How To Operate A Trolling Motor
At the dawn of modern kayak fishing, shade-tree engineers figured out how to attach an electrical trolling motor to a fishing kayak. Later a decade of trial and error, manufacturers have developed motorized kayaks and electrical motors for fishing kayaks that work seamlessly.
But why use a trolling motor? Many kayak anglers are in the sport more for angling than kayaking. These enthusiasts are looking for a quick, quiet and effortless ride to the fish. Recently, more kayak fishing tournaments are allowing electrical trolling motors for a competitive advantage. Too, kayak fishing appeals to many people with disabilities who enjoy the liberty of fishing in a motorized kayak.
Despite the freedom they offer, trolling motors aren't for everyone. The primal is knowing when to utilise i. Installing a motor and battery adds meaning weight to your kayak. And, information technology takes a big, heavy kayak to support a trolling motor. You lot'll likely need a trailer and heavy-duty cart to transport the gunkhole. On the water, the motor'southward shaft and propeller will increase the draft, making it more difficult to fish in shallow locations.
The all-time applications for trolling motors are serious anglers who are interested in line-fishing and non concerned with transporting, storing and operating a motorized kayak. Many anglers will use the motor to attain a fishing pigsty, so switch to paddle or pole to fish the surface area. While a motor gives a kayak more speed and range, you accept to constantly monitor battery ability. If you are interested in fishing more than paddling or pedaling, then a motorized kayak may be perfect for you.
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The Basics of Trolling Motors
Is it Legal to Put a Trolling Motor on a Kayak?
In most areas, motorized kayaks have to follow the same rules as powerboats. A kayak with an electric or gas motor will need to be titled and registered. Some water bodies restrict motorized watercraft, including electrical kayaks. As well adding a trolling motor may change the mandatory condom equipment you need. You'll have to bank check your local department of natural resources or motor vehicles for rules and regulations.
How Fast Will a Kayak Become with a Trolling Motor?
The boilerplate speed for a paddle kayak is three miles per 60 minutes. About pedal kayaks tin go steady at 4 or 5 miles per 60 minutes. Without whatsoever effort, a trolling motor volition push a kayak at six to ten miles per 60 minutes into a headwind and opposing current. But speed comes at a cost. Running the motor at peak speed will apace deplete the battery. The best strategy is to throttle the motor at 80 percent or less of max-speed. Yous'll go a picayune slower, just save a lot of battery ability.
Types of Motors
There are many options for adding a motor to a kayak. Traditional trolling motors, electric outboards and small turbines each accept their place. Or, check out ane of the many motorized kayaks available from major manufactures. Each choice has pros and cons, bank check out our suggestions below for getting the all-time motorized kayak for you.
Trolling Motors
The first efforts to motorize a kayak relied on existing electrical trolling motors. These low-cal and nimble powerplants are designed to permit a gas boater to switch to electrical power to maneuver the boat while he'southward angling. Trolling motors feature a large propeller, skinny shaft and small caput unit.
The best models for kayak fishing are remote controlled. Advanced motors with GPS and Bluetooth connection tin be programmed to follow a course or hold the kayak in place. Using a handheld controller, the angler can turn, power, and reverse the motor. They are connected to a 12-volt battery with a heavy cable.
Trolling motors are relatively inexpensive with a wide range of ability and size choices. The motor tin be placed on the bow or the stern, depending on where space is available on the kayak. You can install a trolling motor using a store-bought mount or use hardware store supplies to do it yourself.
Electrical Motors
While trolling motors can be modified to fit a kayak, there is a form of electric motors designed with kayaks in mind. Minor, electrical motors have become more than reliable and accessible making them a perfect choice for a fishing kayak. These motors are usually mounted on the stern of the kayak with rigging to control power and direction.
Electric motors for kayaks are more compact and lighter for better residue. These motors are best paired with a matching high-power, lightweight lithium-ion bombardment. Electrical motors may be the all-time choice for powering a kayak, but the convenience and power come at a cost. These power systems tin cost ten times as much as a bargain trolling motor.
Electrical Turbines
Most recently, small-scale electric turbines accept been developed to ability kayaks and standup paddleboards. These motors resemble a tiny jet engine and produce impressive ability in a small-scale package. Turbines require less battery power, likewise. The football game-sized ability plants have upwards less infinite and weigh a fraction of the weight of an electric motor. Y'all tin adhere the motor to the stern of the kayak or install a special rudder and motor combination. With a smaller propeller and lower profile, these motors don't produce as much power a trolling motor, but they work great to power you to the line-fishing hole and back.
Motorized Kayaks
Kayak manufacturers have jumped onboard the motor trend producing kayaks with integrated electric power. These boats are designed to accommodate a purpose-built electric motor with factory-installed rigging and controls. If you lot are committed to electric ability, and don't programme to use the boat with a paddle, and then you can't shell a mill motorized kayak. They are perfectly balanced, cables and rigging run below deck and the systems have been tested and approved past professional anglers. While factory-built motorized kayaks are the perfect power package, the toll tag tin can be two or three times higher than a bargain boat.
Buying a Trolling Motor
What Size Trolling Motor Practice I Demand for My Kayak?
On an electric trolling motor, power is measured in pounds of thrust. You lot will encounter motors labeled with 35, twoscore, 50 and upwards to lxx pounds of thrust. The higher the number, the more ability the motor produces. Even so, every bit the number goes upward, and so does the bombardment draw. When choosing the best trolling motor for a kayak, you take to balance the amount of thrust with the size of your bombardment.
For a kayak, which is considerably lighter than a powerboat, a thirty- to 40-pound thrust motor has enough power to become all day at a manageable speed. When you rig a trolling motor on a kayak, another consideration is shaft length. You lot want to choose the motor with the short shaft, between 24 and 30 inches, that will all the same reach the water without increasing draft or weight.
