Super Torqueedo!

[Yak Fish]

Holy crap this thing would be awesome to stick on the yak...saving the 84 lb battery...but man, that thing moves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gIACjevcRw

[daddyg]

84lb is nothing for the PA14 That is definitely Impressive

[hooked again]

They're nice motors - I have a reservoir rig set up with the same motor. The problem is battery cost vs. battery weight. It's a 48 volt motor so you need 2 lightweight torqueedo lithium battery packs - each one is $2450. The other option is 8 - 6 volt standard golf cart batteries - total weight about 480 pounds.

That motor on a yak would probably be way overkill anyway.

[buzz]

Putting an electric boat into plane was never as easy or as affordable as it is now.

Ouch! I wouldn't call $4900 in batteries affordable.

[J.A. Veil]

The Lehr company makes propane powered outboards. I wonder if it would be possible or practical to use one of those on a kayak. You could carry an extra canister or two of propane, which would not weigh as much as a battery.

[buzz]

Interesting. However, it will be noisy like a gas motor.
Definitely like the propane fuel. Walmart sells the 16oz tanks for about $3.50ea... I'm guessing fuel costs are about the same as gas.

[surfdog]

The Lehr company makes propane powered outboards. I wonder if it would be possible or practical to use one of those on a kayak. You could carry an extra canister or two of propane, which would not weigh as much as a battery.

I was thinking the same thing.
Wow that would really move a yak, I wonder how fast it could get my Revo on plane;-)

[Yak Fish]

I think a speedy yak is the dream of fishing. You could get to places quickly and then fish silently. Why does such a thing not exist!? I'm giving this extra thought as I've been contemplating the torqueedo for two years now and can't pull the trigger.

[Jaspratt]

Those propane motors are actually really quiet. But compared to an electric rig i guess it would be noisey. But you would only use it from point a to point b. or maybe troll, big boats use gas to troll. Im waiting for reserviors to allow the use of propane motors. That would kill the electric rig industry.

[J.A. Veil]

I think a speedy yak is the dream of fishing.

Get yourself a small outboard-powered skiff if you want to get places more quickly than typical kayak speeds. In the year between selling my 23' Parker and buying my current 16' Scout, I had a 15'6" Gheenoe with a 9.9-hp 4 stroke motor and an electric trolling motor. When properly balanced out and on flat water, I could get up to 15-17 mph. I ended up selling boat, two motors, and trailer for about the price of a new Pro Angler with electronics.

water3.jpg water1.jpg

[Hemingway]

I don't mean to put down anyone for their choice of equipment, but the purist in me has the need to share a few thoughts. First of all, the very definition of kayaking is propelling by human power. The best example I can think of exists in aviation. If you put an engine on a glider are you still soaring? However, I confess to pushing the envelope a little bit on this issue...I do own a sail for my kayak...uh I mean boat.

[docirv]

You guys planning on pulling water skiers with that motor?

[Mark]

One of great things about kayak fishing in my opinion is the leisureliness of it.

I’m in no hurry when I’m in my kayak.

Also, I like the access it gives me to water here in Anne Arundel County which has a dearth of public ramps.

I had a set-up similar to one that John pictured in his post. It was certainly more comfortable than my kayak and gave me greater range and speed but the fact is that I didn’t/couldn’t use it nearly as much as I use my kayak.

[buzz]

Propane motors don't pollute as much. The fuel is safer to transport.
Its a carb-less 4 stroke engine so maintenance is lower.

Its less noisy than a 2 stroke. However there is nothing stealthy about it. Its sounds about as noisy as a 4 stroke gasoline outboard.

[Yak Fish]

One of great things about kayak fishing in my opinion is the leisureliness of it.

I’m in no hurry when I’m in my kayak.

Also, I like the access it gives me to water here in Anne Arundel County which has a dearth of public ramps.

I had a set-up similar to one that John pictured in his post. It was certainly more comfortable than my kayak and gave me greater range and speed but the fact is that I didn’t/couldn’t use it nearly as much as I use my kayak.

I think that's just it, at least as far as I'm concerned. The access and portability of a kayak is a big motivator, but it lacks the ability to fish a lot of water. It would combine the best of both worlds. I'm all about the leisure, but I'm more about the fishing! I hate when I want to hit multiple spots and I lose an hour paddle to get to the next location. I don't want to trailer a boat. I just want to throw a speedier kayak in my truck and go. It's way simpler.