Tournaments and Trolling Motors

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?

When was the last time a 15lb trolling motor moved a kayak like in the video above. Not every bicycle will go 30 mph. Why are examples of bass boats and jet boats being used as equivalent to a small trolling motor with limited electricity. How much mechanical advantage a Hobie adds compared to a bicycle may or may not be equal, but they are similar. Not necessarily similar in quantity, but similar in that an advantage is gained from adding a mechanical device that multiplies the human effort.

I think we need to figure out what the objection is. A perceived speed or duration advantage or minimal human power needed. Would you still object if the motor and battery were restricted in size to keep it closer to human power? I've never complained that many were using a mechanical advantage to fish in tournaments. Why would I? There are too many other factors in play that outweigh the improvement of adding a trolling motor. If you let me use a bass boat, how many tournaments would I win? Probably just as many as I do paddling. Doing well in tournaments is more about fishing than it is about paddling. It is not uncommon for changes to be met with stiff opposition. How were Hobies recieved when the first guy got one? I guess they are the dark side for a reason. A trolling motor is an even darker side.

Alright, so where would you like to draw the line on motors?  Institute a maximum HP?  No more than 15 pounds thrust?  Only one battery on board on tourney day?  How complicated would you want to make it for participants?  You don't see tourney directors implementing a "maximum fitness" rule for participants, like "you can't compete if you can run a mile in less than 8 minutes or do more than 10 pull-ups".

And then if you implement limits on these motors, don't you think you're catering to a tiny fraction of anglers who just happen to have the electric motors that you're permitting?  Are you going to personally inspect every participant's motor before the launch time to ensure it meets your specifications?

If you let me use a bass boat, how many tournaments would I win? Probably just as many as I do paddling. Doing well in tournaments is more about fishing than it is about paddling.

I think just about every bass angler in the country would say otherwise.  If the bass are on a hot bite 10+ miles deep into the Delta, you're damn right the guy on the bass boat is going to smoke the guys on the pedal-driven Hobies.  Then take the multi-species saltwater tournaments: want to do a quick few drifts for a Pacific halibut 5 miles out from the launch?  No problem if you're on a motor boat.  But a kayaker, regardless of whether they're paddling or pedaling, would have to carefully consider that gamble with regards to not only travel time but also their own physical dexterity.

I've typed up a few responses to this thread and deleted them...

I'll try to simplify it, and I don't care to debate how I feel.

For me, it's a safety issue.

Alright, so where would you like to draw the line on motors?  Institute a maximum HP?  No more than 15 pounds thrust?  Only one battery on board on tourney day?  How complicated would you want to make it for participants?  You don't see tourney directors implementing a "maximum fitness" rule for participants, like "you can't compete if you can run a mile in less than 8 minutes or do more than 10 pull-ups".

And then if you implement limits on these motors, don't you think you're catering to a tiny fraction of anglers who just happen to have the electric motors that you're permitting?  Are you going to personally inspect every participant's motor before the launch time to ensure it meets your specifications?

If you let me use a bass boat, how many tournaments would I win? Probably just as many as I do paddling. Doing well in tournaments is more about fishing than it is about paddling.

I think just about every bass angler in the country would say otherwise.  If the bass are on a hot bite 10+ miles deep into the Delta, you're damn right the guy on the bass boat is going to smoke the guys on the pedal-driven Hobies.  Then take the multi-species saltwater tournaments: want to do a quick few drifts for a Pacific halibut 5 miles out from the launch?  No problem if you're on a motor boat.  But a kayaker, regardless of whether they're paddling or pedaling, would have to carefully consider that gamble with regards to not only travel time but also their own physical dexterity.

Before I answer I want to reaffirm that I am not trying to sell you or anyone on the idea. I am asking the question because I think it is something that is comming to the sport and should be considered rather than reacted to.

As far as the bass boat, I dont think a trolling motor is going to outclass the Hobies to the point that will be much of an advantage. Remember this isn't about jet-kayaks. From my understanding they don't have a 10 mile range, especially at a speed that would out pace a Hobie. However I'm also sure that with enough money you can make the jet-kayak that would blow human powered kayaks away. People have posted that motors aren't really an advantage in their real world tests. That has been answered with comparisons to jet-kayaks and fishing boats. If you can refine your objections I think it would help. Is it simply defiling the sport with an "impure" motor? Is it that you believe a motor is automatically too much of an advantage to be fair? Is it that you believe only human power should be allowed. Or is it that you feel for some reason that a mechanical advantage is ok but an electrical advantage is not ok.

