"Flats Rat" Mouse Kayak


About the design
Trip Pictures
At The 2002 Conroe Messabout
Geocache "Conroe Tiny Island 3"
Lake Houston Island


Links
YouTube - luisjg builds a flats rat


If you like this boat, but want a super simple and quick to build version, see my Plank Rat You can build a plank rat in 3 hours!





Trolling Motor Question I want to use this boat for fishing, and was thinking about a trolling motor. Where would you suggest mounting the battery?
Answer I'd say forget the trolling motor, just use a kayak paddle. A motor and battery just adds expensive stuff you have to worry about damaging or loosing, and is extra stuff you don't need. A kayak paddle can get you anywhere you want to go just as fast as a trolling motor can, but is a whole lot simpler to use.

Paddling Tip - When paddling, try to paddle at a rate that is easy enough that you are not exherting yourself. Kind of like you can walk all day long, but you can only sprint for a short while.

Fishing Tip - One guy that I know who built on of these was using it for fishing, but found that he kept drifting away from his favorite spots in the shallows. He came up with a great solution, he attached a short loop of rope to the side of his boat, then pushed an old broomstick through the loop, and into the mud (stick stands vertically). He said it works great, and is just the right thing to temporarily hold him in the shallows.