Kevin, I just gotta say, you are one lucky bastard! I watch almost all of your videos. Your reviews are extremely helpful. And you are a dynamite fisherman. You are living the dream of a bass fisherman with that kayak. And now you even have a trolling motor handy for you. I love your videos and keep up the great work. Have a good one sir, and thank you!
That’s just awesome and exactly what I want to do to my Kayak now. Mine has a rudder system on it but I think I might be able to retrofit the pull cables setup to turn the motor shaft. I’m mostly impressed with the mount you made to fit the transom to. Great work. Instead of just the one forward and reverse speed I think I’d like to build a speed controller to adjust speed in forward and reverse from A control knob where I’m sitting. Love you’re work, well done 👍
If you can afford this set up, you can afford a boat. My first was a 59 StarCraft 15' runabout that I cut the bow open, added front and rear decks and carpeted them, made a very nice little fishing boat. Total investment, $1100 and a bunch of work. It had a 50 HP two stroke, ran about 45 mph.
Nice video Kevin! Yes you can be proud of this work, all the facilities are integrated very well in the kayak. I'm motorising my own kayak this time, and you gave me some ideas. Your mistakes are usefull for me :-). Happy you did some :-). So thanks to you.
Hi Kevin, Congratulations on a nice clean/neat install. Like the remote. Many thanks for sharing. I also use a manual cable steering system on my kayak as a backup to my linear actuator steering system with tilt and trim. I used round/smooth weed eater cable that is the same size as your stainless steel cable. It is less abrasive and you may look at it as a possible alternative. I am working on a prototype to convert the Minn Kota 5 speed units to variable speed. So far the testing looks good. John
Dam! Good job ! One of the cleanest set ups I have seen here on youtube !!! and seriously ,thank you for stoping and putting the information on each part you have changed out or highlighted . I am a sub now because of that! Looking forward to the next one. Stablelized pontoons video next?
I know this is an old Post but this is an excellent build man. It's what I want to do. I have an old troller, 20lb thrust but enough for my purposes. I want to take the control head off of it so it isn't way high up advertising itself, then remount the controls and run a steering linkage. Be proud man, well done.
Nice set up! You should youtube etc. research how to add an inline variable speed option to your motor setup so that you don't lose that capability. You can control it from your seat (I would miss not being able to troll at variable speeds.) Also there is a simple way of flattening out your motor shaft to aid in launching your kayak with the motor installed and not scrapping under the prop...then lowering it once you are in the kayak and in the water. I have seen both of these features documented on youtube. Thanks for posting all you vids! I have learned a great deal from your efforts!
Also, I thought the white and yellow wires controlled the speeds. Am I wrong? At the moment, I'd like the ability for variable speeds, but am questioning if I really need that. If that's the case, the remote setup would be ideal.
Kevin I have a similar setup but on a non description Future Beach fishing yak. I didn't have the remote. I place the control head in a rod holder next to me. I steer with a push pull stick until I can set up foot pedals. I also included a release mechanism and a tilt rope. Works great. Nice work. Very professional.
I have a Big Tuna and mount my trolling motor using a trolling motor mount in the two rod holders on either side behind the seat and use a tiller extension to control speed and direction. The big advantage to this setup is I have speed control. I use a small gel battery used to power a wheelchair and go half a day on it or I can put in the big battery and easily go all day on a single charge. The main reason I get so much more battery life is that I am not running the motor at full speed, which greatly extends my battery life. Your set is quite nicely done. I also saw a guy take the head control and mount it on the side of his float tube so he had speed control. I would take that head and mount it by your seat and you will find that not only will you get a lot more battery life, you also add a lot of finesse to your handling capability.
I agree! Running at 1/2 - 2/3 power will give you endless running time. I really suggest lithium if you can afford it. 50 Ah's weighs all of 14 lbs. You get to use up 100% of the charge with no harm to the battery.
Hi Kevin, just watched your video your a cool guy, I’m impressed with your set up very professional. I am considering buying a kayak to use here in the UK, but there so many available it’s hard to know which one to choose, I don’t want to spend a lot until I know it’s going to be something I will keep doing. I look forward to your next video 👍
Super awesome set up! I will be using the same motor on my Vibe SeaGhost and installing it very similar to that. I want to keep the variable speed for trolling though. Havent decided if I will mount the head from the motor up near my seat or make a new box with on/off switch and potentiometer for the speed control or not. Need to figure that out. Looks great though and very professional install!
