Kayak Camera Mount / Monopod

This summer I posted some photos to my Picasa site from a few kayak adventures and kayak construction efforts. I'm going to post a few blog entries linking over to these and will provide some detail here.

So here's the first one: The YakPod, or Shep's Kayak Monopod

This was great. I've been thinking about ways to mount a waterproof camera on my kayak for a couple years now, and I've finally checked this off of the project list.

The Problem:
If you have a habit of taking a camera along on your kayak trips, you know what a pain it can be to manage the camera. Your options are limited to either storing your stylish camera in a waterproof pelican case or using a waterproof camera. In either of these scenarios, you need to stop paddling and do some work to break out the camera. Forget shooting any action video.

This presents problems - in rough water, it's a bad idea to let go of your paddle. Also, when approaching wildlife, it can take too long to get your rig ready to take advantage of the moment.

Enter the kayak monopod. If you search around the web on this subject you'll quickly run across a pricey suction-cup based system. I had a couple problems with this: a) I'm a Scrooge, b) I have a distrust of suction cups. Now, I know that the suction cups on these systems are pretty heavy duty, fit for adhering to vehicles and able to withstand high speeds and all that. This system probably works fine, but I'm still not in the mood to pay a hundred bucks or more for what amounts to three suction cups and a piece of sheet metal. It's the principle of the matter.

At first I thought about just reverse engineering this design. As long as I wasn't reselling the copied product, I figured I'd be okay legally. At the same time I was thinking about ways I could build something better, or maybe more elegant, or.. just different.

The Goals:
My goals for the design were as follows:

• Materials need to be lightweight
• System must transition from a functional state to a "stowed" state
• System must not impede paddler performance or safety
  
• System must secure camera to boat with secondary failsafe
• System must replicate standard tripod mount (1/4 thread)

The Solution:
After thinking over several ideas, I finally arrived at one solution. I could mount a Scotty flush mount ahead of my cockpit, and modify a Scotty rod holder extension bar to accommodate a camera. This was something I could disassemble into a low-profile state, was far enough forward that I could still have pretty free range of motion with my paddle, and the standard Scotty mount would in theory allow for a host of other reuse scenarios. Scotty makes all sorts of accessories that fit this mount. I could use an actual rod holder, creatively make use of the fishfinder mount, mount a gps, or heck, they even make a cup holder that fits this mount!

Conclusion and Experience:
I had this camera mount ready by the time I went on a 125-mile trip through Prince William Sound. It worked as designed for the most part. I was correct in assuming that the rubber cap over the mount hole would do nothing to keep water out. It was right and proper to augment the mount with some fiberglass and sealant to avoid leakage.
Regarding range of motion - when assembled, the yakpod didn't get in the way, but I was still nervous to keep it up when the going got really rough, and it really did get rough on this trip when we went on the "outside" in the Gulf of Alaska. I missed some great and rare video opportunities because of this, and in the future I'll probably be pushing this limit to see what happens. From my experience on this trip, being in rough conditions, I will feel comfortable leaving it up in such future scenarios.
Video eats up a lot of memory. The YakPod really shines for getting video. Pictures are fine too, but when you unleash the power to grab video of sick waves or cute otters, it becomes the preference. On this summer's expedition I had only brought two 2GB cards. In the future, I would take nothing less than multiple 4GB cards.
On the whole, I'm very pleased with the outcome of this effort. I now have a monopod on the kayak and can mount a waterproof camera easily. Mission Accomplished.