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Choosing a Motor
Choosing a motor for your kayak is determined mostly on the type of species you’re after, and the body of water you are kayaking.
There are many brands of kayaks that lend themselves to adding a trolling motor to them: Hobie® Pro Angler, Ocean Kayak, Native Watercraft, Feel Free, Old Town, Vibe kayak, Bonafide kayak, Brooklyn kayak, 3 Waters kayak, Ascend kayak, Pelican kayak, and so many more.
These kayaks are mostly for fishing and tend to be wide and roomy. Some of them are designed to pedal or paddle, but the most common issue amongst them, is that they move like a brick across the water.
Conventional Trolling Motor Vs Variable Speed Trolling Motor
Whether you’re kayak fishing in lakes, rivers, estuaries or the sea, you'll need to choose between a conventional or a variable speed trolling motor.
The right trolling motor for your application will save you money in the long term.
Conventional Trolling Motors are designed to get you moving to reach a spot quickly or get you back to the fishing hole when current or wind blows you off course. Regardless of the name brand, all conventional trolling motors operate using a rheostat to control speed. This means, using the trolling motor to reach your desired location and once there, you use one of the low speeds intermittently to stay within range of your fishing spot.
Variable Speed Controlled Trolling Motors are similar in looks but differ in electronic design. They are controlled by a PWM, which is an electronic voltage regulator and speed controller. Variable speed trolling motors equipped with PWM are designed to troll for hours. Their speed is infinite and can be dialed from as low as 1/4mph to 4mph, while at the same time, conserves battery energy by 3-4 times longer than conventional trolling motors. Therefore, it is important to know your type of fishing and what type of fish you're targeting when choosing a trolling motor.
Motor Sizing
It is important to size a trolling motor to your kayak, since, too small of a trolling motor may prove ineffective. On land, 10 mph wind is a light breeze; add that same 10 mph breeze over a body of water while kayaking, and that breeze is no longer enjoyable. In calm waters, a 30lbs. thrust trolling motor may be sufficient to push a wide and heavy kayak, but add 10 mph breeze and the 30lb. trolling motor is under-powered, kayaking becomes challenging and may take forever to bring you back to your launch site. In this case, a 46lb. thrust kayak trolling motor would be a much better choice for when you’ll need the power to move across a body of water fast: your kayak will have the torque required to bring you back safely on land and in a hurry.
Light currents are common on any large bodies of water, and whether kayaking in a one per or tandem kayak, such as Vibe Sea Ghost 130T, Feel Free II Lure, Hobie T17, Ocean Kayak Malibu, etc., they will require at the very least a 55lb thrust kayak trolling motor, because pedaling or paddling is definitely a challenge and tiresome. In addition, saltwater fishing in a large kayak requires a 55lb. thrust kayak trolling motor, due to these vast waters often requires dealing with incoming and/or outgoing currents that at times will exceed 2 mph, with light swells and a 10mph wind.
Batteries
Batteries play a very important role in motorized kayaking. A battery to a kayak motor is what a gas tank to a car. The bigger the battery the longer you can troll, fish and go places: just as the bigger the gas tank in a car, the longer range one can travel without refueling. Therefore, the bigger the kayak the more energy will be required from the battery.
Choosing a motor for your kayak is determined mostly on the type of species you’re after, and the body of water you are kayaking.
There are many brands of kayaks that lend themselves to adding a trolling motor to them: Hobie® Pro Angler, Ocean Kayak, Native Watercraft, Feel Free, Old Town, Vibe kayak, Bonafide kayak, Brooklyn kayak, 3 Waters kayak, Ascend kayak, Pelican kayak, and so many more.
These kayaks are mostly for fishing and tend to be wide and roomy. Some of them are designed to pedal or paddle, but the most common issue amongst them, is that they move like a brick across the water.
Conventional Trolling Motor Vs Variable Speed Trolling Motor
Whether you’re kayak fishing in lakes, rivers, estuaries or the sea, you'll need to choose between a conventional or a variable speed trolling motor.
The right trolling motor for your application will save you money in the long term.
Conventional Trolling Motors are designed to get you moving to reach a spot quickly or get you back to the fishing hole when current or wind blows you off course. Regardless of the name brand, all conventional trolling motors operate using a rheostat to control speed. This means, using the trolling motor to reach your desired location and once there, you use one of the low speeds intermittently to stay within range of your fishing spot.
Variable Speed Controlled Trolling Motors are similar in looks but differ in electronic design. They are controlled by a PWM, which is an electronic voltage regulator and speed controller. Variable speed trolling motors equipped with PWM are designed to troll for hours. Their speed is infinite and can be dialed from as low as 1/4mph to 4mph, while at the same time, conserves battery energy by 3-4 times longer than conventional trolling motors. Therefore, it is important to know your type of fishing and what type of fish you're targeting when choosing a trolling motor.
Motor Sizing
It is important to size a trolling motor to your kayak, since, too small of a trolling motor may prove ineffective. On land, 10 mph wind is a light breeze; add that same 10 mph breeze over a body of water while kayaking, and that breeze is no longer enjoyable. In calm waters, a 30lbs. thrust trolling motor may be sufficient to push a wide and heavy kayak, but add 10 mph breeze and the 30lb. trolling motor is under-powered, kayaking becomes challenging and may take forever to bring you back to your launch site. In this case, a 46lb. thrust kayak trolling motor would be a much better choice for when you’ll need the power to move across a body of water fast: your kayak will have the torque required to bring you back safely on land and in a hurry.
Light currents are common on any large bodies of water, and whether kayaking in a one per or tandem kayak, such as Vibe Sea Ghost 130T, Feel Free II Lure, Hobie T17, Ocean Kayak Malibu, etc., they will require at the very least a 55lb thrust kayak trolling motor, because pedaling or paddling is definitely a challenge and tiresome. In addition, saltwater fishing in a large kayak requires a 55lb. thrust kayak trolling motor, due to these vast waters often requires dealing with incoming and/or outgoing currents that at times will exceed 2 mph, with light swells and a 10mph wind.
Batteries
Batteries play a very important role in motorized kayaking. A battery to a kayak motor is what a gas tank to a car. The bigger the battery the longer you can troll, fish and go places: just as the bigger the gas tank in a car, the longer range one can travel without refueling. Therefore, the bigger the kayak the more energy will be required from the battery.
Fine kayak brands include but not limited to are Ascend Kayaks, Bonafide Kayaks, FeelFree Kayaks, Vibe Kayaks, Jackson Kayaks, Hobie® Kayaks, Hobie® MirageDrive® Kayaks, 3 Waters Kayaks, Ocean Kayak, Malibu Kayak, Pelican Kayak, Santa Cruz, Riot Kayak, Wilderness System Kayaks, Emotion Kayaks, Native Watercraft Kayaks, Old Town Canoes and Kayaks, Kaku Kayak, Cobra Kayak, Heritage Kayak, Perception Kayaks, Lightning Kayaks, Brooklyn Kayaks, and many more…
Not sure, call us at (727) 501-3116 or email us at info@islandhopperoutboards.com
Not sure, call us at (727) 501-3116 or email us at info@islandhopperoutboards.com
You can depend on Island Hopper's renowned reputation for quality
kayak motor products and kayak motor mount accessories.
kayak motor products and kayak motor mount accessories.
Practical & Innovative Systems,
Most Cost Effective Kayak Trolling Motor Systems on the Market
Most Cost Effective Kayak Trolling Motor Systems on the Market