02-16-2011, 02:29 AM
Well this last fall I scored a great deal on a Leigh Striker II to go with my striker I that I already had. So starting in January I began the arduous journey of preparing it for some fishin time this spring. At first I was thinking of just using it for parts until I got a real good looksy at the condition it was in. Not bad for 12 years old! I had to replace the velcro that held the bladders in place, have a foot rest built to replace the one that was lost in Pelican (that was the story I was told anyway), and a few necessary adjustments. Started then to make rod holders and a place for the fish finder and the transducer which is attached to right oar lock arm. Since I liked how I had them on my striker I, I decided to copy the design with a couple of tweaks. The holders I found needed a stronger hold for I lost two last year at Starvation Reservoir so I used threaded PVC which helps to hold it in place and still give me the needed range of movement. I modified the arm that held the FF up where I can see it. I angled it out more from the handle than before. I angled the net holder out from me for I found that when I had it straight up not only did I get wet but the netting got caught on the attachment to the frame. This will angle it out for a better fit. I found I needed to build a new motor mount for my old one was falling apart. So I made a hard choice of removing two rod holders from right behind the seat.
Found that they were in the way anyway. So I needed to come up with a plan to carry a couple more rods. I ended up making a 4 rod holder off of one side of the railing. I also raised the railing up a bit. By the time I get done playing around I will probably lower it down a bit. I changed some of the building materials. I went to Schedule 80 PVC for the cross braces instead of the schedule 40 that I had used before. Still 1 inch though. For the railing I incresed the size from 1/2" to 3/4" using schedule 80 again for strength. On the Striker I I had a metal bracket attached for a navigation light behind the left side of the seat. I replaced that by attaching it to the railing of the motor mount/rack. I think it will help with the weight and increase the visual aspect for the light. I added a sushi board this time using some elastic band stuff that TD gave me this last year. Using my leatherwork skills I usied rivets and snaps to attach it to the current snaps in place for the stripping apron. Still have a little to do to make it fishing ready but won't take long now...
On the stiker I I revisited it by attaching foot rests to it that I made last year and couldn't get to fit right using the conduit brackets that I had used previously. I came up with a better idea using pipe clamps. 4 #20's and 4 #12's. I used the Striker II as a model and attached the pipe clamps to where the main frame attached to the pontoon holders. Worked very well and I believe will hold better. Without a motor mount/rack for the Striker 1 I needed to find something to use. Since the Stiker II came with a rack I am going to use it. All I need to do is add a little PVC for attachment to the toon and it will work. It came with two straps through the tubes and I still can't figure out how it was suppose to attach so I will make it work with a little change.[
] Also I have a rod holder that attaches to the outside D rings on the toon that holds a total of four rods.
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Found that they were in the way anyway. So I needed to come up with a plan to carry a couple more rods. I ended up making a 4 rod holder off of one side of the railing. I also raised the railing up a bit. By the time I get done playing around I will probably lower it down a bit. I changed some of the building materials. I went to Schedule 80 PVC for the cross braces instead of the schedule 40 that I had used before. Still 1 inch though. For the railing I incresed the size from 1/2" to 3/4" using schedule 80 again for strength. On the Striker I I had a metal bracket attached for a navigation light behind the left side of the seat. I replaced that by attaching it to the railing of the motor mount/rack. I think it will help with the weight and increase the visual aspect for the light. I added a sushi board this time using some elastic band stuff that TD gave me this last year. Using my leatherwork skills I usied rivets and snaps to attach it to the current snaps in place for the stripping apron. Still have a little to do to make it fishing ready but won't take long now...
On the stiker I I revisited it by attaching foot rests to it that I made last year and couldn't get to fit right using the conduit brackets that I had used previously. I came up with a better idea using pipe clamps. 4 #20's and 4 #12's. I used the Striker II as a model and attached the pipe clamps to where the main frame attached to the pontoon holders. Worked very well and I believe will hold better. Without a motor mount/rack for the Striker 1 I needed to find something to use. Since the Stiker II came with a rack I am going to use it. All I need to do is add a little PVC for attachment to the toon and it will work. It came with two straps through the tubes and I still can't figure out how it was suppose to attach so I will make it work with a little change.[
] Also I have a rod holder that attaches to the outside D rings on the toon that holds a total of four rods.[signature]
