Does anyone else use a trolling motor on Hobie?
 

You would get far more efficiency for weight with a gas powered motor. But then I think you would want a different kayak with amas???
Like my TI with a 2.3HP Honda. Weighs 23 - 28 lbs, can't remember the exact weight. I can carry one gallon of gas and get 5mph all day, 12 hours.

Never been on a Hobie In my life and probably never will but you have got to be able to go faster than 2.5 with the mirage drive on a PA 14. Sorry, I can't grasp how this extends your range with 2.5 hrs of battery. Nice setup though. Now go get your CA registration.

2.5 mph seems like your losing speed over pedaling by itself

Thats a cool set up Leo. I am glad it is working out for you. That will decently put you on the yellows in Oceanside as planned. See you on tje next adventure my friend.

I think his purpose in using a trolling motor is range, not speed. Not everybody wants to peddle their ass off all day long. I use a 30lbs thrust minnkota with a 50amp hour deep cycle battery. I typically peddle most the day in my Revo while fishing and pull the motor out of my hatch near the end of the day to get me back to the launch. I typically peddle 8-10 miles while fishing, and fire up the trolling motor for the last couple of miles of fishing and the ride in, typical 5 miles total. As for a license... don't tell anyone and nobody will know. Just a stupid regulation anyway. I mean, geez, what is the purpose of having to register a small trolling motor that will top out at 4mph? And this isn't a rhetorical question, anybody who knows the reason, I'd like to know.

I know some purists will frown at a trolling motor on a kayak, but each to their own. At 61, I feel I've earned an easy ride in.

I get 4.5-5.2mph at full without the drive, only abother .5mph running the driving in conjunction. If I run thr motor slow thr drive gets me anther 1.5mph. Entire setup with battery is about 7lb.


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