OtterBoard

Thought I would have ago at making an otter board last year

Which is basically a small boat with hooks underneath which is used to get out into water unreachable by hand line or improvised rod.
I am building a rudder less one which is steered by the sail .
One could always be added later.

First time I have made one so I thought i would step by step with photos to show all you lovely people.

You will need :
Log
Wire
String
Plastic bag
U nails or normal nails just at an angle
Knife
Possibly an Axe
Stick
weight of some kind rock,lead or metal. I used Large steel nuts.

Heres a video of it if you cant be bothered to read 

First get your log and make sure it floats beforehand. Some logs and dead wood are still hard but full of water and do not float very well.


Now split the log to form a plank (I used an axe)


Then find the rough middle and start to drill a hole with your knife. (Yes i did this for about 20 mins then decided to cheat and use the pillar drill)


Try not to make the hole too big as you need to find a stick to go in there.


Find a y shaped stick, one that has two twigs on either side preferably parallel with some length above and below or one which would be easy to attach a sail to and then carefully shave the stick to fit into the hole .
Dont make it too tight.
Just have it so the "mast" can turn with a little bit of pressure.


Then attach your wieght/ballast to the bottom of your mast by either splitting the stick or tying something to it. I used steel nuts and wire.
This is important , without this it could turn over in the wind.


Then tap in a U nail or bend a nail into the back of the log roughly in the middle


Add you other nails to the underside but spread them out as you do not want tangled line. Then when ready to fish simply attach the line to these nails.


Then add a length of wire to each side of the mast and pull through the U nail and add your plastic bag tying to eitherside of the mast or using wire to "sew" it into place.


Now test the steering by pulling on one wire , this should turn the mast quiet easily , then test it by pulling the other wire.


Then add another u nail to the back of the boat. Drive this one in quite a bit.
This will be your main line to the boat just in case the mast breaks or in case you have a powerful fish hooked.

Then attach your two steering lines to eitherside of the wire loops.


Then attach your lines (with a shot or two) to the U nails and bait them up .
Different depths and baits will work best.


Before sailing into a lake/river/sea dig up an ants nest and throw the dirt,ants and eggs onto the otter board this will serve as a groundbait and attract fish towards your boat.