I have an old town kayak angler Xl. Has the removable floor so naturally I drilled a hole in it and put rubber grommets in it and slid the motor up through. No leaks at all. Mounted a waterproof box on my right side with a speed controller so perfect for slow moving fishing. Also added a minnkota deckhand anchor with 100 feet of 1000lb coated kevlar rope. And the 80AH battery keeps me out all day
+Kevin Bullington How do you troll then? if you want to, cause I wouldn't want to troll 3mph or can you set the speed however fast or slow you wanna go?
Thanks for the video. Are you able to lift the motor when in shallow water? I want to do the same setup to my big tuna kayak but I always beach launch and I need to be able to launch with the motor up and then lower after the break. Can you also elaborate a little more on the electrical part? And last thing can you please list the remote control name or amazon link?
Kevin, please provide more information on the switch. Also have you thought about a variable resistor to control the speed? Outstanding video and craftsmanship on your modifications.
Kevin, just to echo so many others, this has to be the cleanest install I have ever seen! Thanks for sharing. Can you please advise where you purchased the collar to install the two eye-bolts. Vendor and part number information would be greatly appreciated.
Awesome video and clear, I watched your video over and over and really impress what you did. Question: Where do you buy a ring that connect to the cable? and what is call? Thanks
I HAVE A BIG RIG ALSO.... WITH MOTOR ALSO.... THESE KAYAKS ARE HARDER TO USE THEN MY OTHER . BUT WE GET THE STABLE STANDING FISHING..... SO I LOVE IT....
That is such a cool setup. I don't trust myself though. Im looking into buying my first kayak and i'd love to be able to using a trolling motor with it.
I really like the big rig setup. everyone pushing the self propelled kayaks on me but the peddles take up a lot of space in also see there have been problems with the drives. the kayaks cost 2600 to 3300 bucks and come stripped. the big rig comes ready to fish with hatch covers and and and. what are your thoughts on them, also have you considered a solar charger to charge battery while your out might extend your battery life, just an idea.
How did seal the top of trolling motor shaft? PVC elbow? Rubber boot? Thank you very much for sharing all your hard work & knowledge.. you designed exactly what I had in my head for my 3waters BigFish120.. your awesome for sharing.. thanks again
Best set up man,I have exactly the same Kayak and motor(with an extra full back-up battery),but i am an overweight guy,so I needed extra stabililty.I assembeld Two large PVC tubes(filled with foam)with moped shocks...!!!!!.Hawaiian style but on both side,and you could not flip it over ,even if you wanted to,i have 5 hours autonomy(with back up)I fish large lakes and calm rivers,I installed a tubular/fabric shade spot,I have had the best naps on that 'boat',next project is to build something much bigger,with two electric engines,a four people covered sitting table and a tiny BBQ(a fresh perch or trout on the grill is fantastic......
Also you might want to check it a producer called a bull nose(I believe) but it's a rudder that mounts to the shaft of the motor, it helps eliminate the "Pushing" that you get from a trolling motor. I have one on my pontoon boat and it helps a lot.
awesome dude im trying to make a motorized kayak for my mom she loves kayaking but she has a bad shoulder so she cant paddle very long. i love this design very well built im gonna have to steal some of your ideas lol
This is beyond impressive. I have a cheap dolphin closed top kayak and I feel like it already sits too low in the water to be able to make a system like this. Maybe I should consider an open top instead. I'm not much of an angler but I do enjoy watercraft and being out on the water. so something like this would be amazing
Hey Kevin, Love the setup looks very clean and organized, and i want to follow a similar setup that you ran. I was wondering how you ran the wiring from the stern to the foot peddle. Did you have to make any holes, if so is it easy to run it through the hull? it would be a huge help thx
Great job man, you really have it dialed in! Love the pedals and how you took the top off to streamline it. Is that a regular 30" shaft or did you have to cut it? I'm working on a sportspal canoe right now and am gonna have to steal a couple ideas from ya.
