Installing an electric kayak trolling motor on your kayak is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to increase power on the water. There are various sizes and powers of kayak trolling motors on the market today.
Kayak trolling motors make paddling unnecessary, making kayak fishing trips far less tiring and fatigue-inducing. Here’s how you can set one up using these easy instructions.
Transom Mount
An electric trolling motor is a small motor attached to a kayak that powers its movement in water. These trolling motors are frequently used by anglers to quickly get them to fishing spots while maneuvering freely once there. They also reduce noise production, helping anglers sneak up on potential catch.
Trolling motors can significantly enhance a kayak experience when installed correctly, facilitating easier travel over longer distances and carrying more gear. They can also allow individuals to access areas they may be unable to reach with paddle alone alone. Installing one on a kayak is relatively straightforward process that can be accomplished in just a few steps.
Before mounting a motor on a kayak, it’s essential to assess its effect on its overall balance. To do this, take your kayak into shallow water and place weight equal to that of the motor on both bow and stern of the vessel – this will give a good indication of how it will perform and whether or not it fits perfectly into its environment.
Once you have determined how much weight is necessary to add to your kayak, it’s time to find an appropriate mount for your electric trolling motor. There are various ways in which this can be accomplished: suction cups and portable transducer arm brackets may work; although if this latter method proves more challenging to install it does allow greater versatility since its arm clamp can be clamped onto either the side or back of your kayak for easy installation.
Kayak trolling motor mounts typically include transom mounts, which secure the motor to the back of the kayak. Some kayaks also include bow mounts to attach motors there. When choosing your transom-mount motor, make sure it has a wide base to avoid slipperiness or tipping; additionally, find one with enough thrust (usually measured in pounds of thrust) for your kayak – higher ratings mean more power.
Bow Mount
No kayak fisher has gone through life unscathed by struggling to control their vessel while holding onto their rod, paddling a paddle and braving the elements. A trolling motor provides relief by eliminating paddling altogether and giving your arms a break; additionally, trolling motors are great tools for maneuvering your boat during fishing activities and helping ensure you remain in your strike zone longer.
If you’re on the market for a bow mount trolling motor for kayaks, there are numerous options available on the market. Some even come equipped with GPS and Bluetooth technology so you can control it from your smartphone. These may be among the best available; however, they come with their own set of shortcomings; one major being difficulty operating it from inside your kayak seat without using a tiller handle which may put unnecessary strain on your back and cause strain to your muscles.
Bow mounts may reduce your boat’s stability due to being directly above its center of gravity and throwing the kayak off balance, potentially leading to tipping over. This isn’t ideal if you plan on fishing from the bow.
Side mounts have become much more prevalent, and can provide several advantages over bow mounts. First of all, they’re easier to access; also beneficial is that they won’t interfere with your kayak hull design; however, even side-mounted trolling motors still consume energy and require a rudder to compensate for tracking issues.
Installing a side mount on your kayak requires careful adherence to the instructions included with its kit, in order to ensure everything is watertight and your motor securely attached. After installation is complete, take your kayak out for a test run to make sure everything works as it should.
Inflatable Kayak Mount
Addition of a trolling motor can enhance your kayak fishing experience by freeing up both hands for fishing. Furthermore, its power can allow for faster movement through the water without disturbing wildlife. Many manufacturers and custom designers provide motor mount kits while hardware stores sell components needed to create one on your own. When searching for trolling motor mount models that suit both your type of boat and power of motor motor.
Most kayak trolling motor mounts are constructed to work with a tiller control. Foot pedals may be effective on bass boats; however, when used on kayaks you must steer your vessel by pushing the handle right or left. Some models even allow anglers who desire maximum control to use an electronic handheld remote control for maximum precision and control of their vessel.
Many kayaks feature mounting points for installing trolling motors, with plenty of room for batteries and head units to fit inside. When choosing where to mount the motor, keep it as close to the seat as possible so as to maintain center weight distribution and facilitate operations from a sitting position. Certain models even support GPS technology for easy programming of routes or keeping boats stationary.
There are various kinds of trolling motors on the market, but for kayaks the ideal ones are those which produce minimal vibration and noise. An ideal quality trolling motor should have quiet, vibration-free operation that can be operated using just one hand; look for long battery life with minimal maintenance requirements, read and follow all instructions when testing out their operation before putting it to use for fishing trips – once comfortable with its functionality you’ll truly enjoy your time on the water more than ever!
Rod Holder Mount
Trolling motor mounts can transform a kayak into an efficient hands-free fishing machine. Paddling can be physically exhausting, so using one to help eliminate paddling may give your arms some much-needed rest from all that arm work and free your hands up for other tasks and projects. Just be sure that it’s mounted securely. To reap its full benefits.
One effective method of securing your kayak rod holder mount with sealant is using it as a barrier against water entering through any holes or bolts on its base or mounting bolts. There are various kinds of sealants on the market; Lexell sealants are particularly watertight and durable. Once applied, let it set before taking another dip on your kayak.
Velcro can also provide an effective method of securing your rod holder, with its simple application and strong hold. Plus, its waterproof adhesive won’t damage your kayak in the least! Simply peel back its backing off, place the adhesive inside of your kayak, press onto appropriate areas to press it securely onto each spot on its adhesive, ensuring an even and secure attachment of Velcro velcro straps.
Flush mount rod holders can be hard to install correctly. When choosing where you should place them, sitting in your kayak and reaching fore and aft are key in finding an optimal spot that allows easy rod grabbing without bumping into seat frames or interfering with casting motions.
Milk crates make another excellent solution for flush mount rod holders, offering versatile storage space in various sizes and stackable storage solutions. Furthermore, these inexpensive storage crates can often be found at grocery stores in bulk; to simplify the process use zip-ties to connect each crate together.