Water Master Kodiak review

I did a web search for "scadden raft motor mount" and this was one of the results
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Nice looking. Apparently no longer being made. The search did turn up other possibilities including this $217 NRS Raft motor mount that looks similar.

I have the BSI "packable anchor system" mount for the BSI combination anchor system - motor mount.
*It's now $200 o_O ; about twice what I paid for mine way back when with a discount on accessories for a Kodiak Expedition Package pre-order.
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The "new improved!" motor mount transom plate is another $50.
IIRC the older mount was an aluminum plate with rolled edges and a bracket welded onto the plate for the anchor system standoff tube. I don't recall the original version's price and since I'm not going to be packing a motor and battery on trips in the dry bag anyway, I really like the idea of this new and obviously much heavier transom plate being made out of simple materials that can keep costs down.
A bonus is I could make that from stuff I have lying around.
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*Adding
I would think that anchoring bow and stern is doable. If he’s not opposed to experimenting with it. Me personally don’t anchor mine in stillwater, however gluing Scotty anchor attachments in my mind would be something worth looking into. Hopefully someone with experience using the Scotty will chime in if that’s even a practical suggestion. The bow setup might be tricky in regards to it being in the way as it sits up a few inches. I’m thinking line tangles?
I do have a Scotty strap-on anchor mount for the bow of my WM for stillwater. The flat profile of the tubes not only makes it a slug to row in flatwater but also doesn't drift as much in the wind so I haven't felt the need to use it very much. But I don't recall it being a fly line magnet like the Scotty rod holder can be.

And while I have used the BSI anchor system on easy rivers I would not use a Scotty anchor mount on the stern of my Kodiak for rivers because I wouldn't be able to reach the cam cleat quickly to cut the rope if I was dumb or otherwise unfortunate enough to drop anchor in current that could flip the boat.

Speaking of rod holders for a WM, being a right-handed caster I found I can avoid a lot of line tangles with the Scotty rod holder by using it only for a 2nd rod on the port side snugged right up to the seat, and pointing the rod rearward and slightly up. I do have to be careful when approaching shore; don't ask me how I know :eek:

On the old site someone told me he had made a strap-on rod holder for his Kodiak out of a length of PVC pipe with a slot and reel cutout that would encase an entire spare rod to protect it yet make it easy to get the rod in & out while seated in the raft. Unfortunately he did not post a picture. Anyone have something like that for their WM, Scadden... raft?

I use the strap on a Water Strider "Bolt Action Rod Holder" or a BSI "Rod Right Rod Holder" on the starboard side near the bow for secure but temporary active rod storage.
https://waterstrider.com/shop/ols/products/water-strider-bolt-action-rod-holder
 
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The scotty mounts run sorta parallel to the boat, or you can just lat them along the side of the seat.
If a Scotty is too far forward, my fly line will get tangled in it at least once. And maybe I just need to be enlighted but if mounted as far back to the seat as possible to avoid tangles and be in easy to reach, I found it can also make oar stowage and rowing awkward. Plus if it's used for a spare rod facing rearward it's extended beyond the stern so be careful when approaching the takeout :cry: .

I'm using cheap $5 foam rod floats from Walmart in stillwater that slip onto the rod blank just above the handle, float a fully rigged rod, and don't interfere at all with casting, stripping, or reeling line now but I would be extra careful laying a rod along - behind the seat. I lost a fully rigged spare rod off the back on a lake shortly after buying the raft (and the rod) 😪. I did not use the cargo net that day.

Adding, I want to find a method of low profile, enclosed-protected, fully rigged spare rod storage, secured to the tube.
 
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Yeah I like having the scotty mounts so that they dont interfere with oar storage, and yeah they do catch fly lines, but with a bit of line management I can usually minimize it. Using a net as a stripping basket can help ... but I just live with it. Let me know if you do find a slimmer rod storage solution!
 
I use multiple Scotty products on a strap-on mount for my fish finder, transducer arm and rod holder. The only change I had to make was to stow the oars pointing out the front because of the mount location. I made a small water tight battery box out of a mini ammo can that goes behind my seat in my old soft cooler. Next time I am fishing I will take some better pictures. I added my original picture when i got it assembled the first time.
 

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I use multiple Scotty products on a strap-on mount for my fish finder, transducer arm and rod holder. The only change I had to make was to stow the oars pointing out the front because of the mount location. I made a small water tight battery box out of a mini ammo can that goes behind my seat in my old soft cooler. Next time I am fishing I will take some better pictures.
Would love to see more pictures of this, thanks for posting!
 
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