Tournaments and Trolling Motors

I couldn't find any mention about motors for GS. Did I miss it or is it an unwritten rule?

I thought I had it in there!  I will add to the rules this year, and it will be clear that only human-powered kayaks will be allowed. 

In todays age of robotics what if someone was to have a leg that was replaced with a bionic leg. Therefore they are not totally human anymore.  Would you still allow them to participate? 

I do own a the prederator XL but have not bought the trolling motor for it. I am sure it would paddle fine with the motor if it was to break down. I am damn sure it will paddle a whole lot easier the any Pro Angler with broken fins! I do plan to make my own trolling motor for it but not for tournaments but just personal reason ( ie : trolling for salmon on the river and lakes and connecting to 2 boys kayaks together to float around fishing hanging out) I do not see the need to enter a kayak tourney with this installed.

The other question is will they be welcomed or outcasts as suggested earlier.

I think the poll answers that.

 The poll is lop sided because of prejudices...      H8er's !       LOL... They're just jealous. 

   Seriously,,,we're talking about trolling motors with speeds of what,,,  3.5 mph avg?  Would you even notice?     I mean,  it's not a gas powered outboard driven kayak that would be zipping through the fishing grounds throwing a wake.
 
 So the consensus is that an electric motor doesn't give any advantage to catching fish.    Just like pedal yaks don't give any advantage... yet they ( pedals ) are allowed.

    Guess I'll have to throw my own tournament soon. 

     
       

Having done multiple dozens of trips in the ocean over 10 miles and have been over 8 miles out fishing for Pacific Halibut, I gotta say it wouldn't be as fulfilling if I used a motor of any sort. It comes down to personal ability and pride, if you don't HAVE to have one for getting out then you shouldn't, especially during a tournament where just about everybody won't be using one. It's up to the whomever is throwing the tournament, but I wouldn't say it's equally satisfying using a motor compared to human powered regardless of peddles or paddles. 

Jumbo wrote: <snipped>

In todays age of robotics what if someone was to have a leg that was replaced with a bionic leg. Therefore they are not totally human anymore.  Would you still allow them to participate?   

  This horse has been had at from a lot of angles!

Very interesting topic, we talk about keeping an even playing field, we talk about people's ability to handle themselves, we talk about equipment failure.
So a couple observations ....
Do hobie drives give an advantage?, Do we not take wounded vets out that may not be able to self rescue?, do drives and rudder cables not break? 
All these problems are assuming a ocean tournament, do we not have freshwater Derby's?
Where do we draw the line?
There is a big market for these new vessel's, just as there was for the peddle yaks, just as there was for the paddle yaks before that. Like it or not, there will be more and more showing up, and they will want to participate ...

 

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Regardless of tournament usage or not, the issue of using trolling motor on a yak is definitely not going away for one important reason, it costs roughly the same to buy a pedal kayak vs non-pedal + motor.


I personally think:

1. Motor or not, it is up to the tournament directors to decide (after all, they are the one that have to manage and worry about everything).

2. If motor is not allowed, most (if not all) tournaments still accept non-competing guests.  So if you have a motor, want to use it, and want to hang out, just don't be a registered participants.

3. Safety is still always concern number 1.  I agree with Eric that a failure of a motor needs to be considered (and that's nothing different than a failure of a pedal).  Does that make it you should have a pedal and motor?  OK, OK, don't flame me, I know ......
Edit: Adding a motor, on some cases, is a compensation to otherwise a no-go situation.  This is a big safety issue as well, to both the individual and the events.


Overall, I think using a motor or not is an individual choice.  Using it on tournament or not, any participants should follow the tournament rules at the tournament director's discretion.


As far as motor advantage, I think most motors will greatly increase distance coverage. However, it doesn't compensate for fishing experience, plus some motors added a great deal of weight, which doesn't help with speed for some of the heavier yaks.


As for me, I will do all three depending on circumstances.


Traildad (and others), great topic,  I am certainly enjoying the discussions. 

Well now I’m confused.  I thought you were asking whether or not they would be “welcomed” in tournaments.  Are you now asking people’s personal opinions on other people using motors on their kayaks in general, outside of tournaments?