In the end this is something that will be decided by tournament directors and our choices to patronize or not those tournaments. If I were to buy the motor that is offered on my Thresher I believe all that would do would be to help me be more competitive and allow me to keep up with the Hobies. Is that the end of kayak fishing as we know it?

I've typed up a few responses to this thread and deleted them...

I'll try to simplify it, and I don't care to debate how I feel.

For me, it's a safety issue.

I agree with you. A trolling motor could easily get someone in over their head. What happens when the motor gets you there and for some reason you have to paddle back? However that is also true of better kayaks. Since I've gotten my new Thresher I'm able to fish in conditions that were too rough for my Tarpon. I am aware of the need to make sure that this new ability and confidence doesn't cause me to go farther or stay out longer to the point that I end up in over my head. Most everything about kayak fishng is a safety issue. Most everything about fishing on the ocean period, is a safety issue. I recognize you commitment to kayak safety as the only tournament director that requires some level of safety credentials. I value your opinion.

If I were to buy the motor that is offered on my Thresher I believe all that would do would be to help me be more competitive and allow me to keep up with the Hobies.

Got it.  Thanks.

If I were to buy the motor that is offered on my Thresher I believe all that would do would be to help me be more competitive and allow me to keep up with the Hobies.

Got it.  Thanks.

That motor will run at 3mph for 8 hours. Up to 7 mph for about 1-2 hours. Range is about 20-25 miles.  That is an advantage!

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.

I don't either, but he seems to think so.  I think hes upset about what everyone must be thinking of him right now.  : smt044

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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.

Are you serious? 

If I were to buy the motor that is offered on my Thresher I believe all that would do would be to help me be more competitive and allow me to keep up with the Hobies.

If you think you need a motor to stay competitive with the Hobies, maybe kayak fishing is not for you. You should stop entering kayak fishing tournaments all together, buy a motor boat, and enter non-kayak fishing tournaments instead.

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.

I don't either, but he seems to think so.  I think hes upset about what everyone must be thinking of him right now.  : smt044

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

  that's why I said that to you. 

If I were to buy the motor that is offered on my Thresher I believe all that would do would be to help me be more competitive and allow me to keep up with the Hobies.

If you think you need a motor to stay competitive with the Hobies, maybe kayak fishing is not for you. You should stop entering kayak fishing tournaments all together, buy a motor boat, and enter non-kayak fishing tournaments instead.

Is that the advice you give to Hobie owners as well? You sound unhappy in your comment. You seem to want to twist this into something I want, when I've said clearly it is not. Does your comment help the discussion? Whether I enter tournaments or not doesn't change what is comming. As someone mentioned in another thread, there are trolling motor ads on this site. Talking about me doesn't change that.

If I wanted to stay competitive in tournaments, I would use a rope attached to whoever I think the 10 best kayak fishers are and have them tow me like Santa and his reindeer. Complete with a whip to keep Rob in line.

If I wanted to stay competitive in tournaments, I would use a rope attached to whoever I think the 10 best kayak fishers are and have them tow me like a horse and carriage. Complete with a whip to keep Rob in line.

That's an idea I can get behind. 

If I were to buy the motor that is offered on my Thresher I believe all that would do would be to help me be more competitive and allow me to keep up with the Hobies.

If you think you need a motor to stay competitive with the Hobies, maybe kayak fishing is not for you. You should stop entering kayak fishing tournaments all together, buy a motor boat, and enter non-kayak fishing tournaments instead.

Is that the advice you give to Hobie owners as well? You sound unhappy in your comment. You seem to want to twist this into something I want, when I've said clearly it is not. Does your comment help the discussion? Whether I enter tournaments or not doesn't change what is comming. As someone mentioned in another thread, there are trolling motor ads on this site. Talking about me doesn't change that.

Everyone has physical or mental limitations that do not allow them to compete competitively in any sport of their choosing. I am a cyclist and I would love to ride in the Tour de France. But I know my physical limitations, so I know that is not for me. So should I insist that I should be able to ride a motorcycle in the Tour because I am too out of shape to compete on a bicycle competitively?

There is nothing wrong with using a trolling motor to fish at your own leisure. But to say that you should be allowed to use a motor in a kayak fishing tournament because you are too out of shape to keep up with the Hobies and stay competitive, is just ridiculous. Either get in shape, or choose another sport.