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Messages - E Kayaker

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 229
1
Dont over think it.

It's a boat without a motor  :smt003 :smt044
So then, a kayak with a motor is not a boat, it’s a kayak with a motor. I agree.  :smt006

2
I started with an old necky dolphin, then that OK before the prowler,  then prowler, eventually to an adventure, then AI, then a motor on the AI v2.  I sometimes used the motor on the AI (for really long days with shifty wind), then a 17 foot cc, now a 20 foot cc

AI is a boat...a Hella fun one, but a boat
Kayak with a motor, a boat. Sorry

Don't kid yourself that you are kayaking anymore once that motor goes on

The adventure of it all is still there in a motor kayak, being close to the water, feeling small and exposed. That part is why I have stuck with CCs and smallish boats.

If a kayak with a motor is a boat, what is a boat without a motor?

3
General Talk / Re: Watersnake/Hobie Compass Build
« on: January 28, 2024, 10:51:58 AM »
I use a Watersnake T24S which is salt water rated. All traditional electric trolling motors have multiple speeds. Instead of reducing the amount of electricity to go slower they burn the same amount but throw some of it away so the electricity is wasted. A PWM cycles the electricity on and off very quickly. The slower you want to go the more off time the motor gets. This way you only use the amount of electricity you need and the rest is saved. I have 2 20ah lithium batteries which last all day trolling my Wilderness Radar 135.

4
That's good that you know your physical limits when it comes to paddling. I'm worried about the people who don't. With the increasing popularity in motorized kayaks, new guys who jump right into a motorized kayak with no experience on a pedal or paddle kayak aren't going to be familiar with their physical limits. The motor could lull them into a false sense of security and capability. When the time comes where they've motored several miles offshore and the motor dies, I hope they can safely pedal or paddle back to shore, assuming they have a pedal drive or a paddle. If not, hopefully there's someone around to come save them, whether it's the CG or a boat.

I'll continue recommending to the new guys with motors, to be aware of their physical capabilities and be comfortable paddling--or pedaling--whatever kind of kayak they take offshore before they fire up that motor.
I agree that anyone new to kayaking needs to be aware of their physical limitations. Every time a clueless kayaker paddles downwind or downstream they are at risk of getting in over their physical abilities. A clueless kayaker with a motor is mainly at risk if the motor fails. It’s not like the motor fails every third trip or anything. So with the cluelessness being equal, I think the kayaker with the motor is actually safer.

5
AOTY / Re: Electric Motors in AOTY
« on: January 24, 2024, 11:10:19 PM »
Participation in this event has seemingly gone done every year, even with no entry costs. Anything we can do to increase it, I'd be in favor of. I've fished with more than a few people with Bixbys, Torqeedos, etc.  At no point did I feel they had an advantage over me, even as an older guy.

We accept every other technical advantage, including live scope (is that still fishing?). Winning this contest (I have a sense of what it takes) is still going to be about a willingness to get on the road, fish a lot of new locations, learn to fish species you know little about and probably lean on a friend or two for guidance. It's not going to be about who has a small motor.

I say bring 'em on.

This. Times are changing. I agree that just because you have a motor that you will be going out of your way to compete. My opinion. If you can climb the leader board and win it. Maybe there should be a non-motorized and motorized winner. Nothing wrong with that.
Maybe there should be paddle, pedal and motor winners. Even though pedals are human powered it is definitely an advantage over paddle power.

6
I think any kayaker can get in over their head if they don’t stay within their abilities. It’s not like there has been a shortage of kayaker’s getting into trouble before motors came on the scene. It’s possible to paddle to far and not be able to fight the wind or tide to get back. Is the rule, never motor farther from shore than you can paddle? Does that only apply to kayaks? Motorboats can breakdown too. Should they stay within paddle distance as well? Lots of things can go wrong on the ocean. I imagine a lot of people think it’s crazy for anyone to take any kayak on the ocean. We all have different abilities and different levels of risk tolerance. Motors are tools and can be used safely or not. Motors are not for everyone but I think one person’s misuse doesn’t condemn them for everyone else. Paddles, peddles or motors, whatever floats your boat.
Are you suggesting that it's reasonable to rely on a motor to go beyond your physical capabilities? If you use the motor to go three miles, but the motor dies and you can't paddle three miles back to shore, then someone's gonna have to go "rescue" you. It's like filling your car with 200 miles worth of gas when you know you're going on a 300 mile trip.

Yeah, lots of things can go wrong on the ocean. Kayaking on the ocean carries risks that we try our best to mitigate, via PFDs, immersion gear, VHF radio, etc. But this one--relying on a motor to take you beyond your physical capabilites--seems like a real easy one to control. It's one less rescue effort that can be saved for someone else, and reduces the risk of others getting into trouble from trying to rescue you from a situation you knowingly and willingly put yourself into.

I’m saying that motors on kayaks are a tool no different that any others. It can be used wisely or not. Let’s say I paddle 3 miles out with the wind. I work my crab pots all day paddling between them and pulling heavy pots. Later in the day the wind is stronger but I want to stay to the end of the tide. I finish and now I’m exhausted and have to paddle back into to a 10-15 mph wind. It seems to me it is easy to do that. It’s not because I’m using a paddle that I can’t make it back to the launch. The fault is with the person. It’s easy to get in over your physical abilities with or without a motor. It’s easy to kayak in the ocean in jeans and a T-shirt, fall in, and need to be rescued. Would you blame the mode of propulsion for those rescues? If someone peddles out till their peddles break down and can’t paddle back, would you blame using peddles? I can paddle a kayak father than a 20 foot Boston Whaler. How far from shore is it ok to take a motor boat? If I go kayaking and don’t know or ignore my physical limitations, that is on me. If I only paddle my kayak, every day I go out I’m susceptible to being too weak to return to port. If I use my motor, I’m susceptible to being too weak to return only if my motor breaks down. If my motor breaks down, I have less fatigue because I haven’t been wearing myself out all day.

