trolling motors on kayaks, yes, no or occasionally?

hey folks,

what are your opinions aboout trolling motors on a kayak? i like simplicity but i have been seeing some articles about the motors and they seem pretty nice to have when its windy or when you want to go far.

all it seemed to take is a motor, mount and a marine battery.

setups look pretty easy to do but is it worth it and good to do?

one guy said that he could do 20 miles of travel in his fishing day with this motor. that means that i could theoretically get in at breakwater in monterey and work my way down to carmel and back up in a day given optimal conditions out at sea.

otherwise, damn thats a long hard paddle back..

any opinions appreciated.

I was told years ago when I bought my kayak that if i were to mount a motor, I would be required to register with the Coast Guard, or something like that...a motor would sure make those squid a reality with a kayak. However, if you get a motor, you will no longer own a "kayak." You will own a "power boat," and you will have to become a regular on Coastside Fishing Club! Just kidding. I've thought about motors before, but it would be expensive, and I like the idea of being under my own power. To each their own.

IMO: No.

Reasons:
- it obviously affects the stability of the kayak (but do I believe a Fish & Dive kayak can manage the extra weight easily)
- if your 20 miles away and your trolling motor or your battery dies on you, paddling back would even be harder.
- imagine trying to land on a big surf day. (or even trying to enter a busy harbor mouth on a big day)
- self rescue with a battery and motor on board - I've never done it but I can imagine it being harder.
- you will also need to register your yak if you intend on putting a motor on it - not worth the hassel.

IMO: Paddling is so much better because you tend to know your limits. It's also exercise - something we all need (especially me)

...just my two cents....

Someone with a trolling motor on his yak in socal said it only cost like $8 every other year to register the kayak.

If I were to mount a motor on my yak, I'd build a fiberglass or PVC siderigger and mount it on the siderigger bar so that the motor was at the center of drag of the combined kayak/siderigger.  That would provide the most efficient thrust (in the direction of travel) and also the siderigger would provide sufficient stability that self-rescue, ect, would never be required. 

You would not want to launch such a thing in any serious surf, but with the added range the loss of launch spots might not be too bad.

I've been developing carpal tunnel and it's pretty much exclusively from kayaking, so barring surgery I cannot do long range kayaking trips regularly.  I've been contemplating various motored ideas, as well as building a kayak that is powered by oars (which are more ergonomic, powerful and efficient).  Now that I have a pair of oars I may try them on a square 2x4 frame that attaches to my kayak in the same manner as my ghettobar, I'd be going backwards (or pushing instead of pulling) but it'd give me an idea of how comfortable it is.  On saturday my fingers were numb half the time I was paddling.   

The sail that ethan put on his kayak worked quite well once we had sideriggers on both sides (for balance) and added daggerboards on either side of the kayak (to allow us to tack).  Still needed a rudder, but then it would've been perfect.  Unfortunately she swamped on the first day that we were able to tack in both directions and I decided to supply my own ride after that, and he fell off the radar shortly thereafter (broke up with my mother-in-lawn after which point WAF didn't let me fish with him).  A sail would probably only work on a large tandem or triple, because the sail needs to be at the boats center of mass/drag - which is on your lap in a single.  But man we flew when we caught the wind, and tack-trolling worked great.  After the sinking my wife forbade me from putting a sail on one of my yaks.  If your boat is under 12', you don't need numbers with a sail, over 12' and you do.  The mast and outriggers were great, you could stand up and hold it for balance to take a leak.

John

If you want a motor you might want to ramp up to a small Zodiac, probably more convenient and you have the added advantage of being able to take a dump off the side

With or without a motor if you put mileage between you and your launch spot you'd better be able to paddle that distance back in any conditions and know your landing options if the weather goes south when you need to go north


The distances you're talking about sound big but they're really not

I'm getting myself in shape for the season but it's because I'm rehabing after near miss with the boneyard and a fractured vertebra. I must have at least 20 yrs on you and 20 miles seems like a light day to me, 30+ and I'll sleep good, point being it's mostly psychological


That said, if you do set up I'll be interested how you do it. Maybe I'll put an inboard on my Tarpon. The only thing I'd worry about is falling asleep and waking up 30 miles offshore or heading into the breakers

>Maybe I'll put an inboard on my Tarpon.

I had a dream once that I'd installed a jet-ski motor inside my kayak...

I've always found the idea of putting a trolling motor interesting. But, it's more of an engineering task than I am capable of doing. I also don't want to deal with a battery in my kayak.

