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Toto XL - Angler Edition |
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By Glynn Sirmans - Milledgeville, Georgia - USA |
After fishing from my
first Toto I decided to build another
one with some new ideas I needed for river fishing.
I lengthen the boat to 14 ft., moved the front and
rear inner forms toward the ends to give me 8 ft.
of interior space.
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This added interior space
would give me more room for fishing poles,
tackle and a cooler.
(click
images to enlarge) |
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| I widen the rear transom 2
inches hoping to give more lift and weight
capacity. Getting the plans for the Larsboat
and subtracting a foot from the rear would
have been easier. I think all boat builders
have a desire to change, modify, or create
something. |
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I used the Economy Marine
Epoxy; it sure is easier to work with
than polyester resin. I was very pleased
with its strength, clear finish and “working
time”.
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| Here she is weighting in at
53 lbs. and ready for finishing and paint.
One and a half gallons of resin/hardener
were enough to finish this boat, paddle
and chair. |
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Added a “drag chain”
that acts like a fishing anchor, this
slows down the “float” while
drifting to give you more time to fish.
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| A camcleat mounted to inside
gunwale for the anchor rope is perfect if
a “quick” release is needed
while floating a river. |
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Woodburned a fish image
on the rear deck. If I known it would
turn out so well I would have made it
bigger.
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| Comfort is important on an
all day fishing trip. I’ve always
noticed how comfortable my front porch swing
is. Using it as a pattern, I “lofted”
the dimensions to make a narrow kayak seat. |
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Camping and fishing at
the beach has been one of my family’s
favorite Vacations. While my wife and
two daughters were away “shopping”
I would need transportation to the surf
or bay.
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| I strap a set of tires under
the toto and turn it into a “beach
trailer”. The cart is made of PVC
pipe with a 5/8 inch threaded rod running
all the way through the frame for an axle. |
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I plan to “brace
up” the hitch at the rear of the
bike by running flat Aluminum or flattened
thin-wall conduit from the hitch to the
bicycle rear axle.
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I was surprised how sturdy
the wheel frame was when strapped underneath
the Kayak.
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The “TotoXL”
handled real well on the river, the extra
foot in length (14 ft.) And 2 inches wider
in the rear was a noticeable difference.
The seat was extremely comfortable when
used with a boat cushion.
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| Here’s a picture of
the first fish caught to “christen”
the boat. This is a shoal bass; they are
indigenous to East Alabama and West Georgia. |
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I hope Jim knows what a great river
fishing craft he designed when
he came up with this boat.
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