I have been checking out the Supernatural website (Headlock Lures) trying to muster up enough courage to pull the trigger on one of those bad boys and have noticed some of their other products.

They have a fiberglass reenforced girth tape which would be a good measuring tape if buttoned down along a gunnel. I think what I will do is glue it in place and then cut a piece of 1/8" Lexan (like plexiglass but you can cut, sand and drill the material) as a cover of sorts. Sand the edges, countersink the material so scewheads would be flush.

Any other suggestions as to how to keep the Lexan in place and watertight while not infringing upon the readability of the tape measure?

Here is the tape in case any one else is interested.

Tape measure

T shirts are kinda cool as well but first I will have to pop a big one to earn the right to wear it.........looking forward to trolling one on St Clair this summer. Maybe I should get two (yikes!) and run one in the prop wash and one way back.

Seems like a lot of extra work when you could just buy a tape measure with an adhesive back already applied. I understand that the fiberglass tape and lexan combo would be more durable, but the adhesive tape I have attached to my paddle has lasted 6 years and still looks perfect. All I did was clean the paddle, stick the tape measure to it, then put a strip of packaging tape over it. Like I've said before, I'm kinda cheap, and I'm also a Keep it Simple guy.

If you are set on using the girth tape, I'd use a marine epoxy to secure it. I'd epoxy the tape to the lexan, then attach the lexan to the boat. How secure you want it to be dictates how you attach it. Aluminum rivets would be my go to way to attach it, but countersunk stainless bolts or screws would work also. Things that rattle drive me crazy, so I'd put a bead of silicone caulk on the back, then secure it to the boat.

Please post a pic if you end up mounting the girth tape. I'm curious, and maybe I'd be willing to upgrade.

RW

Excellent reply RW.......I have already tried an adhesive backed tape measure and it didn't work out particularly well so I skipped it.

I like the marine epoxy idea but shouldn't I epoxy it to the gunnel first instead of the Lexan? If I epoxy to the Lexan wouldn't I be looking at glue, how be it mostly clear? I know, I can be a stickler at times but I like things "just so" and worse as I get older it seems.

How about this.......Marine epoxy about 12" of the tape measure and let it dry and then glue the rest stretching it out nice and tight and maybe pop a small rivet into the very end to hold it in place until it dries. Then the Lexan and silicone around the edges making sure the lexan is sanded and beveled nicely on the edges so its easy on the hands.

I cannot envision a tape measure on my paddle........it would be a bit hard on my eye (although I do like pictures of fish lain on a nice wooden paddle).

Looks like the one I bring. I stole it from my wife's sewing kit. She will never know what happened to it.

quote Savage Voyageur: "Looks like the one I bring. I stole it from my wife's sewing kit. She will never know what happened to it. "

I broke the bank on one of the sewing tape measures too, $1 at garage sale. I like gear too but don't see the need to buy anything fancy to measure a fish.

quote mastertangler

Any other suggestions as to how to keep the Lexan in place and watertight while not infringing upon the readability of the tape measure?"

How about skipping the lexan and just epoxying the tape measure in place?

I use a sewing tape measure at the art shows to quickly measure pieces that potential clients are interested in.........I could be wrong but the one I have linked to looks to be a bit more durable does it not? Not quite as flexible and wimpy as the sewing kit one......but that is conjecture as I have not put my hands on it yet........first I have to order a Headlock (or two) and then I get the tape measure shipped for free (Whoppee!!)........might even have to get a T-shirt, they might spark a conversation or two at some far flung watering hole ;-)

As per just glueing it in place and skipping the Lexan I am envisioning the epoxy eventually failing........but I could be wrong. Besides, the Lexan would be one way to keep the scale clean from dirt, guts and fish slime. It will always be nice and new looking and quick to read........just splash a little water on the Lexan and presto Majico all neat and tidy.

I want to be able to hold the fish up to a tape measure instead of laying the fish down (flopping around) and holding a tape measure up to the fish. Thats not so good for the fish. The method I have in mind will be efficient and quick and of course without any of the dreaded "hassle" which is the bane of any outdoor adventure. Fishing has enough hassle without adding to it. Sometimes I envy hunters........just grab yer gun and a handful of shells and walk out the door to the back 40.

quote mastertangler: "Excellent reply RW.......I have already tried an adhesive backed tape measure and it didn't work out particularly well so I skipped it.

I like the marine epoxy idea but shouldn't I epoxy it to the gunnel first instead of the Lexan? If I epoxy to the Lexan wouldn't I be looking at glue, how be it mostly clear? I know, I can be a stickler at times but I like things "just so" and worse as I get older it seems.

