Trolling motors
Electric trolling motors have a variety of uses for lake boats, punts, dinghys etc. and are lightweight enough to use on kayaks - they run off standard recreational deep cycle batteries - A trolling motor can allow you to take a break from paddling when you are tired and even increase your fish catches when fitted to your Angling Kayak ! It is quite simple to fit a trolling motor to your kayak and paddlers choose to either mount them via a bracket to the stern of the kayak or via a side motor mount which allows the motor to be mounted beside the paddler....
Our Demonstration Viking GT with side motor mount...
Here we have a Railblaza side motor mount fitted to our demonstration Viking Profish GT kayak - note the control box with integrated kill switch - an essential safety feature to have for kayak trolling motors in case you get separated from your yak or you need to inspect the propellor. This set up has many advantages such as having the controls easily to hand as well as being able to inspect the propellor if necessary.
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Any light weight trolling motor can be used - for salt water use it will need to be corrosion resistant - the usual thrust for a kayak motor would be around 30 lbs - here we have a variable speed 42 lb thrust Minn Kota Max fitted to our side motor mount - a variable speed motor as opposed to one that has fixed preset speeds is worth investing in as it will ensure you will get the most out of your leisure battery.
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A Deepcycle leisure battery is used to power the motor - you will need 1 amp/hr for every 1lb thrust of motor so basically a 30lb thrust motor will last 1 hour at full power using a 30 amp/hr battery - of course you mustn't drain your battery fully or it will damage it - a guideline recommendation for a 30 lb thrust motor would be an 80amp/hr battery which should give a few hours use on the water if not used at full speed.
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Many paddlers choose to mount the trolling motor to the stern of the kayak - in this position the motor's thrust is transferred more efficiently to the hull thereby generating more speed and improving battery life on the water - there are manufacturers who supply stern mounted kits to this effect or many paddlers make up their own systems - all will have features similar to the ones below -
An example of a trolling motor fitted to the stern of a kayak on a purpose made bracket - in this set up the motor is out of the paddler's way as well as being more efficient and responsive to steerage inputs by the paddler.
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The Watersnake ASP T24 Trolling Motor - €155 - €175
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The Watersnake ASP T24 is a practical solution for the paddler looking for a simple cost effective motor for their kayak - With 24lbs of thrust it's weed cutting 2 blade propeller has plenty of power to move the kayak through the water - At 3.3kg it is lightweight, durable and saltwater friendly - With just 2 speeds in forward and reverse and a stow away handle it is simple to operate - It has a 24 inch shaft and can be fitted as shown above using it's standard transom mount to a side motor bracket or to a stern bracket - You can also choose to go for the optional Watersnake kayak mounting bracket including extended tiller handle that is simple to fix just behind the paddler onto the deck - The motor is run from a deep cycle leisure battery
The stable, efficient and lightweight Viking Nemo with it's 3 hatches and rod holder as standard is a nice example of a recreational kayak suited to mounting the T24 watersnake - this Nemo below is set up using the Watersnake mount and is run off a 26ah agm battery which is ideal for hands free slow speed trolling and the resulting combination offers a cost effective user friendly solution for the paddler looking to enter the world of motorised kayaks !
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Trolling motor mounts -
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Side mount: €55 / €125
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Side motor mounts offer a simple solution to those who want to attach a transom mounted trolling motor to their kayaks - they come with the necessary hardware needed for fitting and steerage of the motor can be by tiller handle or by locking the motor in the forward position and using a rudder...
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Watersnake bracket: €50
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The Watersnake kayak mounting kit contains everything you will need to mount your T24 trolling motor to the side of your kayak - Easy to fit the mounting can be adjusted to suit most kayaks with it's clever rotational design - Kit includes an extended tiller bar for easy operation from the seated position...
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2 blade propeller and pins: €10
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The T24 Watersnake 2 blade weed cutting propeller is extremely tough and hard wearing but that said it's possible to sustain damage to the blades if using in harsh environments or you may be unlucky and cause damage by accident - With this in mind it's always a good idea to carry a spare propeller and parts with you on a trip - They are easy to change and it will ensure that you can continue with the adventure !
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Below is Watersnake's demonstration video showing how to mount the motor to a kayak using the Universal kayak fitting kit...
Darrens Kayaks Trolling motor water trials and pics...
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Tandem sit-on with side mounted T24 Watersnake...
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Viking Tempo 2 with side mounted T24 Watersnake...
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