Tournaments and Trolling Motors

Handicapping tournaments is a thing that exists in multiple sports.

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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  that's why I said that to you. 

Traildad, you clearly have a mental disability.  Nothing you said this entire thread makes any sense.

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i think its fully up to the tournament director to allow/disallow  motorized kayaks.  but i dont think we should be changing any of our existing rules.  take simply fishing for example, its my favorite tournament because it levels the playing field and everyone competes fairly.  simply does not allow people using hobie's pedal drive to compete.  but i dont really see anyone complaining, or advocating to have it be allowed.  they simply: a: do not compete, stay home.  b: do not compete, but still fish day of because its an awesome event.  or c: compete but do not use the pedal drive.  that being said,  i hope none of the tournament directors change their rules.  now i do have a thresher, and i am entertained by the fact that i can easily pop a motor on,  but ill do they on my own time.  mostly for freezer filling missions, or to reach places i would normally be unable to reach.  or for sightseeing.  pedaling does have advantages over paddling, and motors have anvantages on both.

if youre not fit to compete, then you dont have to.  just come, chill.

i can honestly say i am not fit enough to attempt a spartan race, but i dont go and try to tell them to make it easier.  i just dont compete.

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How many of you have jet powered kayaks
Please raise your hands
Not one of you ok now lets get back to reality 
Personally I think discussion/ debates should use facts not emotions
I have less benefituse if my electmotor on my ascend than peddling my hobbie revaluation  the hobbie is faster as the battery drains I go even slower with electric it heavy ect you can be hands free with pedals or electric as for physical prowness than advantage or disadvantage
Depending on the individual
Awe to be 20 again vs 58 what an advantage is it fair
Personally I think if your in a kayak and your fishing you deal with boosts and wakes and small storage areas and wind ect regardless of what your running
When I used to race we always said
You run what you bring no one complained about the covert or the jag because they were in a cuda you ran it and had some fun
I don't kayak I fish the kayak is like a fishing pole it dose a job that's all
Now ask me why I don't do tournaments   To many egos get in the way of the fun

Never.

Never.

   Yet       

About six years ago, there was a derby held at ARW where an elderly gentleman (70+) walked up to me during check-in. He asked if he could join, so I asked if he had a kayak, he said it was a O.K. Torque (electric powered). I turned to the crowd of (150+) competitors and asked if anyone had an issue with this older gentleman competing with his electric powered kayak. Not one person complained and fun was had by all.
Now this a a big issue?
It must be winter !
:0(

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Now this a a big issue?
It must be winter !
:0(

It's really not a big issue.  A tournament director gets to set the rules - its his tournament.  As long as those rules are set up far enough in advance and with enough notice, then people are able to make their own choices as to whether or not to compete. 

This only becomes a problem if the TD decides to change rules at the last minute or after an number of events (like as part of a tournament series - and i'm not talking about the yakhopper series). 

Do trolling motors provide an advantage over human powered craft? Yes.  Do they have disadvantages as well? Yes.

Do Pedal kayaks provide an advantage over paddle kayaks? Yes.  Do they have disadvantages as well? Yes.

Would a kayak fisherman participate in a tournament against power boaters? Of course they would and plenty have in the past. 

Would I participate in a tournament against trolling motor enabled kayaks?  No.  Is the reason because trolling motors are allowed?  No.  Its because tournaments, in general, are stupid.  I go to tournaments to fish with my friends, not fish against them.  Some of my friends are super competitive and aim to win every tournament.  They're stupid for doing so and I've told them so.  That doesn't mean they aren't still my friends, just that we have a different set of values when it comes to these things.

Now this a a big issue?
It must be winter !
:0(

It's really not a big issue.  A tournament director gets to set the rules - its his tournament.  As long as those rules are set up far enough in advance and with enough notice, then people are able to make their own choices as to whether or not to compete. 

This only becomes a problem if the TD decides to change rules at the last minute or after an number of events (like as part of a tournament series - and i'm not talking about the yakhopper series). 

Do trolling motors provide an advantage over human powered craft? Yes.  Do they have disadvantages as well? Yes.

Do Pedal kayaks provide an advantage over paddle kayaks? Yes.  Do they have disadvantages as well? Yes.

Would a kayak fisherman participate in a tournament against power boaters? Of course they would and plenty have in the past. 

Would I participate in a tournament against trolling motor enabled kayaks?  No.  Is the reason because trolling motors are allowed?  No.  Its because tournaments, in general, are stupid.  I go to tournaments to fish with my friends, not fish against them.  Some of my friends are super competitive and aim to win every tournament.  They're stupid for doing so and I've told them so.  That doesn't mean they aren't still my friends, just that we have a different set of values when it comes to these things.

Very well said. My reason for bringing this up is to get people thinking about it so rules can be set before someone shows up at a tournament and wants to compete.

Here's a list of kayak fishing tournaments/events that are organized or attended by members of our club: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=70000.0
I would anticipate another ~25 tournaments/events in 2017. None of them currently allow motors. And as far as I can recall, none of them ever did...and we've been doing this for like 12 years. That doesn't mean they'll never be allowed; it just means that someone will probably have to organize a new/their own tournament if they want to allow motors. But we shouldn't take these events for granted--nothing is guaranteed. Because these are grass roots, community-based events that require a lot of time & effort to pull off. Most guys do it because they love kayak fishing and want to share the excitement with friends. So, it can appear a little disrespectful when someone comes along and suggests that their event should change to allow motors or some other wide-sweeping accomodation. That's why I voted to leave the decision to each individual tournament director/committee.

Here's a list of kayak fishing tournaments/events that are organized or attended by members of our club: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=70000.0
I would anticipate another ~25 tournaments/events in 2017. None of them currently allow motors. And as far as I can recall, none of them ever did...and we've been doing this for like 12 years. That doesn't mean they'll never be allowed; it just means that someone will probably have to organize a new/their own tournament if they want to allow motors. But we shouldn't take these events for granted--nothing is guaranteed. Because these are grass roots, community-based events that require a lot of time & effort to pull off. Most guys do it because they love kayak fishing and want to share the excitement with friends. So, it can appear a little disrespectful when someone comes along and suggests that their event should change to allow motors or some other wide-sweeping accomodation. That's why I voted to leave the decision to each individual tournament director/committee.

I wasn't sure if you were saying that somebody suggested they should change their events. I also voted to leave it up to the tournament director. I just want to make sure there are no misunderstandings. I can imagine the outcry if someone with a motor was allowed to compete last minute and won.

I realty don't understand why you are doing this poll.  I could understand if it is a tourney director doing it.   

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.

I get the feeling you haven't read much of the thread. You seem to want to be confrontational and are complaining about something I never said or even suggested. Has anyone insisted motors should be allowed? I have to wonder why you would say that when it is so disconnected from the topic.

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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  that's why I said that to you. 

Traildad, you clearly have a mental disability.  Nothing you said this entire thread makes any sense.

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You're so cute!

Now ask me why I don't do tournaments   To many egos get in the way of the fun

Generally speaking....the only ego that may get in the way of having a good time is one's own.

I may not be the most frequent attender of ncka events but I don't recall ever going to one and having a bad time because of somebody's ego.   

So I'll ask.......did you actually attend an event and get turned off by the vibe?







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