Ascend 128x With Yak-Power; How My Modifications Make This The ULTIMATE Fishing Kayak!!

[@eddelapena367]

Love your diy mods on your kayak. Every penny counts these days. Keep the great work on mods.

[@zachwilson9824]

Your steering handle you put on the pvc looks cool, side note; I really like seeing super detailed modifications, I see people who fit tackle space on the back of their folding seat and what not

[@JWCV]

Finally a good review on this kayak. Thanks man. Tight lines to ya

[@bmiller8255]

Sweet set up!! Great work on it. Tight lines and be safe on the water.

[@James-fn6jj]

Great job and love the detail. I just got mine and love it so far

[@cedmondsII]

This is an awesome build. I have this exact model and you have inspired me to start considering upgrade mods.

[@darrylh4573]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@stevenvalenti3722]

I don't know why there isn't more videos on this kayak. I have a 2016 hobie outback and have done many mods to it over the years. But I'm probably going to be buying this kayak here soon. it seems like the perfect kayak to mount a 55lb. Thrust Trolling motor on. I've been researching this model for a while now and seems to be a really great kayak for fresh and saltwater fishing. Very nice setup there.🙂👍

[@TheJordyP]

That came out really cool

[@glenndavis6120]

This is the first video I've seen on this kayak. Thanks for the video. I had a 12t for 2 yrs and am looking to upgrade I don't like the looks of the 133x the 128x is tight looking. Thanks again

[@FlyFishPEI]

Looks awesome, great job! Just got my 128X today. I was going to use 6 AWG wire and Marine Plugs for my battery and trolling motor and 14 AWG for everything else. Is 6 AWG too thick?

[@duececassel22]

Well done bro

[@mohdidrissaid7152]

Great job! It is like Aston Martin to me..

[@bubblesbassin]

Just got mine thinking about doing similar modifications.

[@xxsethxx4909]

Any info on how you made the steering? About to tackle that tomorrow.

[@terryvandervort6068]

What’s the difference between the 128X and the 128t

[@trevorhoward1774]

I don't know if you'll get this but did you have to connect 10 gauge wires to trolling motor wires to reach the pwm?

[@adamblomeke2609]

Where did you pick up those scuff guards?

[@saintevenevets]

Where did you get the transom trolling motor mount. Having trouble locating one. Made one out of wood but tail of kayak is ... Bouncy little flimsy in my opinion.

[@darrylh4573]

My buddy custom built it out of starboard

[@michaelskalin5126]

Just got my 128x. How much in a pain in the ass was it to run the wires for the side mount accent lights? Did you get the ones with power plugs on the back? Did you make a video on how to install them? Thanks for sharing your build. Great job 🍻🇨🇦

[@darrylh4573]

You can find the lights that I ordered linked in the description. As far as running them, it wasn't terrible. Just drilled all the holes out and then used a grabber to get the wire. With the many hull access points it wasn't bad. Initially tried to run the lights in series to use less wires, but that did not work so ended up having to run them in parallel. Used about 60ft of wire in total for the lights.

[@BackWoodsYeti]

nice kayak not many videos on the 128x. im looking at getting one but trying to decide between the 128x and the 133x.

[@chriscampbell1456]

Great set up! Don't mind me if I mock your setup on my 128X I got last fall, including the live well. Can you please give more details on your trolling motor mount and how it's made (materials used, bolt sizes/length, attachment points, etc)? I know you said a buddy made it. Obviously, you know the plastic Ascend used is quite soft and I'm afraid that in a sticky moment the motor will tear the transom. Especially on a hot day, I noticed the plastic on mine turns to almost a vinyl /rubber (sqishy, stretchy, very flexible ....especially under my feet when standing) more than plastic should in the sun and I'm only 160lbs., so it's not weight doing it . That's why I haven't mounted a troller on mine yet and OMG it's a tank to paddle it a distance. Did you put plating inside the hull as well, underneath the upper mounting plate making kind of a transom sandwich if you will? Hopefully, a video showing it in more detail if possible? There isn't many 128X mod vids yet as you know and I'm sure it would help many others too. I'd love to get mine set up like yours soon with fishing season right around the corner here if the snow quits....lol (I'm in PA).Thanks.

[@darrylh4573]

Yeah, so I don't have any more info on it sadly. I didn't put any starboard on the inside as the bolt threads don't go all the way through. It is quite sturdy though and I haven't had any issues. It is rated for a 2 HP outboard which would weigh a lot more than just the trolling motor. With no head it is really not too heavy. I trust that if Ascend designed it to have a motor on it that it is okay with just a bracket on top.

[@chriscampbell1456]

@@darrylh4573 I appreciate your response and get what you mean. I'm going to go with 1 / 4 " aluminum plate for my mount and have already started mocking it up today. Thanks for the inspiration to just do it. I have one more question. Your livewell, do you know what brand of dog food container it is? or what size it is? I think in your video it says on the back of the container but, i can't read it. Do you think a few bass will fit in yours? While out store hopping today, i found 40lb., 50lb., and 60lb., containers ( which are equivalent to 9 to 12 gallons of water). I didn't get one because I wasn't sure what size I should get. I don't want to go too small and the fish don't fit or go too big and it adds too much weight to the deck of the kayak throwing off the fore /aft balance of the kayak (I stand to fish a lot). I know the trolling motor and the deep cycle battery will add weight to the back and balance the deck weight out some. Which size container would you recommend / choose? I'm just trying to do some research before I pick something that either won't work out or compromises something. I'm sure you understand. Please note one change I plan on is I'm making my livewell a cycling livewell using a 12v bilge pump ( a Tsunami T500 that is speed controlled with a small pwm I have) that is plumbed through one scupper hole and drains through another scupper hole. Constant fresh water basically because I know from my aquarium hobby, bass are very sensitive to water quality and don't want to kill them if i don't have to. I mostly sport fish, not for eatting. Thanks for any info you can provide. BTW, in your video I noticed that when you opened your hatch, under your yak power control box is one of the square nuts that mount the hatch cover. When I got mine, 3 of them fell off inside the hull during shipping and the rest were loose. It's a complaint about the 128x. One guy has a video about in on KZbin. Also, I replaced all 3 round hatches on mine with the twist lock type hatches (from the 12t I think they were for, installed using stainless screws with nuts) because from the factory ALL THE SCREWS on all 3 round hatches on mine were stripped out completely(I could take all the screws out with my fingers)and the gaskets weren't installed lined up either and we're mangled/torn. Just FYI, check those. The quick access to the hull is nice too, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

