DIY pedal drive recommendations?

Alright so Ive got a Malibu x factor, and think it would be fun (and easier on my shoulder) to build some sort of inexpensive pedal drive.  Ive done some searching, but seem to have found more photos than information and what to use or what worked well.  Anyone have any links or information or stories to share?  What kind of prop and gearing works best for something man powered?

I'm looking at something that does not involve putting holes in the boat, for the record.  Thinking something like the pedalprop system.

Do this

And get this Korean peddle drive

Does it have a place to mount a pedal drive?

Where do you plan on fishing with it the most? Even the early hobies, with the potential cracks around the pedal drive, are questionable in bay waters, let alone the open ocean.

If you plan on going the DIY route, take your time and please make sure that it's bullet proof (I usually don't preach but have been in the ocean enough times to know how dangerous it is).

Paging charles...

I plan on taking it all over fresh and saltwater.  It does not have mounts, I would hace to fabrocate something.  Id just like to avoid reinventing the wheel if someone has already come up with something that works well.

Do this

And get this Korean peddle drive

I cant find that pedal drive for sale. Anywhere

Email the manufacturer in China and see if they will sell you a drive 

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60747429392/3-years-warranty-12-foot-pedal.html?spm=a2706.7843299.1998817009.357.202b10b80fuCYG

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60659522781/U-Boat-Sit-On-Top-Kayak.html?spm=a2706.7843299.1998817009.456.202b10b80fuCYG

SMH 🤦‍♂️...

I plan on taking it all over fresh and saltwater.  It does not have mounts, I would hace to fabrocate something.  Id just like to avoid reinventing the wheel if someone has already come up with something that works well.

Unless you’re hooking a prop to a bicycle chain and sprocket or something you’ll have to make your own yakgina. That doesn’t sound like a good idea. I would say the wheel has been invented already. It’s a hobie or one of the other pedal kayaks. Sell the x-factor and buy a used pedal kayak.

If you want to convert a paddle yak to peddle yak find yourself a used fiberglass kayak not a plastic one. You can make and glass in a drive box in a glass yak that will be strong and safe. Welding or glueing plastic to plastic will not be reliable on the ocean. Secondly, why redo what's been done? You won't improve on an off the shelf Hobie but with a glass yak you can improve speed, weight, and certain aspects of handling open ocean. There is my article called The Project in this forum with pics to show a successful conversion.
Charles

Also remember, 
Although you may have a lot of extra material lying around, the parts needed to custom fabricate a drive system will likely cost as much or more than the difference between selling the current yak and purchasing a reliable peddle yak.
;0)

I'd still like to see a drive with a sealed bevel gear instead of a cable and chain. 

That said, it sounds like you want the boat more than you want to build the boat, and in that case it's always better to just buy the boat.  If you want to build the boat, the world is pretty unlimited on what you can do.  But you have to want to build the boat. 

I'd still like to see a drive with a sealed bevel gear instead of a cable and chain. 

That would be a Native Propel, I got two and thought about dropping a drive in my Big Tuna, but I’d have to install a rudder.

I'd still like to see a drive with a sealed bevel gear instead of a cable and chain. 

That would be a Native Propel, I got two and thought about dropping a drive in my Big Tuna, but I’d have to install a rudder.

Those are straight gears to a propeller and are definitely not maintenance free.  I'd seen a prototype for the sealed mirage drive but now I can't seem to find it.  There have been posts on sailing anarchy over the last couple years with guys building sealed gears and dropping mirage like drives into a box like charles did.  None is exactly how I'd go about it.