Hobie eVolve Torqeedo - Electric Motor for Kayak - First Impressions

[DaveFX35]

Yeah ....... My engine broke the day I fished with you and I had to pedal the the weather ruined the rest of the weekend ........... Zen is different for everyone ....... Mine is in building a better yak and buying the stuff to make it better including stuff to fish with ......... It's not sweating my a$$ off pedaling/paddling umpteen miles and tempting Neptune ........I don't get why people think paddle fishing is Zen when they can fish hands free farther and safer. To me it's being able to pedal,paddle,sail,motor whenever I want to .... It's being able to fish when and where I want to with the tackle I want ........ It's being able to adjust my ascot without spilling my martini while I take in the sights ...... smiling and waving to the purists in their plastic boats that are sweating and panting while desperately pitting their vary existence against Neptunes tizzy.

Different strokes for different strokes ........... I have to smile when some one smugly calls themselves a purist when they are paddling a plastic boat ......... Each to their own

Memory maker always coming to the defense about the torqeedo and trying to convince others its an acceptable form of kayak fishing. Its your money bro, no need to convince anyone else otherwise what you spend it on and why.

Maybe ...... for once ....... I'll see you ......... at a m&g putting all that gear you buy to use ........ lmao

[DOGFISH]

For me, using a Torqeedo, is about range. I like to troll, in order to find stripers. When fishing open water, the fish move a lot. Stripers are known for this. I have paddled and still do on occasion. However, I can cover much more water than with the paddle. I can still get to and fish the shallows without spooking the fish. For me it is not about, not physically being able to paddle. Kayak fishing is a preferred style of fishing for me. I find it far superior to boat fishing. Don't get me wrong. There are still those days when I would like to quickly run five or ten miles to a different location. Although for this reason, of not being able to move a distance, kayak fishing is an attraction by making me better plan my trip. There is a place for both types of kayaking. It is not a one or the other type of sport. Being from a boating back ground may have influenced me to go to the Torqeedo. One must remember, it is far different than having an internal combustion engine. It is still not a power boat in the sense of the idea. Quite frankly, I am really kicking around the idea of an Adventure Island, by Hobie. I would like to sail for many miles in a day. However, I would still like to stop and fish with the Torqeedo. There are so many styles of kayak fishing. There is plenty room for the many styles. That is what make it an interesting sport.

[Yak Fish]

For me, using a Torqeedo, is about range. I like to troll, in order to find stripers. When fishing open water, the fish move a lot. Stripers are known for this. I have paddled and still do on occasion. However, I can cover much more water than with the paddle. I can still get to and fish the shallows without spooking the fish. For me it is not about, not physically being able to paddle. Kayak fishing is a preferred style of fishing for me. I find it far superior to boat fishing. Don't get me wrong. There are still those days when I would like to quickly run five or ten miles to a different location. Although for this reason, of not being able to move a distance, kayak fishing is an attraction by making me better plan my trip. There is a place for both types of kayaking. It is not a one or the other type of sport. Being from a boating back ground may have influenced me to go to the Torqeedo. One must remember, it is far different than having an internal combustion engine. It is still not a power boat in the sense of the idea. Quite frankly, I am really kicking around the idea of an Adventure Island, by Hobie. I would like to sail for many miles in a day. However, I would still like to stop and fish with the Torqeedo. There are so many styles of kayak fishing. There is plenty room for the many styles. That is what make it an interesting sport.

I have a sail on my outback and it's just ok. It doesn't have as much sail area as the adventure island. I happened to be sailing my outback and ran into a guy sailing his adventure island and I'll tell ya...his AI MOVED! I don't think I could sail effectively to fishing grounds with the Outback which is why I don't. You really could with the AI though. Also, I've never sailed anything in my life before so that's my disclaimer. The guys sailing the AI was literally doing circles around me and was probably moving as fast as I could pedal.

