New "kayaks"?? from Ocean Kayak

While the motorized bit bugs me a little, I understand the use, and it doesn't technically keep you from paddling.  Watching the Torqueedo FAQ video, they describe their motor as a backup device to paddles or pedals.  I would assume the say for the OK boat.  I can't be too critical, because I just purchased a SOT Mirage drive "kayak" specifically because of the convenience.  If I wanted to be a purist, I would learn how to build a skin on frame from scratch. 

But then again, we don't have to buy their craptastic stuff.

Exactamundo. We all like to do things our own way and that's a freedom we all afford. While we may personally think someone else's choice of leisure is lame, they're happy doing it and having fun. Until they infringe on our freedoms why should we try and stop that? Whatever floats your boat.. er kayak... motor.. stand up.. pedal... paddle... 

Z

funny thing is, the Torqueedo costs nearly as much by itself, before mounting it on your yak, as the entire offering from OK does.

i think, if i wanna go powered, i'll look for a more conventional boat set up. 

It seems like SUP is growing rapidly and everyone wants a piece of the pie. 

I'm not sure why someone would choose the Nalu.  It looks pretty limited in performance.  Just speculation but I would guess these pros and cons comparing the Nalu to a traditional SUP.

Pro
Cheaper
Can use it "kayak" style
Looks super stable for the beginner paddler

Con
Heavy
Limited foot positions
Not much rocker
Boat like bow

Those four cons would make it a beast to surf and turn it into a limited flatwater  distance oriented SUP.

I think OK should have made the deck flat and added a mast track.   It would have added versatility without increasing the cost much.

I'ts tough for me to see the motor as a 'backup' propulsion method, since it likely weighs nearly as much as the kayak itself.

Jay

I just hate to see R&D dollars going to new "craptastic" products instead of making the good ones better.

I called JO to get a cross section diagram of the scupper pro so i could cut and install a foam bulkhead behind the front hatch, and it blew their freakin minds.

"Bulkhead in a SOT? Why would you want to do that?" Because there's 50 holes in it and no flotation...That's why. After explaining it to them, they asked me to send pictures of what I had done, because this "may saolve some issues we (JO) have been having"

A can of PBR and 10 minutes got me to the bulkhead idea. How many tens of thousands of dollars did they spend on R&D to come up with this new junk?

At any rate, the market is king right? And the market will tell if it's a good idea or not. I kind of hope they fail miserably.

I'ts tough for me to see the motor as a 'backup' propulsion method, since it likely weighs nearly as much as the kayak itself.

Jay

I think that depends on the battery size.  The Torqueedo that WR mentions is a 15 lb unit including the battery.    I doubt this unit will come anywhere close to the 65 lbs that the kayak weighs itself.  My guess is that the whole unit (kayak + motor and battery) will be more like 85-90 lbs.

my back up propulsion system is 2 pb&j's and a snickers bar

"Bulkhead in a SOT? Why would you want to do that?"

I believe some of the newer Malibu kayaks (X13 for example) have a bulk head separating the area under the bow hatch from the rest of the kayak.

I'm getting a Torque and will be have my fish limits by the time you boys even get out to the fishing grounds.

I actually think that it is a great idea for someone with limited paddling experience to be able to keep up on a trip with those that are more experienced.

I can see it coming in extremely handy for holding in an area while trying to release a fish (I happen to enjoy fishing in "high traffic" areas, or for gaining more leverage while busting off a snag. It would be great for hover fishing. Backtrolling.

PLUS, it's much more cooler than some wimpy paddle or peddle powered yak.

here's the other motor mod i've been talking about.. it's actually made here in germany.
http://www.kayakfishingstuff.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KFS&Product_Code=Tor-ultralight1401&Category_Code=Motor

my back up propulsion system is 2 pb&j's and a snickers bar

  wow, major sugar rush..

I actually think that it is a great idea for someone with limited paddling experience to be able to keep up on a trip with those that are more experienced.

Practice and water-time-served also work well for this.  

Practice and water-time-served also work well for this.  

Aye, but for people, like my wife, who will only go out on sunny days between 85-90 degrees on a calm day that isn't a weekday or a churchday, practice and water-time-served aren't really much of an option.

I don't know how simple it is to pull that motor but a few beach landings could be troublesome.