Thanks man. I actually cut the shaft about 4 inches. Upon reflection, it wasn't necessary for my set up. I could've dropped the motor in the water farther.
Great job, nice clean set up. New sub I have a large kayak a beast to paddle ,was thinking of selling it but I think going this way should be better and cheaper that a Peddle kayak.
Just remember, if you are in Texas, adding any motor to a kayak puts it under powered boat regulations, meaning your lighting requirements for night time are different and you also have to register the boat and put the registration number and state tag on the bow. Just a tip for any fellow Texans watching and considering this amazing build.
FacepalmDaily....... as far as registration for your boat your sure I have to have a tx number. I thought it was only if the motor was over a certain horse power. I know that a boat over 12ft with a motor exceeding 5hp has to be registered but didn't think a kayak with trolling motor did. But I'll check before I use the motor
FacepalmDaily yes indeed TX does require registration, and to get reg. You must get s title! Know from first hand experience! Pain in the butt, but shure is nice cruising along peacefully.
Yep, you can read the requirements online, they specifically mention electric trolling motors and you know how Texas is, they won't let you get away with anything.
That's a really nice setup, nice fabrication as well. This is exactly what I'm gonna do on mine. How much were the remote assemblies for the trolling motor?
Kevin Bullington No problem man! I've been messing around with the idea of putting a trolling motor on mine and you knocked it out of the park with this one.. best I've seen so far!
Kevin, I just gotta say, you are one lucky bastard! I watch almost all of your videos. Your reviews are extremely helpful. And you are a dynamite fisherman. You are living the dream of a bass fisherman with that kayak. And now you even have a trolling motor handy for you. I love your videos and keep up the great work. Have a good one sir, and thank you!
You plucked half your idea out of my head and gave me a few new idea's, thank you and great job fella.
Nice!!! Probably the best setup I’ve seen on CZcams land. Simple and clean!
thanks for the help. I've been looking for ways to rig my trolling motor to my kayak. Your video has been the best
That is the perfect setup, you definitely did a great job with that! I want to try to do something like that.
The creativity on this one is superb. Very nice very neat. Tight work man
That’s just awesome and exactly what I want to do to my Kayak now. Mine has a rudder system on it but I think I might be able to retrofit the pull cables setup to turn the motor shaft.
I’m mostly impressed with the mount you made to fit the transom to. Great work.
Instead of just the one forward and reverse speed I think I’d like to build a speed controller to adjust speed in forward and reverse from A control knob where I’m sitting.
Love you’re work, well done 👍
thank you for giving me awesome ideas for kayak fishing. since I can't afford a boat. keep the videos coming
If you can afford this set up, you can afford a boat. My first was a 59 StarCraft 15' runabout that I cut the bow open, added front and rear decks and carpeted them, made a very nice little fishing boat. Total investment, $1100 and a bunch of work. It had a 50 HP two stroke, ran about 45 mph.
getting a little used Jon boat would be great for fishing and crabbing
Awesome thought process! Thanks for sharing this idea. Great video. This is exactly what CZcams was made for. Keep up the great work.
Easily one of the best set ups I've seen on here. Thanks for the tips..
Nice video Kevin! Yes you can be proud of this work, all the facilities are integrated very well in the kayak. I'm motorising my own kayak this time, and you gave me some ideas. Your mistakes are usefull for me :-). Happy you did some :-). So thanks to you.
Great set up! I've been thinking of doing this same thing on my kayak with the same idea for the pedals. Well done.
That is one sweet setup. I'm going to have to do this to one of my kayak. Thanks for the great video.
The best trolling motor setup I've seen. Badass.
Excellent job. Best home built set up I have seen yet.
Wow. That is an amazing setup. Iv been looking for a way to use my endura max on my kayak. This is so perfect and cleanly put together.
Simple yet elegant solution. Great job.
Hi Kevin,
Congratulations on a nice clean/neat install. Like the remote. Many thanks for sharing.
I also use a manual cable steering system on my kayak as a backup to my linear actuator steering system with tilt and trim. I used round/smooth weed eater cable that is the same size as your stainless steel cable. It is less abrasive and you may look at it as a possible alternative.
I am working on a prototype to convert the Minn Kota 5 speed units to variable speed. So far the testing looks good.