So this thread has gotten interesting with all the debating. Play nice fellas. I think the bottom line is that a nicely rigged kayak is a much different beast than a boat. It's smaller, lighter, closer to nature and can fit on your car (which is a prime reason most people don't have a boat). I used to have a boat but it was so inconvenient because it was located somewhere not at my house. If someone can take a kayak in all its glory of everything we like about them and slap on the ability to move faster, it's a slam dunk for a lot of people. You can't drag a boat down to any place you can find shoreline, but you can with a kayak. Perhaps a kayak with a motor is the closest thing some people can get to a boat and with a whole lot less maintenance.

I fished with Shady last season on the Flats and he had essentially the same setup as I, except he had the Torqueedo. While I was struggling to find fish, he tried another location all the way over to the NE river. I'd done that once, crossed the Flats and back and nearly killed me. He did it with no effort at all. So in that case, he was able to try different spots when I was committed to the few miles within where I launched. For me, I kayak because I want to catch fish. I'd never spend as much time out there as I do if there were no fish to catch I also love the exercise I get from peddling and I like doing it. I don't think I'd have to give that up with the torqueedo. I would just use it when I want to switch from fishing one area to the other and I'm losing the tide.

[Hemingway]

Excellent response guys, that was the kind of stuff I was hoping to hear, because I truly did not understand why some of you were investing that kind of money instead of just buying a power boat. But, I now understand the reasoning, thank you. Tight lines

[Memory Maker]

Memory maker always coming to the defense about the torqeedo and trying to convince others its an acceptable form of kayak fishing. Its your money bro, no need to convince anyone else otherwise what you spend it on and why.

Maybe ...... for once ....... I'll see you ......... at a m&g putting all that gear you buy to use ........ lmao

Or not ........

I'm talking about the Zen thing ........ It's not just for paddlers ....... And besides Others "defend" it to ........ The ones that Have them ...... Dogfish Shady Kitkat Russ etc ...... Next I'll defend the same sail that Hemmingway turned me onto ......... It's round and closer to the water and makes the yak less tippy than the standard sail ..... Folds small and can make you really go in little wind ........ Point is that it's different strokes for different folks ......

[DOGFISH]

I must admit, I have the non-sailing disclaimer also. Until seeing the Adventure Island, I would have never wanted anything with a sail. Being a fisherman, I had the typical Chesapeake Bay fishing distain for sailing vessels. With the Adventure Island, I would have to learn to sail.

It was not until I saw these guys on TV, along the gulf coast of Texas, using Adventure Island kayaks, that I got interested. They would sail out 10 miles to the oil rigs to fish. They were catching all sorts of fish, including kings and tuna. They would then sail back. With the outriggers they are very stable. The outriggers would easily swing in to land a fish. I just thought it would work great on the bay.

I am 61 years old. I have been fishing the bay since I was 3 and fishing on my own since 7 years of age. I have fished from shore, pier and boat. I must say and agree, that I have never found a more enjoyable way to fish than from a kayak. I only wish that I had found kayak fishing many years earlier. I guess, I have been kayak fishing for about 6 years now. As I tell most folks, kayak fishing brings out the inner child. I guess you could call that Zen...or not.

[Yak Fish]

I've officially joined the darker side. I placed an order with HOOK1 per Memory Maker's recommendation ( I also listed you as how I heard about them, so maybe that gets you a discount or something).

