Installing electronics on a kayak can bring on many challenges. One of the major challenges are how to wire through the kayaks bulkhead and what products are manufactured to cap large drilled holes post wiring the fish finder. This article covers common Types of Hull Pass-Throughs.

After a lot of research here are a few types of hull pass-through caps for wiring electronics on your kayak.

Rubber Stopper 1/4″ – 1.5″ Drill

Commonly used for drain plugs and scupper holes the Rubber stopper can also be used for Thru Hull Wiring. Simply with a sharp box cutter cut a slit from the outer diameter to the center hole. This will allow you to pass the wire into the center of the stopper. Runt he connecting plug through the hole and simply press the stopper in small diameter of the flange first to make a seal. This method works but is not recommended for a permanent install. The stopper over time can come loose so check it every now and then. It wouldn’t hurt to silicone them in.

Cable Gland 1/4″ – 1″ Drill

The cable gland is a wiring connector that is able to match wire diameters with a grommet that seals tightening down a lock nut.

On the bottom of the gland is a threaded portion that is able to pass through a drilled hole in the hull and tightened down with an included ring nut. Cable glands do work great but the only problem i see with them is the protrusion they create. They are easily snagged by fishing line. In areas that fishing line will not snag they are great.

Cable Clam pass through 1″ – 2″ Drill

Cable clams are a good solution but protrude the most. They require 4 large screws holes perfectly aligned. Personally I think they are the most unsightly for applying on a kayak. They are purposed more for boats. They are also the most expensive and hardest to install.

TH Marine CeaCap 3/4″ Drill

The CeaCap is the most flush option but will only work with cable plugs that will pass through a 3/4″ hole. It is threaded and will turn the wire 90 degrees so it is flush with the hull. IT will allow for two 12 gauge wires to pass through.

West Marine Wire Cap 1″  Drill

The best out of them all I have found for large connectors is the West Marine Wire Cap. Fish finder connectors with 1″ diameter will work with this cap to cover the required hole to pass through the wire for both the transducer and the power. You may run two wires at 14 gauge through this cap max and 1 wire at 8 gauge id say max.

Image from http://blackdiamondequipment.com/

Over the years of night fishing and early morning to day fishing I have used many different headlamps. Only one has stood out beyond the rest. The Black Diamond Storm!! The storm was created for outdoor enthusiasts mainly for hiking and camping. I feel being in a marine environment was the ultimate test. There are a few musts within a headlamp needed for kayak fishing.

1. Must be waterproof
2. Must be bright
3. Must be operable with one hand
4. Push Button On Off Operation
5. Must fit head snugly
6. Has to be light and comfortable to wear
7. Needs Red light options
8. LED is BEST
9. Good Battery Life

Previous headlamps were not waterproof. Some died just from being rained on. Others well the salt eventually corroded the insides. I have owned filament light bulb flash light style and LED styles the LED is the best.  LED is much brighter than the standard filament light bulbs.  The diode also lasts longer. Some were turned on by turning the lens others were push button. The push button is much better for 1 hand operation.

After 5 or six different headlamps I had a coupon for a local Eastern Mountain Sports store. I went in just to use the coupon on someting kayak fishing related but wasn’t sure on what. Once in the store looking around i came upon the Black Diamond headlamp display. Realizing my current headlamp had just died the morning prior I became very interested. Looking at the package it stated the headlamp was indeed waterproof. Now almost sold reading more about the features it has a RED lamp option and 2 bright light options.  One being 2 white single power LED’s which give a good general flood of light for doing most tasks and a bright “Quad Power LED” in the center . The Quad Power is very bright and acts like a spot lite. It shines for a range of 70 m or about 230 feet. The brightness is perfect for tieing knots and de-hooking fish.  The single power led’s light is a max of about 7 m or 23 feet which is good for general tasks and saves battery life. All lighting modes are switched using a single button. Holding the button down dims the light levels (in older models). Pressing the button quickly will go from on to strobe and pressing slowly will switch the light modes.

New models have a function called power tap technology. Simply by tapping the side of the headlamp the brightness levels will go up or down within preset intervals.

The storm also has a waterproof rating of IPX7 which is water tight 30 meters below water for 30 mins. This was a key feature for myself as a kayak angler. Another great feature is the included power meter which will show green yellow and red for status of battery life when the light is turned on. The weight of the entire headlamp is minimal at 3.9 oz making it comfortable to wear all night long. The MSRP of the headlamp is $50.00 and well worth the price. The current one i have has lasted 3 years so far. If you do not use the headlamp very often do take the batteries out as they may leak over time damaging the inside of the light.

For more information on the Black Diamond Storm Headlamp check out the Black Diamond Website here!

Water, salt, dirt, and corrosion are the worst components for damaging your cable connectors.

Unlike a motor boat where the cable connectors are typically protected from most of the harsh weather conditions kayaks are completely exposed. Were out there taking waves over our bows landing on sandy beaches and constantly getting rained on.

For a small cost you can protect your cable connectors to obtain the maximum lifespan out of these expensive cables.

The  solution is simple.  Dielectric Grease and Caps that are designed to protect the patruding end of  a nut and bolt.

The result is a water tight protected Cable plug. To should still be careful  takes it from getting sand or other debris. The grease it will stick and make  a pretty big mess.

You can find these screw protectors at your local hardware store. They come in different sizes so measure the cable end you would like to protect prior to purchasing them.

I put the dielectric grease on the female plug then place the cap over it. This added protection should prevent corrosion and extend the life of your electronics cables.