I think we can both agree that going beyond your physical limits isn’t a good idea. I just don’t think that using a motor automatically means you’re going beyond your abilities. I think I can still paddle 3 miles, but I wouldn’t enjoy it. I kayak to have fun so I use a motor. If I ever need to be rescued because my motor breaks down it will be because I used poor judgment, not because I used a motor.

7
I never understood the idea of mounting a motor on the stern just because of the difficulty of clearing a fouled prop. I put a motor mount on the pedal scupper so it is right in front of me. It’s the only way I’d do it.

I started out with a peddle drive but the weight was unbearable when just starting out, and not knowing the easy ways to load/unload. Sold it and purchased an Eddyline Caribbean that only weighed 50lbs. After some long days salmon trolling I decided to get a Torqeedo 403. After a few times out I started using it for everything.

From the beginning I started getting my line caught in the propeller, and with the motor mounted on the back you need to go back to the launch, have someone help, or jump in to clear the line. The last time I snagged the propeller was at HMB near the red can. I jumped in cleared it, and continued fishing. I never go further than I’m comfortable paddling. I dropped the throttle in the water dealing with a halibut, and the throttle died costing $350.00.

Due to the frustrations, I have been using it less, and only used it once last year. So if I could start my kayak adventure over, I would skip the motor, and get a Revo 13. Although I’m getting pretty proficient at paddling with the Eddyline so it may be a while before I make a change.

8
I think any kayaker can get in over their head if they don’t stay within their abilities. It’s not like there has been a shortage of kayaker’s getting into trouble before motors came on the scene. It’s possible to paddle to far and not be able to fight the wind or tide to get back. Is the rule, never motor farther from shore than you can paddle? Does that only apply to kayaks? Motorboats can breakdown too. Should they stay within paddle distance as well? Lots of things can go wrong on the ocean. I imagine a lot of people think it’s crazy for anyone to take any kayak on the ocean. We all have different abilities and different levels of risk tolerance. Motors are tools and can be used safely or not. Motors are not for everyone but I think one person’s misuse doesn’t condemn them for everyone else. Paddles, peddles or motors, whatever floats your boat.

9
I motorized my Wilderness Radar 135 and my 115. I don’t know how hard it would be to flip it over if I ever capsized, but I keep a rescue ladder that I can use to pull on the far side while pushing on the near side with my feet. I’m using a Watersnake trolling motor and lithium batteries. Two 20ah batteries keep me trolling all day long and they’re not that heavy. Using two batteries lets me know when I’ve used half my power. I could have used the Wilderness motor but that was way more money. Cruising around it tops out at about 3mph. A little less if the downrigger ball is in the water. The kayak is heavy enough when bare so I would set it next to the water before attaching the motor and battery. Now I use a trailer and launch from a ramp. It may not be “pure” but it sure is nice trolling for trout all day long.

10
That was my son that you heard on the radio. He got a decent bass and I got a little one. He said he lost a couple trout when he stopped to remove the clip on dropper weight. He was using the 5oz weight and thinks they were down around 40-50 feet.

11
Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Good Kayak Ocean Fishing With A Launch Ramp
« on: December 09, 2023, 10:07:12 AM »

I hope the partial season is later in the year when the weather is better.

You will need to paddle very far to reach the 50-fathom line from most harbors/ramps. Rockfish/lingcod/cabezon is closed inside 50 fathoms.
Yes, that’s not happening. So have we been permanently excluded from fishing the ocean?
DFW staff informed me last week that CDFW is currently working on multiple strategies for developing the 2024 season. To allow for fishing activity in nearshore waters for some portion of the year, CDFW is trying to develop waypoints to establish a 20 fm RCA line, which could be used for 2024 and beyond rockfish seasons once established.   We might get an opportunity to comment on their 20 fm RCA line soon.
Some of us submitted a petition to get some of our season back: https://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=101418.0

Paul

12
Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Good Kayak Ocean Fishing With A Launch Ramp
« on: December 08, 2023, 12:00:15 AM »
You will need to paddle very far to reach the 50-fathom line from most harbors/ramps. Rockfish/lingcod/cabezon is closed inside 50 fathoms.
Yes, that’s not happening. So have we been permanently excluded from fishing the ocean?

13
Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Good Kayak Ocean Fishing With A Launch Ramp
« on: December 07, 2023, 11:59:07 PM »
There's a ramp on the bay side at Doran in Bodega Bay - camp and launch from there. Miller's launch on Tomales as well.
Cheers,
Brad
Yes, How’s the rockfish fishing there? I know a lot of people go crabbing there but I don’t remember seeing any fishing reports.

14
Places to Launch and Camp / Re: Good Kayak Ocean Fishing With A Launch Ramp
« on: December 06, 2023, 10:21:45 PM »
No I haven’t heard about the closures/restrictions. I’m looking for a launch that does not require putting the kayak on wheels. I’m getting older and my Radar 135 is getting to be a bit much to pick up and put on the wheels and to drag up and down the beach. I wouldn’t call Ocean Cove a launch ramp but I think I can make it work. I’ll have to check out the other ones that were mentioned. I’d like to stay close enough to drive there in the morning. If not then someplace where I can camp or sleep in my truck the night before. Are all those harbors close to good fishing for rockfish?

15
Places to Launch and Camp / Good Kayak Ocean Fishing With A Launch Ramp
« on: December 06, 2023, 12:01:13 PM »
Albion is one I can think of. Pillar Point and Doran both have launch ramps but I’ve never heard anything good about the rockfish fishing there. Any suggestions?

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