You might have missed this part.

The other question is will they be welcomed or outcasts as suggested earlier.

I think the poll answers that.

No, I didn’t miss it.  You failed to correctly articulate your question.  Look at what you wrote: “welcomed or outcasts” among whom?  You did not say “kayak community”.  You said nothing.  And you posted it in a thread talking about tournaments, which leaves me to assume that you meant “welcomed or outcasts in tournaments.”

Do you wonder why people bristle at you when you give them condescending answers like that?  A much more polite and quick answer would have been “Yes, that’s what I meant.” But no, you had to go out of your way to quote me and insinuate that I suck at reading comprehension.  Way to go.

I think thou protest too much. What I said was "as suggested earlier". Maybe I assumed you read the earlier post and knew what I was referring to. I didn't leave anything out of the question. Maybe it was the "as suggested earlier" part that you missed or misunderstood. I kind of thought you were being a little tounge in cheek suggesting I was confusing with the semi thread Jack of my own topic. I don't think I was at all condescending. I didn't say you misunderstood it, as in comprehension. I said maybe you missed it. I'm a fast reader and sometimes scan over something and need to re read. I'm going to consider it a miscommunication associated with the difficulties of texting. Nothing condescending was meant by me.

I'm being misunderstood, but that's fine.  It's not about a disability indicated, it's about the POTENTIAL for a disability indicated - that's all I need in order to feel that I don't want that liability in my event.

Dannarchy's thought is close to what I'm talking about:

If the argument for a trolling motor is a disability to paddle/peddle; couldn't it be assumed one could not self rescue? If you cant self rescue wtf are you doing on the ocean? While I would be willing and fast to help anyone that went over I do not want my life put in jeopardy purely because someone wanted to fish in conditions they were not capable of handling.

What have I missed?  I'm not going to go back through 10 pages of BS.

-Allen

Well now I’m confused.  I thought you were asking whether or not they would be “welcomed” in tournaments.  Are you now asking people’s personal opinions on other people using motors on their kayaks in general, outside of tournaments?

You might have missed this part.

The other question is will they be welcomed or outcasts as suggested earlier.

I think the poll answers that.

No, I didn’t miss it.  You failed to correctly articulate your question.  Look at what you wrote: “welcomed or outcasts” among whom?  You did not say “kayak community”.  You said nothing.  And you posted it in a thread talking about tournaments, which leaves me to assume that you meant “welcomed or outcasts in tournaments.”

Do you wonder why people bristle at you when you give them condescending answers like that?  A much more polite and quick answer would have been “Yes, that’s what I meant.” But no, you had to go out of your way to quote me and insinuate that I suck at reading comprehension.  Way to go.

I think thou protest too much. What I said was "as suggested earlier". Maybe I assumed you read the earlier post and knew what I was referring to. I didn't leave anything out of the question. Maybe it was the "as suggested earlier" part that you missed or misunderstood. I kind of thought you were being a little tounge in cheek suggesting I was confusing with the semi thread Jack of my own topic. I don't think I was at all condescending. I didn't say you misunderstood it, as in comprehension. I said maybe you missed it. I'm a fast reader and sometimes scan over something and need to re read. I'm going to consider it a miscommunication associated with the difficulties of texting. Nothing condescending was meant by me.

All you have to say is “I should have clarified my previous post” and we’ll be cool.  But no, you continue to grasp for straws in your refusal to admit you made a simple “oops” that everyone is prone to making.  It's really not a big deal.  Do you expect readers of this thread to know where you’re specifically referring with your “as suggested earlier” statement in over ten pages worth of posts?

I think thou give too much faith in thy readers' memories.

I'm being misunderstood, but that's fine.  It's not about a disability indicated, it's about the POTENTIAL for a disability indicated - that's all I need in order to feel that I don't want that liability in my event.

Dannarchy's thought is close to what I'm talking about:

If the argument for a trolling motor is a disability to paddle/peddle; couldn't it be assumed one could not self rescue? If you cant self rescue wtf are you doing on the ocean? While I would be willing and fast to help anyone that went over I do not want my life put in jeopardy purely because someone wanted to fish in conditions they were not capable of handling.