John
WOW... Excellent video, gives me all sorts of good ideas for when I purchase my first Kayak!
Thank God someone used their head on their setup. Love the way ya did this yak. Thanks for sharing with the world
Nice setup getting ideas to do my Big Rig Thanks for taking us alone
Needs the - in the water test run - at the end of this video. Great job and very creative way to propel your kayak.
Really clean rigging. Very impressive!!
dang buddy, you just made me want to drop the $ on a big rig... Sweet setup! Thanks for posting a helpful detailed video.
That's one of the best setups I have seen.
Wow! The end product has a really clean finish! Great job!
+Nate NHB thanks Nate!
Yours is the best ..
let me know when you see this , I have some questions.. us yak’ies gotta stick together
Great job mate. Your remote idea kicks ass.
Slick setup man..very nice work and great tutorial!
Dam! Good job ! One of the cleanest set ups I have seen here on youtube !!! and seriously ,thank you for stoping and putting the information on each part you have changed out or highlighted . I am a sub now because of that! Looking forward to the next one. Stablelized pontoons video next?
That’s really creative! Good job and thanks for sharing 🙂
I know this is an old Post but this is an excellent build man. It's what I want to do. I have an old troller, 20lb thrust but enough for my purposes. I want to take the control head off of it so it isn't way high up advertising itself, then remount the controls and run a steering linkage. Be proud man, well done.
Really awesome bro, yout did a great job. Excellent video, explanation and in depth review of what toy did
Awesome kayak bro. I’m gonna setup my coosa like this. Thanks for the idea!
Very nice setup my friend! Nice and clean job!💙🎣🤙
Nice set up! You should youtube etc. research how to add an inline variable speed option to your motor setup so that you don't lose that capability. You can control it from your seat (I would miss not being able to troll at variable speeds.) Also there is a simple way of flattening out your motor shaft to aid in launching your kayak with the motor installed and not scrapping under the prop...then lowering it once you are in the kayak and in the water. I have seen both of these features documented on youtube. Thanks for posting all you vids! I have learned a great deal from your efforts!
I would like to see the videos you're talking about. Doing research now on how best to raise and lower the motor.
Also, I thought the white and yellow wires controlled the speeds. Am I wrong? At the moment, I'd like the ability for variable speeds, but am questioning if I really need that. If that's the case, the remote setup would be ideal.
Kevin I have a similar setup but on a non description Future Beach fishing yak. I didn't have the remote. I place the control head in a rod holder next to me. I steer with a push pull stick until I can set up foot pedals. I also included a release mechanism and a tilt rope. Works great. Nice work. Very professional.
this is the best way I've seen to do this so far. good job guy.
Thats the nicest trolling motor mount i have seen yet ..
I like the video! Great job! I have a big tuna and have been thinking of ways to incorporate a trolling motor.
I have a Big Tuna and mount my trolling motor using a trolling motor mount in the two rod holders on either side behind the seat and use a tiller extension to control speed and direction. The big advantage to this setup is I have speed control. I use a small gel battery used to power a wheelchair and go half a day on it or I can put in the big battery and easily go all day on a single charge. The main reason I get so much more battery life is that I am not running the motor at full speed, which greatly extends my battery life. Your set is quite nicely done. I also saw a guy take the head control and mount it on the side of his float tube so he had speed control. I would take that head and mount it by your seat and you will find that not only will you get a lot more battery life, you also add a lot of finesse to your handling capability.
I agree! Running at 1/2 - 2/3 power will give you endless running time. I really suggest lithium if you can afford it. 50 Ah's weighs all of 14 lbs. You get to use up 100% of the charge with no harm to the battery.
nice set up man. good job. love the foot pedal design you did
Not a kayak guy but definitely admire your set up.
Very clean and like its meant to be there this is the setup ive been looking to do.
Awesome setup, great job!
Clean. Can't wait to see how you utilize it on the water. Very nice!
I'll include some on the water video in my next fishing outing
I'll include some on the water video in my next fishing outing
Nice setup! I like your Appomattox River Company stocker also! I bought my Jackson Zen and accessories from them.