I placed an order for the Torqeedo 403 since I had money burning a hole in my pocket after not picking up the pro angler this weekend.
I made this choice over the Hobie Evolve for a couple of reasons. It was a hard choice that I've spent awhile pondering:

Hobie product is way more expensive (in true Hobie fashion) at $2,100 vs the $1,620 for the 403 after the HOOK1 discount. I could literally buy an extra battery for the same price as the Evolve.
I don't like the idea of mounting in the mirage drive well for the reasons many of you have mentioned....hit something and you may be starting all over.
I don't like the idea of mounting on the rudder because even though you can take it off, it's not quick, so essentially it's permanent-ish. People seem to complain about the loss of rudder control as well which makes sense since there is much less area.
I don't necessarily want to use the motor all the time, just to get from place to place. I still want to troll while pedaling to get exercise. With the motor on the rudder, I'm worse off than before since steering is impacted. I want to fish like I did before with the ability to go further.
Did anyone notice the propellers differ between the evolve and the 403? It leads me to believe that the evolve propeller was modified to fit in the drive well...not necessarily for peak performance. I could be wrong though.

The downsides of the 403 is that it is not as clean of an install as the rudder mount. There is an extra bar and there is extra rigging to raise it. I think I can preinstall and dress those lines neatly and make them quick disconnectable so the impact is little...until I get my first treble hook stuck in it :-)
I like that I can take it on and off depending on what I want to do that day. I could also change it over to another kayak if I wish if I have another ball mount pre installed. Like if I do get a PA one day. For the reasons above about the mirage drive mounting, the evolve would not be my choice on the PA so the 403 would offer more future versatility IMO.
I also believe that since it trails the rudder, the rudder will catch all the weeds before getting to the prop. The weeds come off the rudder really easily with a raise and lower.

I love Mike's comment about being able to hang over the side and fish sideways. I wouldn't have thought of that, but that's an awesome idea because it keeps you aimed at the shoreline and able to manuever the yak more effectively. I have a multitude of rods behind me and I have to avoid them on the cast. Now I won't have to. Nice idea Mike!

So my post is meant in no way to sway you one way or the other. It was just a humble man's thought process on why I did what I did. I know others are teetering one way or the other as was I. I'll find out how it all plays out after I actually get the thing and give her a few test runs.

I moped around all day yesterday after not picking up the PA, but now I'm pumped again. Heck, it's just money...can't take it with me, but it can get me to more fish :-)

Great thread Mike.

[Shady]

Yesir! I can't wait to see the 403 rigged up on the outback!

[Memory Maker]

Let Russ and me know if you need any help setting it up

[Memory Maker]

Hey Yak Fish .......... Welcome to the defenders of the Torqeedo Club ..........

[Yak Fish]

Let Russ and me know if you need any help setting it up

Thanks man.

[Yak Fish]

Yesir! I can't wait to see the 403 rigged up on the outback!

Can't say I've seen anyone else do it on an Outback yet although I'm sure it's been done, so I may be flying by the seat of my pants

[toyomo]

I will be interested in seeing how it turns out as well. Although still expensive thats significantly cheaper than evolve. I like the install in addition to the rudder but not feeling the steering cable above deck(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTa5JNTFs0M), but im sure that can easily be put below.

[Yak Fish]

I've been planning this out today. I'm going to try keeping all the components "above board." Nothing will be inside the kayak. I believe this will be a very fast setup and tear down, almost no added time to launch. I am going to raise my milk crate by attaching a short PVC stand to it. This will allow the battery to sit beneath the crate taking up no more room than my crate did before...it's the skyscraper approach to an expanding population It will also keep it in the shade, keeping it cooler than with the sun beating on it. Water will also be sitting around the scupper area which should keep it as cool as possible for best battery conditions.

From there, one power cable to the motor which will be a really short run and the other cable to the handset which may just sit in the side tray until I figure out where I want to mount it, if at all. If I just leave it hanging free, it gives flexibility if I want to fish off one side or the other while still having control to troll like a bass boat.

I have a sail, so I already have a block mounted for the extra lift cable needed for the 403. I don't think it will be very obtrusive run through some eyelets.

I think this will be pretty sweet. As an engineer, I think I'm having more fun laying it out at the moment. I've got a fist full of sketch concepts laying in front of me. I want to start building! If it were here now, I'd probably take off work tomorrow to play with it :-)

[FRED driver]

403, outback style...rudder fully independent.

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