Electric trolling kayak- Attention purists and Hobie owners! Ignore this thread!

I have been piecing together a kayak for trolling the high Cascade Lakes for Kokanee and German Browns.  This has always been some of my favorite types of fishing and have ammased enumerable hours on power Boats ever since I could hold a fishing pole in my hand. As this relies on trolling long distances and many hours on the water I have found the need and desire to go beyond the peddle/paddle aspect of kayak fishing.

For this application I have chosen to install a Bassyaks kit (Bassyaks.com) on my Wilderness Systems Commander 120. Yeah I know I could just get go get a power boat, but I still want to paddle when I want.

Before I get flamed too bad, I want to acknolwedge a few things with this group:

1.  I am not interested in AOTY or other competitions. I know this goes against those rules. I can remove the motor if I want in minutes anyway if I so chose to compete..

2.  Yes, I know I need to register it with the Oregon State Marine Board. Screw-em! I had to buy an invasive species permit anyway!

3.  No, I am not interested in a Hobie for this application. How long CAN you peddle? It can even be paddled, but I would rather kick back and enjoy, and I can even have REVERSE!

About the boat:

Wilderness Systems Commander 120
BassYaks DIY kit (Harnesses and cables)
Remote lift kit
Minn Kota Endura 30
Minn Kota EM remote throttle unit
Shorai 36 AH Lithium (LiFeP04) 540CCA battery (4.96 lbs!)
FF/DF Electronics (TBD)
Mast and Deck lighting
Down rigging

I will be posting photos of my progress. 

Erik

Sounds like a cool project.  I'm not a snob (well, at least not with kayaks), so I'll be looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

I'd considered doing something similar, but between the costs and issues like #2 on your list I've chosen not to.  For now.

Before I get flamed too bad, I want to acknolwedge a few things with this group:

Lol!  I don't think you have to worry about getting flamed here.  The thing that brings us all here is the desire to do things how ever the hell we feel like.   And, if you can look good doing it, all the better. 

Do a search on fishing for bull trout on Lake Billy Chinook (if memory serves me).  Lots of good ideas on pimping the crap out of an SOT with electric motors and more.  One of the coolest posts I can remember.

BTW:  Make sure to post up lots of pics of your build in progress. 

-Spot-

Cool.

Couple of questions...

Out if curiosity how long do you mean when you say trolling for long distances? How many miles are we talking about? More than 10 miles?

2.  Yes, I know I need to register it with the Oregon State Marine Board. Screw-em! I had to buy an invasive species permit anyway!

So you are not planning on registering it?

Please post away with updates.  With the smaller Sized batteries, trolling motors will become more popular in the future.

My buddy Bittlesmon copied a BassYak setup for his Tarpon 140, and he loves it (except for the part where he still can't go any faster than my Hobie)    He can go all day on a charge and not get a bit tired. It is as quiet as can be, and the reverse function can sure come in handy at times. I'm not really interested in going that way myself, but I am not going to give anybody a hard time about it - except Bittlesmon.

Look forward to the pics and report...one word: sail!

Not to take away from your efforts, have thot of doing the same mice elf  but why not just buy an OK Torque? You'd end up right in the same ball park investment wise.

I like the idea of large capacity lithium batteries for long range trips. A 20+ ah battery that is only a few pounds would be super sweet ..... but damn they are pricy! 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

And you thought your were going to get Flamed? lol

That looks like a pretty cool setup.  It would be interesting to try out.

I have been piecing together a kayak for trolling the high Cascade Lakes for Kokanee and German Browns.  This has always been some of my favorite types of fishing and have ammased enumerable hours on power Boats ever since I could hold a fishing pole in my hand. As this relies on trolling long distances and many hours on the water I have found the need and desire to go beyond the peddle/paddle aspect of kayak fishing.

For this application I have chosen to install a Bassyaks kit (Bassyaks.com) on my Wilderness Systems Commander 120. Yeah I know I could just get go get a power boat, but I still want to paddle when I want.

