Tournaments and Trolling Motors

Depends on purpose of tournament.

Charity, get together with friends, etc. who cares.

More competition, bigger prizes have to level the playing field. No motors or have a motor division.

Let director or people running tournament decide, most are volunteers anyway and no need to fight what they want to do, always have the choice not to participate.

So are you saying paddles only, or just keep it as it is with pedals being the only advantage?

 "......Maybe once the price for the new wilderness systems motor comes down out of the stratosphere we'll see more of them used. Will that bring people with disabilities into the sport?....."

Now were heading towards the realm of safety.  I've got a physical disability but it does not keep me from re-entry.  If it did, I wouldn't be using a kayak regardless of the means to propel it.

Depends on purpose of tournament.

Charity, get together with friends, etc. who cares.

More competition, bigger prizes have to level the playing field. No motors or have a motor division.

Let director or people running tournament decide, most are volunteers anyway and no need to fight what they want to do, always have the choice not to participate.

So are you saying paddles only, or just keep it as it is with pedals being the only advantage?

Sure, depends on the tournament and who the sponsors are. At Hobie Worlds couple weeks ago, Hobie supplied all the kayaks with exact same set up. I bet if there was some paddlers they could have beaten those big heavy PA-14's to the spot, sometimes shouldn't allow paddlers. 

So what's the real problem here I have a peddle kayak that will easily go twice as fast  and has better range as many stand up fishing kayaks
Should it be band from competition  ?
It's the same benefits as the motor offers
I run a 37 thrust motor on my ascend and I can tell you it comes with a big weight penalty and the distance you can travel is much more limited than you may think
I have run this for 2years  and have often cursed at myself for pushing the limits of the battery that 60 lbs kick your but rowing up wind in a stand up yak
My peddle yak can go farthest faster and most won't complain because it's human powered but until may leg goes
Then I'll be back to a more limited distance of my electric motor

I would just allow any sort of power and see if it were really a problem at all I think you'll find it's not

What if I put a 2 stroke on my AI?

What if I put an Ocean Kayak logo set on a Sea Doo, can I use that?
 

Put a motor on a kayak, and it’s a motor boat.  In which case, might as well call it an “anything goes” tournament and allow Boston Whalers, North Rivers, and bass boats participate.  Tourney directors have every right to craft the rules of their tournaments as they please, but calling it a “kayak tournament” when motors are allowed is like allowing a guy on a Segue compete in a cross-country marathon.  They’re not one and the same.

Put a motor on a kayak, and it’s a motor boat.  In which case, might as well call it an “anything goes” tournament and allow Boston Whalers, North Rivers, and bass boats participate.  Tourney directors have every right to craft the rules of their tournaments as they please, but calling it a “kayak tournament” when motors are allowed is like allowing a guy on a Segue compete in a cross-country marathon.  They’re not one and the same.

What makes a kayak a kayak? It sounds a little disingenuous to suggest a 35ah battery and a 15lb thrust motor is the same as a Boston Whaler. Using a Hobie is like letting a guy on a bicycle compete in a cross country marathon. They're not one and the same. I don't hear people saying they should be in a separate category.

Your examples are all jacked.  Running vs bicycle is not the same as people using a kayak propelled by different methods.  If using your crazy logic, then an airplane can compete against the runner. 

FYI, I have seen paddlers troll longer and faster than people on Hobies, so I don't consider it a HUGE advantage.  That being said, a motor is a totally different thing, doesn't require any energy from the user to propel it. 

Another way to look at it would be "human-powered" versus "not human-powered".  Both a trolling motor and a 50hp outboard would fall into the "not human-powered" category.  Where would one draw the line in that situation?

The term "kayak" has become so flexible these days that it captures all sorts of little plastic boats in many shapes and sizes.  It's just that "kayak tournament" sounds a lot cooler than "human-powered vessel tournament".

Tell me that allowing something like this in a "kayak" tournament wouldn't put off just about everyone who powers their own kayak via their own arms or legs.

Your examples are all jacked.  Running vs bicycle is not the same as people using a kayak propelled by different methods.  If using your crazy logic, then an airplane can compete against the runner. 

FYI, I have seen paddlers troll longer and faster than people on Hobies, so I don't consider it a HUGE advantage.  That being said, a motor is a totally different thing, doesn't require any energy from the user to propel it.

If you want to join the friendly conversation you should be respectful.

A Hobie adds a mechanical advantage to the human power the way a bicycle adds a mechanical advantage.

I'm glad you've expressed your opinion. You are entitled to think what you want.

A Hobie adds a mechanical advantage to the human power the way a bicycle adds a mechanical advantage.

Sure, but when was the last time you saw anyone pedaling a Hobie hit 30+mph like a bicycle?

For the record, I only fished from paddle kayaks for the first four years of my kayak fishing endeavors.  Didn't buy my first Hobie until late 2012.  If I paddled or pedaled 10+ miles in a day, I was exhausted regardless of whether I was using my arms or my legs.  But there's a big difference between hiking 10 miles vs biking 10 miles.

Your examples are all jacked.  Running vs bicycle is not the same as people using a kayak propelled by different methods.  If using your crazy logic, then an airplane can compete against the runner. 

FYI, I have seen paddlers troll longer and faster than people on Hobies, so I don't consider it a HUGE advantage.  That being said, a motor is a totally different thing, doesn't require any energy from the user to propel it.

If you want to join the friendly conversation you should be respectful.

A Hobie adds a mechanical advantage to the human power the way a bicycle adds a mechanical advantage.

I'm glad you've expressed your opinion. You are entitled to think what you want.

I see nothing disrespectufl in his reply.

Tell me that allowing something like this in a "kayak" tournament wouldn't put off just about everyone who powers their own kayak via their own arms or legs.

This would be a lot of fun, but not for a tournament unless everyone had one.