William Clardy fishes often at Topsail Beach, as well as other more remote strands of sand. A dedicated surf fisherman, he developed the idea for fitting an electric motor to a pier cart. It has high and low speeds and a lock-in differential and is powerful enough to use on ruts in the sand where four-wheel drive vehicles have passed. It is not subject to beach-driving passes and can aid with access for those anglers without four-wheel drives or anglers with limited mobility.
“I got the idea when I was mowing grass,” Clardy said. “Some kids were riding an toy electric car, and I thought if I could do that with a pier cart, it would make getting to the beach. People with disabilities could use it, and it could also be used for many other things besides fishing.”
The cart is powered by a utility battery and has add-on accessories that include a standard power port a receptacle that accepts a boat stern light.
Weighing 70 pounds including the battery, the cart easily rolls over soft sand or pier planks. Clardy also ferries his cart by boat to other areas, including Lea Island, for surf fishing.
“I would go to the island by boat, then it was always such a long walk to get to the surf,” he said. “Now, it’s easy to get to the beach. I don’t have to leave anything behind.”
For information about the Angler’s Fish-N-Mate Power Cart, visit www.rodrack.com.
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