You should be proud! It's a aweosme set up a instruction vid on how you did the transom and electrical parts 😅
Great set up awesome video very very thorough thank you
thats fantastic man, top work...i get my 1st ever kayak tomorrow so im stocked to modify it....thanks for the vid, you just got another sub
That’s awesome! I looked at a few videos today and this seems like good alternative to Bixpy or Torqeedo.
Great job, very clean install
Thank you
Very clean setup! Nice job
Thank you very much
very nice rig, professional install boss. thanks.
You really did your homework very sweet setup
Really nice setup, looks like that would work out great on the water
Thank you Shane.
Hi Kevin, just watched your video your a cool guy, I’m impressed with your set up very professional. I am considering buying a kayak to use here in the UK, but there so many available it’s hard to know which one to choose, I don’t want to spend a lot until I know it’s going to be something I will keep doing.
I look forward to your next video 👍
Clean build. Nice work
Super awesome set up! I will be using the same motor on my Vibe SeaGhost and installing it very similar to that. I want to keep the variable speed for trolling though. Havent decided if I will mount the head from the motor up near my seat or make a new box with on/off switch and potentiometer for the speed control or not. Need to figure that out. Looks great though and very professional install!
Well done! I like it! I'm gonna use this setup. Thanks
and I like that you can still tip the trolling motor up for shallow water
I have an old town kayak angler Xl. Has the removable floor so naturally I drilled a hole in it and put rubber grommets in it and slid the motor up through. No leaks at all. Mounted a waterproof box on my right side with a speed controller so perfect for slow moving fishing. Also added a minnkota deckhand anchor with 100 feet of 1000lb coated kevlar rope. And the 80AH battery keeps me out all day
now thats cool.... makes me wanna get a kayak.....
Thank you. Kayaks are very fun and affordable when compared to boats.
+Kevin Bullington How do you troll then? if you want to, cause I wouldn't want to troll 3mph or can you set the speed however fast or slow you wanna go?
put a small power plant on it and never run out of electricity,but, you may run out of motor
Thanks for the video. Are you able to lift the motor when in shallow water? I want to do the same setup to my big tuna kayak but I always beach launch and I need to be able to launch with the motor up and then lower after the break. Can you also elaborate a little more on the electrical part? And last thing can you please list the remote control name or amazon link?
awesome vid. that kayak is awesome
This is the best trolling on kayak ever.
Great stuff. Best motor set up yet.
Love it, clean and really like peddle steering
Kevin, please provide more information on the switch. Also have you thought about a variable resistor to control the speed? Outstanding video and craftsmanship on your modifications.
Kevin, just to echo so many others, this has to be the cleanest install I have ever seen! Thanks for sharing. Can you please advise where you purchased the collar to install the two eye-bolts. Vendor and part number information would be greatly appreciated.
That's a clean install! Great job!
+FishSCTV thanks man!! Appreciate it
Awesome cayak man, nice job.
damn sweet build and you should be proud of it.
Awesome video and clear, I watched your video over and over and really impress what you did. Question: Where do you buy a ring that connect to the cable? and what is call? Thanks
I HAVE A BIG RIG ALSO.... WITH MOTOR ALSO.... THESE KAYAKS ARE HARDER TO USE THEN MY OTHER . BUT WE GET THE STABLE STANDING FISHING..... SO I LOVE IT....
That is such a cool setup. I don't trust myself though. Im looking into buying my first kayak and i'd love to be able to using a trolling motor with it.
I luv the way you did your Trolling motor! I think I'd consider a "Throttle" on it vs "On/Full Power - Off". Nice work all the same...
I love those kipawa propellers! It adds a lot of power to the throttle action and a lot less weed tangle.
+DeliriousIntentions very nice props. Treats me very well.
Very nice job...thanks for sharing.
Awesome! I've got a Coosa HD I want to try this on. Nicely done.
+Ron Walton thanks Ron. I love the Coosa HD... I hope to own one soon
I really like the big rig setup. everyone pushing the self propelled kayaks on me but the peddles take up a lot of space in also see there have been problems with the drives. the kayaks cost 2600 to 3300 bucks and come stripped. the big rig comes ready to fish with hatch covers and and and. what are your thoughts on them, also have you considered a solar charger to charge battery while your out might extend your battery life, just an idea.
looking at getting a fishing kayak and doing this to it. Nice work kev
Impressive! Great video
Thanks man
How did seal the top of trolling motor shaft? PVC elbow? Rubber boot?