Before I get flamed too bad, I want to acknolwedge a few things with this group:

1.  I am not interested in AOTY or other competitions. I know this goes against those rules. I can remove the motor if I want in minutes anyway if I so chose to compete..

2.  Yes, I know I need to register it with the Oregon State Marine Board. Screw-em! I had to buy an invasive species permit anyway!

3.  No, I am not interested in a Hobie for this application. How long CAN you peddle? It can even be paddled, but I would rather kick back and enjoy, and I can even have REVERSE!

About the boat:

Wilderness Systems Commander 120
BassYaks DIY kit (Harnesses and cables)
Remote lift kit
Minn Kota Endura 30
Minn Kota EM remote throttle unit
Shorai 36 AH Lithium (LiFeP04) 540CCA battery (4.96 lbs!)
FF/DF Electronics (TBD)
Mast and Deck lighting
Down rigging

I will be posting photos of my progress. 

Erik

Before my Hobie, I owned a Freedom Hawk which I motorized.  I planned and built and planned and built, but ended up with the basic system. A counterweighted system that puts the motor just behind and to the right or left of the pilot. Every time I added more pieces the weight and complexity would shoot up and reliability would decrease.

I found Occam's razor to be directly true. "Keep it simple"

I had an offset, shortened 30 Minn Kota (which I still have) and a WKDC12-35J 12V 35Ah Werker Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12V Werker SLA Sealed Lead Acid Battery. The smallest battery that would last all day. The frame used the rear pole holders and snapped into place with bungees.  Somewhere around $200 to $250 invested.

Hope this helps a little

Wobbler

Not to take away from your efforts, have thot of doing the same mice elf  but why not just buy an OK Torque? You'd end up right in the same ball park investment wise.

Mmmm... I dont think so. I have pieced a lot of my stuff together a lot cheaper than just pulling the trigger on a complete bassyaks kit. The battery, Minn Kota and the EM unit is the most expensive part which I bought off ebay. Besides, I like the "openness" more like a canoe of the Commander 120. The Torque doesnt raise like the lift option either. I looked real close at the Torqueedo (and drooled) but I think in the long run I will like my set-up better.

Couple of questions...

Out if curiosity how long do you mean when you say trolling for long distances? How many miles are we talking about? More than 10 miles?

So you are not planning on registering it?

I am usually on the water before sun-up and will come in around noon for food, nap and goof around a bit, then back on the water around by 4 until after dark. Then do it again the next day, and so on.

I will register it. I dont see the big deal here.

Look forward to the pics and report...one word: sail!

Ahhhh.... but even a sail has limitations as you well know. I couldn't keep to the shorelines like I want under sail or control speed very well.

On the lithium batteries, there are several new manufacturers I have seen emerge on market just in the last several months. When I started this I thought I would have to go to China to get what I wanted at a decent price. For those that are shopping for a Lithium battery, Here are some of the ones I found:
http://www.ballisticparts.com/
http://www.alienmotion.com/
http://www.super-b.com/
http://www.shoraipower.com

Yes the initial cost is more expensive, but if you consider the total life cycle costs of a battery you will likely find they arent any more expensive than a Lead Acid battery- as long as they are maintained correctly.

Pictures to come.

Again, taking away from you not my intention.  At @ 1900 for the OK, with everything excpet battery, I thot it might be a bargain. I know others that are offered for well over $3K.  Am glad you've figured out a way to do it cheaper. Plus its YOURS, done your way. Great things happen DIY.
Like others here can't wait to see what you come(came) up with.

BTW, have looked at the C14 for the exact same reasons you state for your boat.

I will register it. I dont see the big deal here.

You won't need to buy the invasive species tag any more.  It comes with your registration and you only have to pay it every other year.

Well, I keep telling myself I NEED a 5th kayak,  ::)but I already have the Commander 120, and I have bought and owned one of the first ones made when they first came out in 2010. But you are right! I really like the Coosas.

And yes, If I was going to start from scratch, I probably would have gone for the OK Torque.

Thanks for the support guys!

.....the disease continues...