[@darrylh4573]

@@chriscampbell1456 It was in my parents attic for ~5 years before I decided to use it so I don't know how large it is for sure, but I think it is about a 40lb. Recently replaced my bow and stern hatch with twist-off hatches. So much nicer

[@iamremyAdventures]

Nice setup

[@smokinjoes9383]

Thanks for sharing the video. Reading though your post shows that purchased a 60A max PWM controller any problems with that over heating with the 55lb thrust trolling motor?? I would have thought at least 100A PWM should it be dbl of the max amp the motor pulls ?? Thanks

[@darrylh4573]

I've had no problems with the PWM that I purchased. It gets a little warm if I'm at full power for awhile but has never caused any problems

[@dr.froghopper6711]

How stable is it standing up? I like the lighting system!

[@darrylh4573]

It’s quite stable! I’ve been kayak fishing for years and am a smaller guy so I’m very comfortable standing, but it has been very stable in my experience

[@chap8772]

Hey what’s up man, do you happen to have an IG where we can follow you? Do you have this build and that we can actually see step-by-step? I’m getting ready to buy this used off of another person who has a yak power system but I wanna completely upgrade it as soon as I get it. I actually already have a 2 hp motor but I’m not sure if I want to use it. My goal is to have it completely tripped out just like yours priority it even touching the water. I know you may not have the time but this is my very first kayak and I want this done right. My goal is to ensure that I am making as much effort if not more all the way through. Additionally, I don’t think I want to add the live well because I plan on using this specifically in the ocean. Is there another way to maintain the fish such as drag them off the side of the boat with a ring and clip?

[@darrylh4573]

IG is the.fishingdude I don’t have much on there about the yak though. Plan to do an update to this video sometime in the future just am very busy right now. You can drag the bait over the side if you build something to hold them but that’ll put serious drag on the kayak and make it wayyyyyy slower and less efficient

[@jonathanwhite9051]

Does this kayak have a specific transducer mount underneath? Great video I have a 128x also

[@surferdude7679]

Awesome build, how'd you do the tiller?

[@slrrt]

So nice ! I’m jealous man

[@carsonthomas3230]

What kind of scuff guard do you have?

[@darrylh4573]

They come with the kayak!

[@chads3308]

I'm buying a used one that has never touched water tomorrow for $800 is that fair price?

[@darrylh4573]

Definitely! I paid about $750 for this one and it's retailing for $999 so $750-800 is fair!

[@creekfreaks3735]

Ur seat tray is in backwards. Insert it and stretch the bungee around the back feet of the chair.

[@alexisvazquez3129]

I have a 128t with yak power and I noticed you have the battery under one of the compartments. Do you need to have the battery in a waterproof box or can you just leave it like that?

[@darrylh4573]

I have had it just the way it looks in the video with zero issues since december. The way I look at it, if the hull of my kayak has enough water to damage the battery, then I likely have much bigger issues haha. With that being said, my yak-power battery in the video just stopped holding a charge, so I am upgrading to a 15ah battery that I will be putting in a harbor freight ammo can to be waterproof.

[@usseyhify]

Hi Darryl, thank you for sharing your mods. Have you taken that out in the saltwater yet?

[@darrylh4573]

I have, probably close to 30 times now. I have had no issues except for the stern light has a little bit of corrosion but that's it and an easy fix!

[@usseyhify]

@@darrylh4573 that’s good news. Thanks again

[@CharlieBourgeois_]

Man, great video. Narrowed my choices and this is one. Where you have your live well, is there enough room to fit/seat an 8yo? Really wanna take my daughter with me on trips.

[@darrylh4573]

Definitely could be possible! Just make sure she’s got a PFD!

[@cmm5350]

I've been waiting for someone to do this. Great Job. I just got my 128x a few months ago. I only have my fish finder and nav lights hooked up so far. Is there anything you still want to add or anything you would do differently?

[@darrylh4573]

Honestly, no. I did a lot of research and have been kayak fishing for about 5 years now so I knew exactly what I wanted and that's what I built. Obviously there's always things I want to get but that's mainly a more powerful motor/battery/better fish finder and stuff like that. Good Luck!

[@cmm5350]

@@darrylh4573 Would you mind telling me which trolling motor you used and which extension that is? Setting up a PWM seems to be the way to go.

[@darrylh4573]

@@cmm5350 PWM is an awesome way to go. The motor is a newport vessels 46lb thrust. Not sure what you mean by which extension that is though?

[@cmm5350]

@@darrylh4573 The stick you use to steer. Is that something you made or is it something you can buy?

[@darrylh4573]

@@cmm5350 It's DIY. It is a piece of conduit connected to an adaptor that i got at lowes. It slides onto the shaft of the trolling motor and then tightens using an allen key so that it turns the shaft