Thank you very much for sharing all your hard work & knowledge.. you designed exactly what I had in my head for my 3waters BigFish120.. your awesome for sharing.. thanks again
Best set up man,I have exactly the same Kayak and motor(with an extra full back-up battery),but i am an overweight guy,so I needed extra stabililty.I assembeld Two large PVC tubes(filled with foam)with moped shocks...!!!!!.Hawaiian style but on both side,and you could not flip it over ,even if you wanted to,i have 5 hours autonomy(with back up)I fish large lakes and calm rivers,I installed a tubular/fabric shade spot,I have had the best naps on that 'boat',next project is to build something much bigger,with two electric engines,a four people covered sitting table and a tiny BBQ(a fresh perch or trout on the grill is fantastic......
Also you might want to check it a producer called a bull nose(I believe) but it's a rudder that mounts to the shaft of the motor, it helps eliminate the "Pushing" that you get from a trolling motor. I have one on my pontoon boat and it helps a lot.
You should do a complete build with materials and wiring instructions. Very cool man.
does all that weight in the back effect the kayak at all?
LOJO hi
yes
bro got left on delivered for 4 years 🤣🤣
looks great man! thanks for sharing..
Sweet setup, I think I will do this on my Malibu Stealth12
awesome dude im trying to make a motorized kayak for my mom she loves kayaking but she has a bad shoulder so she cant paddle very long. i love this design very well built im gonna have to steal some of your ideas lol
This is beyond impressive. I have a cheap dolphin closed top kayak and I feel like it already sits too low in the water to be able to make a system like this. Maybe I should consider an open top instead. I'm not much of an angler but I do enjoy watercraft and being out on the water. so something like this would be amazing
Hey Kevin,
Love the setup looks very clean and organized, and i want to follow a similar setup that you ran. I was wondering how you ran the wiring from the stern to the foot peddle. Did you have to make any holes, if so is it easy to run it through the hull? it would be a huge help thx
I'm lookin to do the same thing to my seaghost 130. Helpful video.
Great job man, you really have it dialed in! Love the pedals and how you took the top off to streamline it. Is that a regular 30" shaft or did you have to cut it? I'm working on a sportspal canoe right now and am gonna have to steal a couple ideas from ya.
Thanks man. I actually cut the shaft about 4 inches. Upon reflection, it wasn't necessary for my set up. I could've dropped the motor in the water farther.
Great job, nice clean set up.
New sub I have a large kayak a beast to paddle ,was thinking of selling it but I think going this way should be better and cheaper that a Peddle kayak.
That awesome man. Good job. I’d like to do it to mine, will just have to figure out the transom set up because my kayak is not square in the back
Just remember, if you are in Texas, adding any motor to a kayak puts it under powered boat regulations, meaning your lighting requirements for night time are different and you also have to register the boat and put the registration number and state tag on the bow.
Just a tip for any fellow Texans watching and considering this amazing build.
Wow good point
FacepalmDaily....... as far as registration for your boat your sure I have to have a tx number. I thought it was only if the motor was over a certain horse power. I know that a boat over 12ft with a motor exceeding 5hp has to be registered but didn't think a kayak with trolling motor did. But I'll check before I use the motor
Thanks Ned Flanders
FacepalmDaily yes indeed TX does require registration, and to get reg. You must get s title! Know from first hand experience! Pain in the butt, but shure is nice cruising along peacefully.
Yep, you can read the requirements online, they specifically mention electric trolling motors and you know how Texas is, they won't let you get away with anything.
That's a really nice setup, nice fabrication as well. This is exactly what I'm gonna do on mine.
How much were the remote assemblies for the trolling motor?
I love your set up if you put a switch in to use the motor on low settings like it come form the factory you will get a way longer run time
Best setup I've seen! Awesome!
+Jonathan Whited thanks Jonathan!! Appreciate your comment!!
Kevin Bullington No problem man! I've been messing around with the idea of putting a trolling motor on mine and you knocked it out of the park with this one.. best I've seen so far!