How to Test a Used Trolling Motor
Ownership a used trolling motor is a gamble. Many things can go incorrect when combining electricity and water and even the all-time models take a limited lifespan. First, visually inspect the motor for corrosion and damage. Many parts are plastic, which can fade or crack. Of form, connect the power cable to the battery and test the motor and controls.
The battery likewise has a express lifespan, so y'all may want to consider supplying a new battery when you purchase the motor. The good news is most electric motors can be repaired. And in that location are local service centers and repair shops for skilful attention. Fifty-fifty if you buy a lemon, you can about likely get it up and running.
Batteries for Trolling Motors
What Kind of Battery to Utilise for a Trolling Motor
Trolling motor batteries fall into two categories: lead-acid and lithium-ion. Lead acid batteries are larger, heavier and less expensive. Lithium-ion ability plants have lower weight, smaller size and a higher price tag. Lead-acrid batteries are very common, oftentimes they are available at your local machine parts shop.
A regular automobile battery volition not ability a trolling motor for long. Instead, use a deep-bicycle, pb-acid, marine battery designed to agree a charge longer and produce a more consistent electric current to power an electrical motor all day. These batteries can besides exist depleted and charged multiple times.
Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and smaller. Some models are specifically designed to power a motorized kayak with shorter cables and waterproof connections. The best lithium-ion batteries are continued to a throttle control that can display ability, speed, range and even location and other information. Y'all tin can discover a 12-volt, deep-wheel marine battery for a couple hundred bucks. A high-stop lithium-ion battery will cost just under a thousand dollars.
When to Charge a Trolling Motor Battery
Using an electric trolling motor requires a bit of maintenance and care. The motor should be rinsed and dried afterward each use. Connections must be cleaned and lightly coated with electrical grease. Batteries should be charged after each trip. While a battery may concluding a couple days, it's best to recharge at the end of each trip. Monitor the charge and run time to notice whatsoever problems with the battery. If the battery seems to be drawing more ability or taking longer to charge, it may exist fourth dimension to replace it. Ideally, you want to balance battery and motor size and then you accept enough power to fish all twenty-four hour period.
How to Mountain a Trolling Motor on a Kayak
Where to Mount a Trolling Motor
Mounting an aftermarket trolling motor setup on a kayak requires conscientious consideration. Start, exam the placement of the motor and battery earlier drilling any holes. Accept the kayak into shallow water and add weight equal to the weight of the motor to the bow and then stern to encounter how information technology volition affect the boat's residuum.
If yous are primarily using the motor for propulsion to the line-fishing spot, it may be best to identify it in the stern of the kayak. If you are going to use the motor to maneuver while fishing, y'all can put the head unit in the bow.
Many kayaks accept flat areas and mounting points to accept an electric motor. If your boat isn't pre-rigged for an electric motor, look for a flat area with plenty of support to concord the motor mount. Place the battery as shut to the seat equally possible to keep the weight centered.
How to Mount a Trolling Motor
The first question anglers ask is how to put a trolling motor on a kayak. The good news is, many companies and custom designers are offering purpose-congenital mounting brackets for kayak trolling motors.
Nigh anglers choose a trolling motor with a transom clamp and tiller control. Many aftermarket mounts use a bar that attaches to the gunnels and holds the motor to the side of the kayak. This arrangement places the mount where you tin still reach the motor to control speed and direction. While this is piece of cake and effective, the motor hanging off the side of the boat is off balance and a fiddling bad-mannered.
Other mounts place the motor directly backside the stern of the kayak. Just these outfits require extra rigging to command speed and direction. Small electric motors come with rigging and bombardment for a complete packet that tin can be installed on most whatever boat.
How to Apply a Trolling Motor
How to Use a Trolling Motor for Fishing
Some anglers apply an electric motor to attain the fishing hole, then switch to paddle or pole to fish shallow water. Other anglers use the trolling motor to maneuver the kayak while fishing. A bow-mounted trolling motor can spin 360 degrees to keep the kayak pointed towards the fish. The nigh advanced motors are continued to Bluetooth and GPS allowing you to control the boat with your smartphone and program the motor'southward functioning. If you're more interested in using the motor to accomplish a distant line-fishing spot, it may be meliorate to mount the motor in the stern where it will be more than efficient and easier to control.
How to Apply a Pes Pedal Trolling Motor
Standard trolling motors for motor boats are controlled past a foot pedal. The angler stands in the bow of the boat powering and turning the motor with a human foot control while casting and working his lure. Since a kayak angler spends most of the time sitting, it is more difficult to control the boat with a foot pedal. Nevertheless, human foot-pedal controls are less expensive and easy to install on the stern or bow of the kayak. On the style to the fishing grounds, you tin can easily control the pedal with your hands, then switch to human foot control while you stand and fish.
DIY Kayak Trolling Motor System
If you're a shade-tree mechanic, you may be inspired to create your own kayak trolling motor system. DIY kayak trolling motor systems will save money at the expense of weight and control. There are dozens of videos on the web with plans involving lumber, hardware and PVC tubing.
While these systems are artistic and ambitious, they may not be safety or very smart. Be sure the mountain is sturdy and the rigging reliable. Even if a DIY kayak trolling motor organization is thrifty, it may cost you lot time and effort on the water.
After a decade of trial and error, manufacturers have developed motorized kayaks and electric motors for fishing kayaks that work seamlessly. | Feature photo: Courtesy of Old Boondocks Canoes & Kayaks
Source: https://kayakanglermag.com/tactics-skills/rigging/how-to-use-a-trolling-motor/
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