1st try out of Mokai with CD22

[Hunkydory]

In response to Seabran's question reguarding use of Mokai with CD22 decided to start new topic instead of being out of Topic on El and Bill's topic Solar Flares

Steve

Sure regret not taking pictures of our 1st try out on the Snake River ID. Its a very picturesque spot and was a perfect place for starting our learning curve on the Mokai's and our capabilities other than lack of large lake or ocean type waves.

You asked some very good questions will do my best to match the questions with equally good answers.

On the CD 22 we carry it on top stern forward so the rear of the Mokai is as far forward on the cabin roof as possible and up against the radar supports. This allows it to be balanced on the roof before tying down. We support it on the roof with kayak foam supports and secure these and Mokai with straps to radar support and cabin roof hand rails. On the test run we drove 430 miles with 0 problems.

We have very little white river water experience and zero with a kayak but have had a scanoe with small 3 hp motor in extreme conditions quite a few times on Yellowstone Lake which is notorious for extreme conditions and this with only one swamping. Would much prefer the Mokai. I think it would handle the 20 knot winds and 2ft waves and then some, but you would get wet in the process. With one person or two its capable of much faster water up and down than I was expecting. Need more time to determine just how much. We're planning on as much river and lake time as possible before our upcoming Alaska trip.

Its extremely comfortable with one person and very tight with two. Jo-Lee and I have a high tolerance for extreme conditions so our judgement in this area most likely would not match others. We have happily gone well over a 100 miles and 16+ hours in a day several days in a row on a small RIB with only stopping to build fires for warm up and coffee brewing. This with putting on frozen stiff clothing to start the day. We spent a couple enjoyable hours in it together in March and plan on some lengthily trips this summer. With two people its bow heavy and with any wind and waves you are going to get wet quick. I'm 6' 185 lbs and Jo-Lee about 5' 4" and maybe 140 lbs. [I'm in trouble if She reads this] Not much bigger than this is going to work at all with two.

Jo-Lee has a very bad shoulder so can give me very little help in getting the Mokai on and off the boat so I did it all by myself just to see if I could. I'm in fairly good shape for being 59 years young and again found this process much easier than expected. We have twins on the CD22 and I don't think I could do it with a single motor by myself. I cover the twins with a small plastic tarp then use them to slide the Mokai directly from the rear up onto the roof. The twins work as a guide. On land or water this worked well for me. Of course launching is much easier than remounting. It tows so well behind the boat that the plan is to only put it on the boat for trips to and from water. I'm putting roof racks on the pick up camper shell to carry it for local trips and if it works well for the longer ones also.

Next weekend plan on trip to Jackson Lake, Wy in Teton National Park if the ice is off the lake. Normally it wouldn't be, but this year spring is about a month ahead of normal, so hopefully we will have some pictures to make more sense of my ramblings.

Overall the Mokai is absolutely amazing and is the equivalent on water to our 4 wheel ATV on land. Its opening a whole new world of exploration in conjunction with the CD22 that I am in awe of.

Jay

[SeaSpray]

Hi Jay,

Thanks for the great info. The Mokia sure looks like a fun alternative to a dingy. The main problem is getting it on top or towing. I think I would have to find my own way of getting it on top by myself as you did.

I would still have some concern about having that much weight on top if we got caught in really nasty conditions. That would be the same problem for towing. Towing would great if you could get part of it out of the water and attached to the boat. Maybe a mount on the swim step. But you might have to cut it loose and leave it if you got caught in big following seas.

Steve

[ORCA]

Hi Jay

Glad to hear that you like the Mokai

Good information about towing the Mokai behind the c-dory

Any clue on how far behind ?

Oh man, all the fish have to hide now

Regards from snowy Kalkaska

Chris

[Hunkydory]

Chris

Tried both 30 and 45 feet. Preferred 30 feet, that put the Mokai just behind the rising water astern of the boat. Had the Mokai factory attach harken fairleads to both sides of the Mokai's bow so we could use a small bridal for more stable towing just like towing a RIB dingy. This bridal which can be purchased from West Marine has a built in float and this with floatable polyurethane tow rope keeps the tow system out of the props. For test we tried reversing several times just as if we were in bad tidal channel and had to reverse for rocks or what ever else. We attached the tow rope to boat in back of the cabin between the over head grab rails. This kept upward pressure on the bow of the Mokai and rope from rubbing on engines when making slow speed turns. With your camper back you may want to run a double bridal with one attached to your rear cleats. Just a suggestion know you will find a way that works. We tested towing doing high speed as fast as possible turns from complete circles to s turns and everything in between this was with a approximately 20 knot wind and 1 to 2 foot chop. The Mokai was completely stable and on the shorter 30 foot rope it would ride the inside of the wake therefore tracking great. During towing we left the motor and fuel tank in and passenger and motor area covered. I think the extra weight is easily offset by the more stable lower center of gravity.

