Attachment to powered skiffs

Hi,

I am a kayak newbie who has done all the research and am still interested in a motorized kayak.  I took a trip down to the Long Beach Fred Hall show and spoke to the Malibu kayak team and they told me to wait till the new X-Factor comes out in April because it will have an electric motor option.  Part of my obsession with a motor is the fact that I have always used a motor boat to fish.  When the wind blows in the bay, it may be a challenge trying to paddle against the wind and a tidal current.  I recently sold my boat and am in no hurry to own another with the current fuel prices.  I have most everything ready for the kayak including a Garmin fishfinder and handheld VHF radio.  I have several locations that I would like to try fishing with a kayak.  I think they can be very productive but the locations will have some current and wind (hence the need for the motor).  All my boat fishing friends think I am crazy to get on a kayak but I think there are times it has an advantage over a boat.  Just wondering what you veteran paddlers think of my logic?  My first love is Salmon and there are several locations near the marin coast where the salmon kiss the shore during the summer runs.  Again there will be wind and tidal currents at these fishing locations.  This is a great website and am glad I found it.

Thanks,
LS

Welcome aboard! 

Don't let the wind and the current scare you to much. 98% of the time it is not that bad and the other 2% you shouldn't be out there anyways. While wind can come up suddenly it is fairly rare to get caught in a major blow and it has to be really bad for most people to not be able to get back, by really bad I am talking like 30-40 mph winds. Just my opinion but that is not worth the hassle to get a trolling motor plus if you get a motor you have to register your kayak. No motor no registration.

If you are just not into paddling I would suggest you take a look at the hobie's, especially the adventure. Peddling is fairly easy to do even against a tough wind.

This link is pretty old but it is what started me in concidering powered kayaks http://www.martialartsacademy.org/quietmanelectrickayak.htm

2 things to remeber are that it will need to be registered and to concider the weight cap on the kayak you choose.

If the wind is blowing hard enough to need a motor, you won't be fishing. What will happen is your kayak will get blown around by the wind and you won't  be able to fish. You might be able to go dead into the wind and fish, but  I doubt it. Contrary to popular belief the wind doesn't blow in one direction. Gusts change direction 15 degrees or more.

Another problem is wind creates waves, but there are a lot of things that can cause them to get out of sync. So waves will hit you from one side while the wind is in your face! So even if you have a motor you will be getting pushed around.

A motor is one of those good ideas that don't have a practical application.

Something to think about....if your motor dies on you and your miles away from shore, you'll be paddling back with all that extra weight on your kayak - not a good thing - IMO 

Ever try landing a kayak with a motor on a big surf day? I never have and will never even think of doing it.

Learn to paddle efficiently and get a kayak that will compliment you. Besides, why not get some exercise while your fishing?

...Just my two cents

Good luck!

Personaly I feel if you want a motor a power boat is a better option just my .02

Let me be the first to go against the grain.  There seems to be a notion that the motor would be used to travel offshore or places/conditions the user is unable to get to or through on his own. Is this the case, possibly but it doesn't have to be.   IMO there is times where I can see it having an advantage.  What about when the wind is less than gale force but just fast enough to be a pain in the @ss???  Drifting too fast, or getting constantly blown off your spot can make fishing frustrating and fruitless. It could make trolling more convenient as you'd be able to set a line without the "paddle let out line, paddle let out line process", you'd be able to run the yak at a constant speed (possibly a higher constant speed), make using a flasher/dodger easier as you won't have the uneven paddling and drag to deal with, extend your fishing time because you didn't burn all your energy trolling.  The possibilities are endless. 

My point is, so long as your not dependent on it or using it to extend your range(distance and conditions) beyond what you can paddle then I don't see it as a huge problem.  It will probably eliminate a few of the drawbacks/inconveniences that come with the territory. 

PS, the man, the myth, the legend.......the mooch, has been known to get his yak completly vertical while launching impossible beach break......I can see why he wouldn't want one hangin on his yak   

