DIY kayak electric Motor Pod, for a Kayak
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- How I made my DIY kayak Electric Pod Motor.
Hi, I'm Bill from Rod N Paddle. I love playing around with my Yaks, and one of the things I always wanted to make for my Wildy yaks was an electric pod motor, similar to the genuine Wildy unit from Torqeedo. So, this year, I decided to make one, at less than 1/3rd the cost of a Torqeedo.
With the recent improvements in batteries available suitable for use in kayaks, this became the reality that wasn't really only a few years ago.
Even though I have fitted this motor to the Wilderness Systems O/S flex pod, it would not be hard to do it to other brands of kayak', so long as they have a pod with a large transducer scupper.
What really sealed the deal was when FPV in Melbourne Australia were happy to let me play around with their new 50ah Lithium battery, and a modified PWM, and those two things were a game changer and instrumental in making the project a viable reality, instead of 'just something to tinker with', it is now a serious electric pod motor, these guy's are tops, Thanks so much Brandon.
I am part of the Australian Kayak fishing fraternity, based in the inland city of Canberra, predominantly we are freshwater fishing, but the salt is not far away. Rod N Paddle is also on Facebook and Instagram - come say high. Canberra is the National Capital of Australia, and we are blessed with plenty of easy access waterways all within a few hours drive.
The kayaks I use are Wilderness Systems Atak and Tarpon kayaks.
I am a brand ambassador for Paddlepro - the Wildy Australia distributor.
I shop at and recommend Melbourne Paddle Sports and Jervis Bay Kayaks - (make sure you mention me, they will look after you, but retailers can be found all over Australia (and the world) on wildernesssystems.com/au.
FPV Kayak batteries can be purchased direct from FPV in Melbourne or Mariner Sails in the US, but all good kayak shops should also be able to get them, and a lot stock them. Again, if you deal direct with FPV, mention me, they will look after you as well.
YakAttack - make some of the best accessories for your kayaks - yakattack.com
Watersnake motors, whilst being fairly basic, are robust and easy to dismantle and service, plus they are easy to adapt to the pod setup. In Australia they are distributed by Jarvis Walker.
I was able to purchase the motor new for around $140 Aud.
The pod was in one of my yaks, but retail in Aus for $159
The bread board, bracket from Aliexpress, S/S screws and 6mm bolt all cost a total of $15 Aud. The nylon line I used was line trimmer cord, 4mm I think.
The FPV battery and PWM are what make this thing work brilliantly - without them, you want go as far, or for as long, nor will you be able to regulate your speed so well. Both are IP rated water resistant, the batteries come with chargers, and both will set you back just over $700 Aud.
So for about $1000 Aud, you to can make this unit, and trust me, you will be very happy with what you get. As a comparison, the Wildy/Torqeedo unit is Aus sells for around $3600.
#wildyfishing #kayakmotor #torqueedo #rodnpaddle #kayakfishing #fishingkayak #kayakdiy
Great job Bill, solid build, less clutter
Thanks Matt. I hate clutter in the cockpit, and have managed to tidy it even further - for the money, it has been a really worthwhile project, in that it is very usable, certainly takes the sting out of a long day.
Well done Bill. Also, thanx for the detailed explanation!
Thanks Bob
Dude that thing is sweet, great job!
Yeah, it works pretty well. Thank you for the comment, and the sub, much appreciated, Bill.
This is an awesome video! You answered a lot of my questions I had. Thanks a lot bud. Much love from Texas!
Your most welcome
Another Great Video
thanks for your kind words
If you have any questions, want more information or photos, feel free to ask, and time permitting I will do what I can to help.
For Details on FPV batteries - www.fpv-power.com.au/kayakbatteries/
For FPV in the USA - www.mariner-sails.com/
Wilderness Systems Kayaks - www.wildernesssystems.com and select your country
Paddlepro Australia is Wilderness Systems distributor - paddlesportsmegastore.com.au
YakAttack products - www.yakattack.us/ - and select your country
Melbourne Paddle Sports - melbournepaddlesports.com.au/
Jervis Bay Kayaks - www.jervisbaykayaks.com/
Watersnake motors - www.jarviswalker.com.au/
Aussie here from Sydney but greetings from California! Wish i know someone handy that can build similar for my Wildy 135! Fishing on the Delta without a motor is painful
Hey mate, greetings from down under. Its not that hard, you dont need to be a mechanic to do it (I am !) I would be happy to try helping step you through it.
What specific motor is this, just trying to make sure
It is a Watersnake T24 , let me know if you need anything else
@@RodNPaddle thank you. Im just not sure how it woukd fit inside my atak 140 but seen how you did it. Will try and if i have any questions i will hit you up. Thanks.
I did mine a little different at about the same time you did yours . here is a old video . The wires are thru the hull now . I wanted to make sure my pwm was going to keep working .After about 2.5 years of using pwm , I fixed it in the pod . ruclips.net/video/qsHHnkaMSC8/видео.html&feature=shareb
Thats a cool looking setup you have made. I still have my pwm next to my seat, but I have improved the wiring. I now have the battery located inside a water resistant case, improving its resistance again, especially important when used in the salt, and I now locate it either behind my seat, I have found this improves the balance, and slightly improves the kayaks top speed.
What sort of speed can you achieve in the Feelfree ?
@@RodNPaddle , It has been awhile since I have ran it up . I usually just use it for a slow trolling speed with my downrigger . I am wanting to say it was around 3.75 mph .
I now have my controls mounted mounted beside the seat on a 1 inch ball mount . I have a kill switch i added to it , so wanted something more secure than seat pocket to hold controls. I mounted controls in a clear electrical box . I also added a fan to it .
I run 2 batteries in my kayak . A 100 ah lithium in front hatch and the second one is mounted in my crate bag in stern with plug mounted on outside of crate bag. The one in crate bag is a 60 ah . the second is emergency for the motor only .
The front battery runs motor and fishfinder .
I was sure glad to get all my wiring ran thru the hull . It was always in the way . I also have 2 batteries . one in hatch in front . 100 ah lithium that is my main supply fir motor and fish finder . Second battery is mounted in my milk crate. I have 2 plugs mounted on milk crate. One for pwm incase I kill front battery and a plug for phone and camera .
Is your fish finder and your electric motor hooked up to the same battery? Nice setup! Is it easy to steer left and right with the foot pedals since you cant move the motor?
Thanks mate for taking the time to watch my vid, really appreciate it. Sort answer is NO, they are not, but they could be, and probably will be shortly, as I am making some changes - bigger sounder, and a few other things. Main reason I ran them separate is because I was not 100% convinced on the power usage of the motor, but I have managed over 9 hours on it with the 50ah lithium battery, so the small finder I use now could definitely run off the same battery using a splitter block. I will post up a vid of the changes I am making soon.
In regards the rudder, yes its fine, as I use the motor as a point A to B thing - not so much a fishing tool (like a propel drive), and it turns pretty well. Funny story thou - when I was making the unit, I toyed with how to make it pivot without a handle being in my face, in the end I decided after trying it with a handle - that I didnt need to bother - but after seeing the Hobie 360 in operation, and the new Old Town Minn Kota I rekon I should have persisted. Might revisit the idea.