For accessing the Mokai in and out of CD22 along side the cockpit used a 12" round fender that neatly tucked into the area on the Mokai where it narrows in the rear. On front used a regular 6" fender with the air mostly deflated. This made going to and from CD to Mokai extremely stable even with both of us. Much more stable than our RIB dingy. Attached two harken fairleads to both sides of Mokai for quick easy tie up to CD22. This way Mokai can be attached to either side of CD22 for fueling and other docking. Also for under way hip attachment in heavy boat traffic areas.

Didn't mean to infer when I started this topic that I consider long cold hours in a RIB extreme conditions. This was in comparison to the luxury of the CD22 cabin with heat, roof and all the other amenities. I do know and have experienced real extreme conditions.

You are right about those fish. There is not many places they can go we can't follow. At least on the surface anyway.

Steve

Never have been in really nasty sea conditions with big following seas and would just as soon it stayed that way, but I don't think the well balanced Mokai would be much worse than a RIB dingy on top unless the conditions were so extreme there was no room for error with other factors too. I would be more leary of towing with all that water up and behind me and sure wouldn't like cutting it loose, so thats one situation we'll do our best to avoid.

Jay

[ORCA]

Hi Jay

Thanks for the info
That is good news
We will start a few days later because of the snow here in Kalkaska.
We plan to be in F. Mc Murray around the 20th...
I didn't hat time to modificate the Mokai jet, but will do that soon
I will send you the infos with pictures ...

Regards Chris

[SeaSpray]

This topic is terrible! Every time I read it I want to buy a new toy. I try to justify it buy saying it could take the place of a nice dingy and outboard.

Do you have any idea about how much towing the Mokia affects the fuel consumption?

I have towed a 16ft plastic kayak that is about 60lbs. It also towed well but I was towing with a single line from the front. The faster I went the higher the bow of the kayak would rise. At almost WOT only about the last two feet of the kayak was touching the water and it started to wobble.
I did not check closely but it seemed to me that I used more fuel when towing it vs. having it on top.

Have you tried using the Mokia as emergency power when tied alongside? That could also be a great way to get into unknown shallow waters when exploring with the C-Dory. Raise the motor fire up the Mokia and now worry about hitting anything with the prop.

Steve

[Sea Wolf]

[Sea Wolf]

Just another passing thought:

The Mokai offers certain advantages because of its small size, weight, draft, and mobility.

For folks with slightly different demands, a jet ski would do much the same job. It certainly isn't stowable on the roof (not of a C-D, anyway!), but it will carry 2 or even 3 folks easily, go 40-60 mph, and provide some of the same exploration options as well as serve as a dinghy and fun high speed ride vehicle. This translates into a lot more than quicker beer runs!

A good used one can be purchased for the same cost as the Mokai with its included deliver costs ($3500 + $500?).

I'm going to get one this summer to run around on from the Sea Ray at Lake Shasta.

I know some of you will choke on the mention of a jet ski (or a Sea Ray, for that matter!), but the other side of the street across from your house is not necessarily the Devil's Den!

Joe.

[Hunkydory]

[Hunkydory]

[Hunkydory]

Posted in album a few photos like this of our practice run on muddy spring run off on Bear River, Wy. Photos taken about a mile from home. This one in less than a foot of water.

Jay

[Hunkydory]

A couple photos of running shallow water on the Green River, Wyoming. This is just above Fontenelle Reservoir between the towns of Labarge and Kemmerer, Wyoming. Going up stream in under 6" of water.

[B~C]

I want one, damn that looks like it would be a fun fishing toy....I question your photos though, I worked in Evanston and lived in the Scoup Shovel trailer park by Green River for a spell and it seemed to me that the durn rivers where froze over 11.5 months out of the year

[tom&shan]

[Hunkydory]