A gentlemen on the fishsniffer board, YakMotor has installed one on his 11' SIK. He sent me pictures of his rig and it looks like he did a very nice job setting it up.  Tote once posted a nice trolling rig on a Prowler that Adventure Sports made. I took a look at that one while at the sport show. It was very nice, but out of my price range.

I decided I want to troll with a motor. I also want to take my 74 yo dad fishing without the kayaks.
Last weekend I found a deal I couldn't pass on craigslist to fill my needs. A clean little boat with a motor.
Now I can do both, kayak without a motor, or troll with a motor.

I've been developing carpal tunnel and it's pretty much exclusively from kayaking, so barring surgery I cannot do long range kayaking trips regularly.

Before you go with a motor consider buying a decent paddle with a bent shaft and smaller blades.  The paddle you use now may be a big part of your problem.

BTW-there are several kayaks coming to market that are designed for integral e-motors, similar to what Viking in Aussie makes.  Personally I like it simple...if I couldn't paddle, I would pedal.

There's a plastic long narrow rowing skiff on the east side of the upper Santa Cruz Harbor that has been half full of water for months, sadly hanging half-submerged off its dock lines.  It makes me sad to see it, so why don't you find out who owns it and buy that to row and fish? 

You already have a trolling motor - just paddle slower 

you have the added advantage of being able to take a dump off the side

I thought that's what that 8' hatch was for...

hey guys, all good tips!!

i can see how some folks can benefit from a trolling motor on a calm day and a place where launching can be done easily and safely. and i also agree with the safety issues as well concerning the added gear.

i think i will stay with a motor less kayak for now since it is a lot more weight also to haul around. sure looksl ike a fun project to do though just to design and buiild.

i will take a look at my paddle as well. i have a cheapo and it does not seem to work well. it was a freebie when i bought the used kayak. straight blade type.

i once thought about a zodiac but the matchbox place we live in has no room for anything of the sort and with the kayaks i can at least haul them up and out of the way.

thanks for all the tips folks!! very helpful in my decision making.

Here's quietman's article re: motors.  it has some good info

http://www.martialartsacademy.org/quietmanelectrickayak.htm

I've thought about setting it up for occasional use...out of a harbor...not through the surf!

Oh, I forgot to say.  i went fishing with him and even used his motorized rig a while.  it took some getting used to but was pretty cool.

john, regarding paddles. 

I think they do matter a lot for distance paddling. that is where you probably want to put some money.

I just looked into this too. I ended up with a strange paddle, but so far, I really like it.

here's some info for you:

the ones with the offset blades have been implicated in more wrist injuries. their advantage is that the
blade out of the water is moving edge first through the air so you don't push air while pulling water.

That didn't seem to be worth it for me so I went with a non-offset blade paddle with a small blade.

the smaller blade paddles also have less air resistance, and less power per stroke, but less stress on shoulders.

kayak fishing is about either going slowly or going far at a smooth pace,
so I think a small blade paddle is the right thing, we are not usually sprinting about like the
recreational paddlers.

check out this guy patrick onno that makes paddles, a lot of the so call guys like his stuff.

http://eteamz.active.com/paddleshop    (or search google with 'onno paddle')

I like his 'feather' model, I will probably order one as a backup or replacement for the wacky paddle I bought.

the paddle I did get is from this guy, jeff solway, another hand-builder.

http://www.nashwaakpaddles.com/

I got a second from him, an aleut paddle. the pointy kind.  I have had it out in some decent
wind and cold and so far I like it a lot because of how smoothly it goes into and out of the
water.  It's not great for sprinting but I don't do a whole lot of that. I expect I will break the
wooden tips at some point, hopefully not by using it as a spear on a GWS!

I think rickey of paddles and flies has a greenland paddle, also long and skinny, but with rounded
tips not pointy tips. sounds like he has gone through tons of boats and paddles, so he probably
has a lot to say on that.

Anyway, I'd say you should invest in a good paddle and your own muscles rather
than a trolling motor.

best,

J

Hmm, getting teased last year about not having an offset paddle motivated me to adjust it with an offset, and I think I started having problems after that point.  I'll change the paddle back to being straight and see if that helps.  Hopefully my reflexes still remember how to brace with a straight paddle.

I actually found the nashwaak site by googling for feathered vs unfeathered last year.

looks like he has shut down his business, so I guess my paddle is now a collectors item,
but his site is still there for information purposes.

the feathered vs unfeathered page is there, but I can't easily give you the link due to his
use of frames in the website. I'm sure you have the skillz to find it.

good luck.