How about this.......Marine epoxy about 12" of the tape measure and let it dry and then glue the rest stretching it out nice and tight and maybe pop a small rivet into the very end to hold it in place until it dries. Then the Lexan and silicone around the edges making sure the lexan is sanded and beveled nicely on the edges so its easy on the hands.

I cannot envision a tape measure on my paddle........it would be a bit hard on my eye (although I do like pictures of fish lain on a nice wooden paddle). "

Sorry MT, I wrongly assumed that the lexan was for holding the tape flat. I didn't know you wanted to permanently attach it to your canoe. If you are going to attach it to the gunnel, I'd do either the marine epoxy, or the same resin that the manufacturer used to make the canoe. I'd forego the lexan and just seal it in; a few coats of resin or epoxy will protect it forever. It would make a much cleaner look with no chance of an edge catching a fishing line.

Since you are forcing it to stay flat, just about any flexible tape would work. The only time a more durable one would be needed is if you were going to be rolling and unrolling it often (especially when wet). For sealing it in, the thinner the better.

RW

quote RackWrangler: "

Sorry MT, I wrongly assumed that the lexan was for holding the tape flat. I didn't know you wanted to permanently attach it to your canoe. If you are going to attach it to the gunnel, I'd do either the marine epoxy, or the same resin that the manufacturer used to make the canoe. I'd forego the lexan and just seal it in; a few coats of resin or epoxy will protect it forever. It would make a much cleaner look with no chance of an edge catching a fishing line. "

This is what I was trying to say as well. Epoxy under *and over* the tape to make it one with the canoe.

I have these on several rods:

rodrule


In light of this conversation, I might get another, and epoxy it to my gunnel.

I took a sharpie and marked up my spare paddle going from the blade up the shaft in 2" increments starting at 14". Works great and I never have to worry about losing it. I carry one of those sewing tapes for girths.

quote Wables: "I took a sharpie and marked up my spare paddle going from the blade up the shaft in 2" increments starting at 14". Works great and I never have to worry about losing it. I carry one of those sewing tapes for girths. "

That or use the sharpie to mark the bar in front of you on the canoe or something similar. I actually did my dip net handle with a marker.

quote Pinetree: "

quote Wables: "I took a sharpie and marked up my spare paddle going from the blade up the shaft in 2" increments starting at 14". Works great and I never have to worry about losing it. I carry one of those sewing tapes for girths. "

That or use the sharpie to mark the bar in front of you on the canoe or something similar. I actually did my dip net handle with a marker.


"

I just put one mark at 18.1" on the thwart for the Quetico slot limit.

I have a cheap adhesive tape stuck on the back of my Bending Branches Paddle covered with a thin layer of west marine epoxy. Very durable and useable. To measure a fish I just pick up the paddle set it on my lap and measure the fish waaaaayyyy better. As other posters mentioned, marking with sharpie is even better. We've never worried about girth measurements take a picture and correlate length/height at home on any descent free photo software if needed.

Thanks guys for the weigh ins..........I will use some of the advice but will likely stay with my initial plan.

Where I want the tape is not on the side of my canoe but rather i want it running along the top of my metal gunnel. Pike over 40" get drug to shore where I get out to handle them......it would be very quick and convenient to measure them with a tape which was upright and facing me gunnel height (nice). Even sitting in the boat with walleye it would be easy as the tape would be at a good height.

I dislike the concept of a side mounted tape (just below the gunnel inside the boat). I don't want to be bending or stretching to view a tape which would be on the side of the boat all while having fish slime dripping over whats inside the boat i.e. tackle bags, clothing etc.

My only concern is the boat is in Michigan and the Lexan and my shop and tooling is in Florida. The gunnel will have a wee bit of a curve over 60" complicating any prefabrication with the Lexan other than roughing it in. When I get up there I suppose I could take a 6'ft 1"x4" and scribe the curve of the gunnel and then clamp the lexan to it to get the right cut. A file is probably going to be useless to knock down the edge so a wheeled power sander of some sort will have to tag along north when the time comes. Leave it clamped to the wood and right after the cut bevel the edge. Seems like it would work fine and dandy? Silicone the edges before the riveting and slap it over the epoxied tape measure.

The gunnel gets lots of abuse so this better be stout as well as comfortable for the hand on portages. I have been toying with a tape measure idea for several years but everything else had to many negatives.......hopefully this will work without any drawbacks.