My Electric Kayak Machine

Got the chance to see what speed the 46lb thrust did with the 48lb battery today at AR.  She did 2.9 upstream at best and held at 2.6 and about 3.04 down steam with the best of 4.3.  I'm thinking I can do better then this....paddling.  

I've been having issues just about every outing with the throttle knob coming off.  It seems that the hex screw that holds the throttle knob in place to the turning bolt loosens up and knob comes off.  Good thing I've had my nose pliers on those outings.  This only happens with turning the throttle knob. 

Will post a picture of what I'm talking about when I get the chance. 

Hmm that does seem a little slow. I haven't put mine on in awhile but I know it goes faster than I can paddle. Now you have me thinking I need to test it out again.

I've got the 46 lb thrust.  Which one do you have?  E-mailed Steve a while back and he told me the new 40 lb thrust is faster. 

    Phuch em...   put the damm motor on it and hold a paddle in your hand if those guys with the 50 cal. machine guns  come cruising by.   
   Best advice someone gave me once is " Just Do it, let them find you "...  don't ask for permission from the government.   Next thing they'll see there's a source of revenue and want registration on all kayaks... then paddleboards... and on and on.

I've been using an electric motor for two years now.   No one has ever challenged me about not having registration numbers on my little plastic boat.    And I do almost always paddle along with the motor when the harbor patrol is out. I think of it as " electric assist"   not electric motored.
   There's no requirement to put a license plate on an electric assist bicycle.. why should it be any different for a kayak.

 It's bad enough that the Department of Homeland Security requires a registration number in two locations on a plastic kayak.  The reason for this is " to locate the rightful owner".    Yet,  who has ever registered their kayak with the CG, or had that serial number used to trace a stolen kayak?   I'd bet you could count the number of times this has happened with one finger.   It's  about  "obesity in government"   not obesity in a kayak.   

  Why bother?  When I bought my BO, I wasn't thinking "How can I mount a motor to this"  If you want a motor buy a boat.

      One could say the same about a mirage drive then,..  " If you want to pedal buy a bike"
    I've heard that before and   I guess I just don't understand why some people have a negative  attitude towards those who want  electric motors on a yak.   It's not like it will be spewing smoke across the water, or noise,,, or a wake disturbance.     Seem to me it's about fishing and just enjoying a day on the water, less about how you propel yourself across it.     
 

If you are going to look at it like that Why buy a Fishing license?

Nice, I like it!
Thanks Yia!

I've been having issues just about every outing with the throttle knob coming off.  It seems that the hex screw that holds the throttle knob in place to the turning bolt loosens up and knob comes off.  Good thing I've had my nose pliers on those outings.  This only happens with turning the throttle knob. 

A little Loctite thread locker should solve that problem.

Fishing is my absolute passion. Paddling I enjoy.  I think the motor is a great way to do more actual fishing.  If I had a motor I would paddle to my spot and use the motor to stay on it.  Could you do a YouTube video of the set up and the boat in action?

   There's an after market three blade prop available,,,  someone posted a response about their experience
http://www.ncangler.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-38528.html
   
     I only managed about 3.2 mph top end with that 30 # Minnkota.    I experimented with a fairing around the shaft, and made my own prop.   Managed to get 4 mph... still slow.   If you invested the money in a much lighter Lithium battery, you should see an increase in speed.  Probably not much.  But it'll be much easier to load.
    Using the same boat, I get 5.6 - 5.8  mph with the Torqeedo.   It can cruise for hours at 3.5   Total installed weight ( w/ battery ) is under 15 lbs.
                                Video of the modified Torqeedo  in action.   Get the popcorn 

A little Loctite thread locker should solve that problem.

Thank You!  Gonna go get some. 

Fishing is my absolute passion. Paddling I enjoy.  I think the motor is a great way to do more actual fishing.  If I had a motor I would paddle to my spot and use the motor to stay on it.  Could you do a YouTube video of the set up and the boat in action?

Personally, the weight of the battery slows down the yak big time.  Still working on the yak, but when given the chance maybe someone (in a Hobie Mirage yak) can catch a video while patrolling me.  Haven't tried paddling with the motor/battery on yet.
 

   There's an after market three blade prop available,,,  someone posted a response about their experience
http://www.ncangler.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-38528.html
   
     I only managed about 3.2 mph top end with that 30 # Minnkota.    I experimented with a fairing around the shaft, and made my own prop.   Managed to get 4 mph... still slow.   If you invested the money in a much lighter Lithium battery, you should see an increase in speed.  Probably not much.  But it'll be much easier to load.
    Using the same boat, I get 5.6 - 5.8  mph with the Torqeedo.   It can cruise for hours at 3.5   Total installed weight ( w/ battery ) is under 15 lbs.
                                Video of the modified Torqeedo  in action.   Get the popcorn 

Thanks!  Blade looks intresting.  The Torqeedo is fast but at first the Minn kota was easily know to disassemble off the bracket and was told by by Mr Bassyak that the Torqeedo was loud when compaired.   

   Yup,,, the Torqeedo does have a whine to it.     

     Here's a link to a site in Richmond that sells Li  batteries 
 
         http://www.batteryspace.com/li-ion-battery-packs-to-replace-lead-acid.aspx