Over the last couple of months I have been doing a lot of Google Earthin' and driving around checking out new creeks and rivers. There are a lot of spots that I want to hit as soon as life settles back to normal after bubs arrival.

Two stretches in particular I am simply drooling at the prospect of throwing a lure...the only downside is that both of them require at least a 4km paddle just to get to the stretches in question, because thats how far away the nearest legal launching spot is.

So the mind was kicked into gear over the christmas break, a plan was forthcoming, blueprints were drawn and a few weeks later the final product was realised!

This should make things alot easier!







God I am lazy. [:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]

The next part of the plan consists of fitting a momentary switch up the front (near foot supports) and that way I can control on/off by using my feet and steer with the paddle...With any luck this plan will be one that actually pays off!

Dam leigh what next
Lucky your not as fat as me cause something like that would take the Max weight over the edge for the Kayak. What size battery are you going to use and where will it be ? Up front to balance the weight. I love the idea though.

It looks very professional is it made from scratch ?

75 amp hour at the most, because like you said weight is an important factor. Once I choose which battery I am going to use, I will have a test float in my folks dam and work out the best placement of the battery. Then design/fab a mounting system that makes it a secure easy in/out process.

I came up with the design and the guy who did the cab cut on my truck did the fabricating. It feels secure, doesnt appear to put any strain on the kayak itself, so fingers crossed I wont end up like the Titanic.

I think that I will be breaking the 11km/hr record now guys! This motor pushes my boat at 5km/hr so look out, the power to weight ratio will have me competing in the jetboat mud races!!

Very impressive Leigh. I must say, you are full of bright ideas.

The test results will be very interesting.

Cheers
Graeme

Just got back from initial testing...in the pool!

The battery location is now determined, as far up the front as possible is the best location. This ensures the weight is distributed evenly and the yak sits on the water well.

It feels just as stable now, as it did before the mods were done. I only had a pool length to work with, but initial handling and speed tests were promising...very promising [][]

Taking off in second gear (cant really tell though)



Couldnt help myself, throwing some rooster tails.

Looks good Leigh... could would go towing a skinny guy like me & another yak

Leigh i was out at Hinze this arvo and watched a guy put together his Perception Kayak with a motor on it . He loved it and would never paddle he reckons. It was a two man Kayak though and had a side mount leccy mounted on the side with a bracket screwed through the hull.

Leigh will it float if you go over .my scanoe won,t with battery's in it. best to sus this out now than in a deep pool in the river.

G'day Leigh,
How stable is the kayak when reaching back behind you from a sitting position if you have to put the electric in and out of the water.

If for some reason the motor has to come out the water, chances are I am out of the kayak. I have adjusted the depth at which the prop sits and if it hits the bottom, then the water is only 12" deep.

But to be honest I have never had that problem, as I only use the elec motor on the longer runs where there arent any shallow stretches or anything like that.

EDIT : Realised I never actually answered your question...If for some reason I had to raise the elec while still being in the kayak, I could almost guarantee I would end up in the drink, but thats because I would have to be on my knees leaning right back as you cant reach that far back whilst in the seated position.

Bolter wrote:

Looks good Leigh... could would go towing a skinny guy like me & another yak

Theres your answer Graeme.

_________________

Sign me up scotty

I have the same model Kayak and sometimes think it would be good to have a bit of help.
Definitely like the idea.