NorCal Kayak Anglers
Kayak Zone => Kayaks => Wilderness Systems => Topic started by: RacinRob on July 11, 2016, 01:35:45 PM
-
GREENVILLE, S.C. (July 11, 2016) – Wilderness Systems ushers in a new wave of innovation with the debut of its sleek, high performance, patent-pending Helix PD Pedal Drive—the most efficient and intuitive pedal system ever engineered.
“Propulsion is the next frontier in kayak fishing. The Helix PD Pedal Drive was optimized for all-day cruising, offers both forward and reverse maneuverability, and produces increased torque that allows users to cover more water and overcome the elements more easily en route to their favorite fishing hole—all in one sleek, easy-to-stow design,” said Evan Lyendecker, marketing director for Wilderness Systems. “It allows kayak anglers to go farther, fish longer and return faster.”
The Helix PD Pedal Drive is precision-tuned for efficiency. Fully deployed, the gears and prop optimize performance in exchange for less effort so you can be hands-free to fish all day. With the highly responsive rudder, the Helix PD Pedal Drive showcases a tight turning radius for easy and precise maneuverability.
The Helix PD Pedal Drive features forward and reverse functionality, important for maintaining position while fishing, docking easily and slowing for the shore-to-land approach. It also boasts a groundbreaking new feature—Auto Zero Draft—that allows you to auto-raise the mast to zero draft from the seated position by pressing a spring-loaded foot pedal at the mounting base. The unit’s storage position keeps kayak workspace clear and features a single point detachment to allow for further stowing.
Wilderness Systems’ S.M.A.R.T. Hull designs skillfully balance stability, maneuverability, acceleration, responsiveness and tracking, and are tuned to enhance the performance of the Helix PD Pedal Drive. The Helix PD was carefully crafted from the ground up to work synergistically with the new Radar 115 and 135.
The patent-pending Helix PD Pedal Drive is $1,100 USD and comes standard with a versatile and ambidextrous steering system kit including steering handle, rudder, patent-pending noise reduction baffles and installation hardware. It launches to retailers in January 2017
Product Shaft Length Shaft Width Height Width Weight
Helix PD™ Pedal Drive 1.38”/3 cm 2.58”/7cm 33.05”/84 cm Pedal to Center of Shaft: 8.5”/22 cm 12.3 lbs./5.5 kg
-
How much vertical ht does the raise motor feature offer?
-
From what I hear it retracts all the way in the hull. Have not seen personally though.
-
Is there a "Fat Boy" prop? Hate to be just spinnin my wheels.....
-
Is there a "Fat Boy" prop? Hate to be just spinnin my wheels.....
Doubt it. Native experimented with props for a long time but felt the higher pitch props provided too much resistance for efficient pedaling. That's the reason all the others are copying, excuse me, utilizing the similar two blade prop design of Native, with maybe a slight pitch change/blade length.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
-
Is there a "Fat Boy" prop? Hate to be just spinnin my wheels.....
Doubt it. Native experimented with props for a long time but felt the higher pitch props provided too much resistance for efficient pedaling. That's the reason all the others are copying, excuse me, utilizing the similar two blade prop design of Native, with maybe a slight pitch change/blade length.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Hard to tuck a 3 or 4 blade prop up into a well opening so they all go with two. Doubt there is anything proprietary about a 2 blade prop. Now feathering or variable pitch prop like the ones used on high tech racing sailboats ... mmm ... there's a thought. Thought the cost & weight would make it less than worthwhile imho
-
Doubt it. Native experimented with props for a long time but felt the higher pitch props provided too much resistance for efficient pedaling. That's the reason all the others are copying, excuse me, utilizing the similar two blade prop design of Native, with maybe a slight pitch change/blade length.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
[/quote] There have been guys experimenting with pedal drive props for a long time. Most of them were very free with info and they did not patent. Bob Stuart who invented Spin Fin, a very good product that pedal power racers were using just didn't have the capital to make it marketable. Sea Cycle pedal drive units are very much like Spin Fin though not as sleek and heavier. Other experimenters used a right angle gear box with bevel gears to convert crank rotation to prop rotation. I think Native Propel went with that concept. Every useful thing created that isn't nailed down with a patent gets copied and comes to market with enough money and promo behind it.
-
Is there a "Fat Boy" prop? Hate to be just spinnin my wheels.....
Doubt it. Native experimented with props for a long time but felt the higher pitch props provided too much resistance for efficient pedaling. That's the reason all the others are copying, excuse me, utilizing the similar two blade prop design of Native, with maybe a slight pitch change/blade length.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
You can't use anything but a 2 blade prop, unless the hole in the kayak is as wide as you prop is long. Duh! 12" wide hole would be a bit crazy.
-
You could use a three blade in this system but the guys who developed these drives for racing don't. Three blades need more rpm than human power can generate to be effective. Hence, larger diameter two blades.
-
From what I hear it retracts all the way in the hull. Have not seen personally though.
It retracts completely and will be even with the bottom of the kayak when up.
-
Im guessing it doesn't fit the flexpod os on the thresher like would the helix motor.
What does the radar series look like and what does it feature?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
-
Can I lovejoy a Dewalt to it and troll up dorado?
-
This makes for a pretty difficult decision! I was really banking on this thing fitting my Thresher when I bought it, but now it only fits the RADAR, and presumably the next line of kayaks that come to market. So now I have to choose between a RADAR which is 95lbs, a country mile wide, and surely not optimized for the ocean, or a Revo 16 :smt007
Regardless, the pedal drive and new boat are nice and have some cool features, but man I wish this thing would've fit the Thresher, I like so many more things about the Thresher than the Revo or RADAR (only wish it pedaled), and will be keeping it regardless of which boat I purchase next.
-
Get your dremmel and glue gun boy! Show some initiative :smt044
-
:smt044 :smt044 You know you might be on to something there! Anything is possible with a little bailing wire and duct tape
-
Is there a "Fat Boy" prop? Hate to be just spinnin my wheels.....
Doubt it. Native experimented with props for a long time but felt the higher pitch props provided too much resistance for efficient pedaling. That's the reason all the others are copying, excuse me, utilizing the similar two blade prop design of Native, with maybe a slight pitch change/blade length.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
You can't use anything but a 2 blade prop, unless the hole in the kayak is as wide as you prop is long. Duh! 12" wide hole would be a bit crazy.
the new old town pedal drive has a T shaped hole, not sure if they're trying a three blade prop or not.