final trolling motor/downrigger mount...

having these 2 items can make lake trolling with 2 rods so much easier and more productive....

electric trolling motor: I slightly modified the commonly used design that drops into the molded holder in the back of most Hobie's, my design has the motor shaft running inside the PVC which allows some steering and it easily pulls up and hangs on my "canine containment" rail to eliminate drag from the motor. The lower end is a shortened 34# EnduraC2, top end is Digital Maximizer from a 45# EnduraMax (variable speed control). whole thing is 10pounds.
 
battery: Electric Vehicle class, deep cycle AGM from Amstron, 22amp-hour, 14pounds, laying flat and well secured on the hull bottom on the left side (opposite side from where the motor and downrigger are). battery is also running my sonar and the trolling motor is not causing problems with sonar images but does mess up the downscanning option, turning off 'auto sensitivity' helps.
 
Attwood mini-rigger ($52 at Cabela's): locks into a Roberts mount on side rail to right side of seat and just in front of the trolling motor control, I find it easy to operate this mini-rigger with one hand, 4 pound ball...so far, I have not tried double stacking both rods on the downrigger on the kayak, that might be a difficult...

cheers, roger
 

A trolling motor definitely makes trolling easier....
What is your run time on a 22 amh battery? And at what speed? 

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

A trolling motor definitely makes trolling easier....
What is your run time on a 22 amh battery? And at what speed? 

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

for trolling speed (1.3-2mph) with no pedaling, the motor is at about 20 to 30%.    At 100%, it has me going about 5mph.

with the motor in the water but turned off, I can keep up a steady easy pedal rate (the sort you could do all day) and I get nice trolling speed but without the motor drag, I must slow my pedal speed or stop and start.  So I actually find it easier to 'pedal troll' with the motor in the water and off, when one pole hooks up, I click the motor to 20% and it keeps me moving while I deal with the fish....I also use the motor when I am busy changing gear on one pole or whatever...

I was out on GreenPeter last week for about 5 hours, used the motor off and on at 20-30% during trolling as described above, with downrigger, also had the Elite-7HDI running the whole time, then at the end I had about a 40minute run dead into a strong wind with 2ft. whitecaps to get back to the launch, and to maintain 2mph and good course, I was pedalling steady and running the motor between 30% and 50%, actually worked well with left hand on the kayak rudder control and right hand on trolling motor handle, I had double directional control...when I got in the battery was at 12.26V, so I would put that at just a bit more than half used....cheers, roger

I like that short shaft motor idea.  I tried the search function but found no info.  How is that done?

I like that short shaft motor idea.  I tried the search function but found no info.  How is that done?

the shaft on minnkotas is a graphite/composite that is easy to cut with a hack saw, by working around the outside you can cut it without damaging the wires inside.

the top of the motor is easy to remove, then replace it after cutting the shaft and shortening or finding space for the excess wire length...cheers, roger

Do those motors have a GPS anchor option?  It's pretty hard to hold a kayak stationary against the wind and current so you can jig.  A trolling motor with the GPS anchor equpment would allow you to lock into a spot and jig regardless of the wind and current.

Man, that's a pretty sweet set up. With the amount of time I've been putting into fishing lately...the trolling motor would be really nice.