Motorized PA, the wave of the future.

Tom, Perhaps, if your system passes muster with Bassyaks, you might be able to come to some kind of a financial arrangement (licensing??) with Steve for him to produce and sell your system?? This potentially, could become a win-win for all concerned. You said you don't have the time to devote to it. Steve is in the business of developing power/steering systems for kayaks. We, the Hobie PA owner community, would, no doubt, celebrate the unveiling of a "better mousetrap" for sale, if, in fact, it is just that. Regards.......

SteveK,

Thanks for the reply, but I don't think you have a good grasp of what we're doing. Our boats will run on power at 1/2MPH all the way up to 5+MPH, and will turn fine at low or high speeds. The power unit isn't the lowest point on the boat - if the PA hull will make it through, so will the power unit. We run in the shallows and we don't drag our motors. If we did/do, hit something, even at speed, nothing gets hurt. Our system is "rock solid."

Run time depends on how much battery you wish to add. Same as everyone else.

Our system can be installed in less than 5 minutes (or less) and doesn't require that any mods to the boat be made, and once the original installation is complete, the power unit takes only 5 seconds to take on or off. And, on or off, the Pro Angler retains any and all features and functions it had to begin with.

I can afford to run any system I want on my Pro Angler - money is not an object. I didn't do this because I couldn't afford something else. I did it because I wanted something that I felt was better than what was out there.

I'm happy to talk to anybody about it, but you have to understand I'm very leery. This system is so very good, that it has tremendous market potential and I would hate to just have somebody steal what is totally my idea and work, and make a ton of money on it for themselves. It's the system that Hobie should have offered right out of the gate. In fact, most fishermen and/or kayakers who see us at the dock and notice our Pro Anglers just assume that they all come with this propulsion system installed by Hobie - most of them make statements to that effect. It's so seamless that it appears to be something that's just part of the boat.

I did take it to a local company that I thought might pursue it, but they have a boat of their own that is selling very, very well so they have put the Pro Angler project on the back burner for the time being. In the meantime, between the Evolve and Bassyaks systems, Pro Angler owners have two very nice systems to choose from. For me, I'll stick with what I have - I like the hell out of it.

Tom, if your new system would work in an Oasis, by putting it up front, a lot of us with Oasises and maybe Outfitters would be interested.

I'm getting a new Freedom Hawk Pathfinder, and Stephen of Bass Yaks will install one of his systems in it.

This combo would open up a lot of Striper water/areas with my two tidal rivers.
Re getting to and from them with tides and wind.

However, it would be nice to have a system in an Oasis that was simple and would allow me to pedal a Mirage when I'm in the target area after getting me there and having power to get me back.

Thanks
Dave

"Stop for a moment and consider the advantages of simply powering the mirage drive. A heavy duty windshield wiper motor fastened to the drive, coupled to a pedal arm by a linkage which can be adjusted for stroke length. In deep water you power the fins across the full range of motion. In shallower water, you move the linkage so that the fins only move a short distance from up against the hull.

Don't laugh. It's been done and it beats the stuffing out of a trolling motor.

Although there is another trolling motor system for the PA on the way that's pretty slick as well."

_________________
2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

Powering the MIrage Drive is a viable alternative and has a lot going for it. And it's not that hard to do. You can also utilize a linkage with different attachment points so you can run the drive on "short strokes" when in shallower water. This is what I use on the Outback.

I have had my eVolve motor system for close to 2 years now and just haven't been following this thread..............but took the time today to read it. This is my take on things:

Right now the two most used systems are those that use either the mirage drive opening or a transom mounted propulsion. Apparently Kirkland has something different or a variation of the above alternatives.

Each system has it's pluses and minuses. Each person who decides to use a motorized system should decide which is best for them.

My take on my eVolve system:

Pros:
1. Extremely lite weight (whole system 18 lbs). I only fish offshore and weight is a definite consideration................I don't want a lot of weight if I am ever capsized 1-2 miles offshore in 50' of water.
2. Low profile- with the motor in, I have more room in my cockpit than when my Mirage drive is in. Also, my battery fits in my hull and I lose no tank well space.
3.The eVolve Remote Throttle, gives me charge status, distance remaining, ground speed and power consumption in watts........and has a kill switch.
4. System is totally integrated with no exposed wires, except for the one to the remote throttle.
5. I can get 5.8 mph out of my system, although I seldom go that fast.

Cons:
1. The beginning cost.
2. To me the motor makes more noise than most trolling motors.
3. After two years, I think my battery life is less than when new.
4.If I found the right system, I think I would prefer a transom powered system, so I could have my mirage drive in too.


So far, I have not found any system on the market or DIY that beats my eVolve.

So until I do, I will keep what I got!

The Evolve is a good system. The weight savings is in the battery, of course. With the same type battery, my system comes in at under 13lbs.

Most any system to power a kayak is going to find the bulk of the total weight to be in the battery. LithiumPros has a 12-volt Lithium battery with very impressive specs. And it costs $1800.

I suspect the major cost of the Evolve system is the battery, not the motor.

Tom ....... the Torqeedo battery is $600 for the ultra light which is just like the Evolve

That's far less than I thought it would be. However, unless I'm mistaken, it's not a 12 volt model. I had looked once and couldn't find anything from Torqeedo offered in 12 volt. Only Lithium Pros had a 12 volt battery of that type, and it was $1800.

I like the idea of a transom mounted solution that is above the lowest hull point because I could then power my PA by Mirage drive, sail, or electric motor without having to do any on-the-fly configuring. It sounds like the solution Tom has created would offer just that (if he were offering). Perhaps someday he can strike the deal necessary to bring it to production. The more time that passes, however, the more likely someone else not named Tom Kirkman is going to figure out an effective way to do this and offer it to the masses.

Reading through this topic and viewing the pics has left me amazed at the engineering that you guys are capable of... And what a nice padded seat...I'm envious !!!!!

Just ordered a Torqeedo Ultralite ......... with an extra battery ........ have tried most of the others and in my opinion ....... it's the best that's out there ...... and really not much more when you consider what you get ........

http://www.torqeedo.com/us/hn/products/ ... t-403.html

So in a bunch fewer words, Did you just say that you can't find anyone that thinks they can make money manufacturing the parts for this thing?

frisbee; I think he said the folks he approached to manufacture his product were too busy manufacturing/selling their own boats/products to deal with Tom's. Simply put, I suppose that a polite, "Not at this time" could be bluntly translated as a "No". Regards.....

shimanoman
There are people that aren't making all the money they could possibly want out there aren't there? And they are boatmakers or injection mold specialists and so on and so on....but more than one has seen the "vunder-motor" set up and not thought it was gonna make money.

No, they have not seen it - although they want it. But they won't get it without some sort of arrangement in place, prior to them seeing the system.

Nor have I tried to have it manufactured - as I've pointed out many, many, many times, I built this for myself and a fishing buddy. It wasn't something I did with the intention of putting it on the market. If it was, I'd just go have it manufactured and start selling it.