a cage yourself
For those who like to do everything DIY, creating a custom bracket is a great solution. The work will require a profile pipe made of stainless steel or aluminum, fasteners and tools for cutting metal. The design should be as simple as possible, without sharp angles that can damage the boat or injure the fisherman.
The process starts with measurements. You have to determine the optimal height of the cage out above the water and the angle of inclination. Then the basic elements are bent or welded out of the pipe: the vertical rack and the horizontal bar with a hook or a ring, and it is important to treat all the joints and edges so that they are smooth. Anti-corrosion treatment It is mandatory even for stainless steel, if welded seams are used.
☑️ Checklist of manufacture of bracket
The bracket is mounted to the boat through regular stringer holes or by using clamps to the banks. If the boat allows, you can drill holes in the transom plate, pre-strengthened with glass fiber, the main thing is to ensure the rigidity of the structure, so that when a large fish jerks, the bracket does not fold into the boat.
| Materials | Weight (kg/m) | Strength | Difficulty of manufacture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Highly | Very high. | Medium (welding required) |
| Aluminum (D16T) | Low. | High. | Medium (needs argon welding) |
| Plastic (PHD) | Medium. | Medium | Low (thermoforming) |
| Tree (Lilchwy) | Medium. | Low (rotting) | Low. |
Protection of cylinders from damage
The contact of the cage with the sides is a constant risk. Even a high-quality capron net in prolonged friction about PVC, especially in the wet state, acts as an abrasive. To minimize risks, you need to use protective elements. These can be special linings made of litex Or just pieces of dense fabric glued onto the boards at the points of contact.
Special attention should be paid to the exit of the cage from the water, and this is where the most intense movement of the net on the material of the boat in choppy conditions. plastic-pushThey take the main mechanical action, maintaining the integrity of the inflatable tubes.
How do you check the wear of protection?
Visually inspect the contact points after each fishing trip, if the protective lining has villi or thinning, replace it immediately, and ignore minor damage to the protection will cause the boat to wipe itself.
Also avoid using metal carbines that hang around the sides, replace them with plastic fasteners or securely fix them with metal rings wrapped in tape or shrinkage, and regularly inspecting the mounting sites will help identify potential problems before the boat starts poisoning the air.
Caring for the cage and preventing rotting
After each fishing, the cage requires careful drying. The scales and mucus left in the cells are the ideal environment for the bacteria that destroy the capron thread to grow; Clean water washing and straightening drying are mandatory procedures; If the cage is metal, you should check it for chipped coatings and oxide.
Store the product in a dry, ventilated room, away from direct sunlight. Ultraviolet destroys the structure of the polymers, making the mesh brittle. Seasonal processing With special fabric formulations or metal anti-corrosion sprays, the equipment will last many times longer, so you shouldn't fold the wet cage into a tight lump and put it in a case until next season.
- 🧼 Wash the cage with fresh water after every fishing trip, especially after salt water.
- ☀️ Dry only in the shade, avoiding direct sun that dries and breaks the threads.
- 🔧 Check the integrity of locks and carbines before each trip to the water.
Features of operation in different conditions
The use of a cage on the current and on standing water has its nuances. On rivers with a strong cage flow, it creates significant resistance, which can lead to a turn of a light boat across the course. streamlined Or reduce the length of the submerged part, and it's also important to make sure that the rope in the cage doesn't wind on the engine screw.
When catching a predator such as a pike or a pike, it is important to consider their ability to chew a line or even a thin net. For toothy predators, it is better to use cages with a metal neck and bottom frame. A pike in a capron bag can easily make a breach with sharp teeth and leave, taking part of the catch with it.
⚠️ Attention: When catching a large fish, never pull the cage up if there is already a catch in it. A sharp jerk can turn the boat over or tear out the mount. Lift the cage smoothly, controlling the balance of the vessel.
In winter, when fishing in rogues or from a boat, the cage is often lowered into a hole or an ice hole. The main thing here is to prevent the water in the cage from freezing by blocking the fish. The cage is periodically raised or used special insulation. However, if the ice becomes too thick, it is better to move the catch to the cook or box, so as not to risk the integrity of the cage.
To prevent the cage from getting hooked by the engine propeller, tie a small weight-tightening to the bottom of the cage. This will allow the cage to stay strictly vertical and not hang out under the transom where the propeller is located.
The safety of the boat and the catch depends on the right balance: the cage should not create sailing or roll, and its fastening should withstand the weight of the full fish without the risk of tearing off.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use a PVC boat cage as a kucan?
Theoretically, it can, but it's not recommended. The cage is designed to temporarily store fish in water, and the kukan is designed to fix each individual individual individual. In the cage, fish can injure each other, especially if they're predators. For long-term preservation of meat quality, it's better to use a kukan or keep the fish in the cage only until the end of the fishing.
How long should the rope be to fasten the cage?
The length of the rope should allow you to immerse the cage to a depth of 1-1.5 meters, so that the fish is in the cooler layers of water, but at the same time allow you to quickly lift the cage into the boat, it is optimal to have a reserve of rope with the ability to adjust the length depending on the depth of the reservoir.
How to secure the cage if there are no bolts on the boat?
In this case, you can use oars inserted into the keys, throwing a rope through them, or tie the cage to a liner device (a stretched cable along the side), there are also universal suction cups with hooks, but their reliability on the water is questionable under serious load.
Does a stainless steel cage rust in salt water?
Stainless steel AISI 304 can be corroded in sea water. For fishing at sea or in salt estuaries, it is better to choose cages made of titanium or plastic, or use steel AISI 316, which is more resistant to chlorides.