I want to thank you for the insightful information.  I guess a scenario is easier to understand so let me create a real one.  Let’s begin with the Salmon grounds along the marine coast.  The Salmon get real close to the shore for the “afternoon bite” in the month of July and August, sometimes earlier.  There is a spot called “Rocky Point” near Stimson beach.  Next to Rocky point, there are several large rocks that I use as markers.  When these areas have bait, there is always Salmon feeding on them.  You can readily identify the presence of bait by the amount of “quality birds” working the area.  By quality birds, I mean any other bird beside the Seagull.  Another good indication of when the bait is close to shore is the presence of charter boats near shore.  This didn’t happen as much last year but about three years ago the Salmon were all along the shore and the boats literally hugged the shore to catch the fish.  This is easily within range of a kayak.  The “fishing ground” would be between Muir Beach and Stimson Beach.  The wind usually blows from the ocean to shore (I think that’s a NW direction) and you can literally watch it come in from the ocean.  If you watch the reports from Coastside fishing club and they mention fish close to Muir or Bird Rock, the bait may be close to shore and it is time to investigate.  In this situation, my fishing tactic would be to troll using an electric motor to get back and forth close to shore between the two beach areas.  If the bait is in the area, I can almost guarantee a Salmon without ever having to travel to the green buoy known as Duxbury.  The wind is unpredictable in the area and sometimes, the current only adds to the challenge.  This is one of the fishing scenarios I would like to try with a kayak.  This trip may take at least 4 hours of non stop trolling.  Paddling may be a challenge after the 1st hour. 

The cost comparison for a power boat vs. a kayak would be $70 dollars in fuel cost plus launching fees ($20 in Richmond).  Basically almost $100 dollar single day trip not counting other costs, which is almost the same amount as an electric motor.  Launching from Muir or Stimson is very easy on a kayak.

There is this magical thing called a drift anchor that allows you to fish in the wind until whitecaps are slapping you in the face.  I've used mine to fish some pretty jackass conditions.  Fish don't bite worth crap when the swells and wind are up as it turns out. 

Trolling motors have a fair amount of power, but they are made to have a lot of traction to hold a big boat in place and move it accurately, like a little tugboat.  They are not optimized for speed and will not make you go any faster than if you were paddling.  A trolling motor probably doesn't have the range to go the long distances needed to get salmon reliably.  Every time I've fished the marin coast based on good reports just outside muir, the salmon were 3-5 miles away in some direction the next day.  The most important thing for salmon fishing is range, and there is no way an electric motor can do a 18 mile trip like bluekayak, he'll go faster and longer.

If you really want range and speed, I'd suggest beach launching a small skiff or zodiac with a small outboard.  I saw the commercial guys do it at mill creek, so it can be done in moderate surf.  I got a 9'4" zodiac with a 3hp motor for $880.  The zodiac is 70lb and the motor is 40 or so, they're relatively easy to carry compared to a kayak.  I wanted a more comfortable boat for my dad, and something that I could dive off of easier with much more range than a kayak (which is <1 mile when wearing a full wetsuit with 100lbs of dive gear onboard).

That little piece of magic is great when drift fishing larger open areas but absoultely worthless if you're targeting a specific piece of scructure or need to make multiple casts in a given area.  By the time you drop it in and it actually catches your drift is over, or you got blown into the bank, or need to correct your drift, or its in the water where you're line is and in the way, or making your boat drift in a weird direction cause of the current......constantly pulling it and having to reset can be a pain... been there and done that, its not a magic end all answer for boat handling in wind (and yes the fish will bite in windy conditions)


Eimmas, I wouldn't do it unless there was less dependence on the motor. 
 

When it's a choice between using the sea anchor and not fishing, I use the sea anchor.  I was catching deep rockies in blustery conditions in big sur with one a few weeks back.  If I hadn't have had it, I may have called off the launch and gone home.   

I've used mine with great success also.  I'm not suggesting they don't work or shouldn't be used, just that they are not an end all solution to wind.  Not every type of fishing is as easy drifting for RF and there are cases where a motor capable of keeping you hovering in position with free hands would be nice.

Guys,

This forum has been very helpfull and you have actually helped me decide on a kayak.  I ended up buying a OK Prowler 15.  I have given up my search for a powered kayak and have actually been watching some of the kayaks in the bay from another boat and decided to just make a decision.  Attached are pictures of the new toy in my living room (wife not happy and threatening eviction.)  I didn't want to work in the cold garage so, I bought a cot from Kmart for $25 and placed the kayak on it.  The cot fits the kayak perfectly and I can actually sit in the kayak and test for ergonomics of the Fishfinder, GPS and other devices.  Attached are the pictures of the Sunrise colored yak.  I just have to get it in the water for it's maiden voyage.  I am also going to insert 4 of the large noodles in the shell to make it unsinkable.  Even if a GW shark takes a bite on the plastic float, it won't sink!

Luis

Congrats Luis! Welcome to the madness 

I dig that color, looks great!