I think you have every right to exclude motors for any reason you may have. It is your tournament. In a sense you are inviting people to fish the ocean. I know I wouldn't want to invite someone to fish where they were not safe and I would feel bad if something went wrong. With that said, I think there are disabilities that can affect the ability to paddle or pedal without preventing you from being able to self rescue. Other safety issues are less obvious. Anyone with a paddle kayak can paddle where they shouldn't go. Stay out too long and a 15mph head wind comes up so you can't get back to the launch. Do we need a test for that? Paddle out and dump your kayak and you really suck at self rescue. Should you demonstrate your self rescue skills ahead of time so others lives aren't put in jeopardy? What if the trolling motor is held in reserve as a get me back in if something goes wrong safety motor? The safety and paddling ability question is not clear. A couple weeks ago Bryan and I paddled 14 miles down Montezuma Slough and back and followed that up with a trip to Timber Cove the next day. So I'm not exactly a total basket case. I'd like to venture farther out in the ocean. I know you can't just land any place you want on the coast. A motor can be an emergency backup and can be used to hold your spot against the drift or wind. As with everything, it is most important how we use it. It's not as if bringing a motor makes us unsafe and leaving it home makes us safe. Anyone looking for complete safety isn't out on the ocean in a plastic boat, so I think we all accept some risk.

Well now I’m confused.  I thought you were asking whether or not they would be “welcomed” in tournaments.  Are you now asking people’s personal opinions on other people using motors on their kayaks in general, outside of tournaments?

You might have missed this part.

The other question is will they be welcomed or outcasts as suggested earlier.

I think the poll answers that.

No, I didn’t miss it.  You failed to correctly articulate your question.  Look at what you wrote: “welcomed or outcasts” among whom?  You did not say “kayak community”.  You said nothing.  And you posted it in a thread talking about tournaments, which leaves me to assume that you meant “welcomed or outcasts in tournaments.”

Do you wonder why people bristle at you when you give them condescending answers like that?  A much more polite and quick answer would have been “Yes, that’s what I meant.” But no, you had to go out of your way to quote me and insinuate that I suck at reading comprehension.  Way to go.

I think thou protest too much. What I said was "as suggested earlier". Maybe I assumed you read the earlier post and knew what I was referring to. I didn't leave anything out of the question. Maybe it was the "as suggested earlier" part that you missed or misunderstood. I kind of thought you were being a little tounge in cheek suggesting I was confusing with the semi thread Jack of my own topic. I don't think I was at all condescending. I didn't say you misunderstood it, as in comprehension. I said maybe you missed it. I'm a fast reader and sometimes scan over something and need to re read. I'm going to consider it a miscommunication associated with the difficulties of texting. Nothing condescending was meant by me.

All you have to say is “I should have clarified my previous post” and we’ll be cool.  But no, you continue to grasp for straws in your refusal to admit you made a simple “oops” that everyone is prone to making.  It's really not a big deal.  Do you expect readers of this thread to know where you’re specifically referring with your “as suggested earlier” statement in over ten pages worth of posts?

I think thou give too much faith in thy readers' memories.

Ok I can own that. I do tend to over assume that people know what I'm talking about. So to clarify it. Will they be welcomed or outcasts as outlined below?

... if someone totally able bodied came out and won a kayak fishing tournament with a motor because it wasn't prohibited in the rules, then let them be a laughing stock and outcast. 

Ok I can own that. I do tend to over assume that people know what I'm talking about. So to clarify it. Will they be welcomed or outcasts as outlined below?

... if someone totally able bodied came out and won a kayak fishing tournament with a motor because it wasn't prohibited in the rules, then let them be a laughing stock and outcast. 

Thanks, it's appreciated.  We're cool now  .

What have I missed?  I'm not going to go back through 10 pages of BS.

-Allen

Traildad being traildad. 




I think the odds are he's gonna be the guy that shows up at a tourney with a motorized yak! Lol

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What have I missed?  I'm not going to go back through 10 pages of BS.

-Allen

Traildad being traildad. 




I think the odds are he's gonna be the guy that shows up at a tourney with a motorized yak! Lol

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