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Ok today I finished loading up the kayak for salmon fishing and tested the systems in dry dock. Everything worked well so I did a short walk through video. I will have to practice more of these tutorials as I did miss a few things. I will be doing a better one after I build a bridge in front of where the seat now is. The toys got out of reach. Next step is a wet run and then I will take it fishing. Here is the YouTube link. Any questions please ask in the comments section.
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Took a few videos today , taking a test run, to see if moving the seat back was enough to change my balance issue and it looks like we are finally ready to take this yak fishing. It performed beautifully. Top end is 5 MPH but it has a lot of thrust due to the 80# of power. That is fast enough as salmon trolling hovers around 2.5, it will do that on a prop setting of 4, so the batteries should last forever. I had the motor on my tinny as well and ran for 8 hours and still had 25% battery left. The kayak being lighter , I am thinking they would be good for 10 hours. Videos are taken on Fairy Lake Acton. I am very happy with the trolling motor performance....handsfree is a beautiful thing.
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Cool set-up. Your videos of Fairy Lake bring back fond memories of Fairy Lake. In the late 50's and 60's my dad and I caught some very nice Largemouth Bass & Pike in the that. Likely not the same now.
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QUOTE (Fozzy47 @ May 25, 2024 - 05:48 am)
Cool set-up. Your videos of Fairy Lake bring back fond memories of Fairy Lake. In the late 50's and 60's my dad and I caught some very nice Largemouth Bass & Pike in the that. Likely not the same now.
Cheers,
Fozzy I scanned the lake and marked two small fish....talked to an old feller and he said he catches small bass and pike.....I see the kids fishing there a lot. Glad it set off some memories for you.
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QUOTE (sabmgb @ May 25, 2024 - 07:06 am)
looks really good moving in the water, been a long time coming, but will be well worth it. Now for a vid of a fish being caught.
Yes it has been a long build....first covid and getting parts and then the balance issue but all resolved now. I know you been watching the build and the finish of it. Next weekend I will launch out of Waubaushene and if weather cooperates I may launch from Cedar Point, although that place is better during the week as weekends all the idiots are out in their yachts ignoring small boaters. I might get a calm day soon in Lake O......out of 16 mile creek or Bronte.
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I am now looking to add a mega 360 and also a bridge closer to the seat now that I have moved the seat back the toys are out of convenient reach...lol.
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I got out in the kayak in Waubaushene this weekend and fished Saturday and Sunday morning. I went 6 for 7 on pike Saturday and 6 for 6 pike on Sunday. The one that got away on Saturday handed me my line. and attached at the end was a piece of shredded 25# flour carbon line. He hit and just that fast the toothy critter whatever it was, was gone.
The kayak to me is a dream come true......for years my left hand was on a tiller engine and fishing with one hand. Now the features of that Ulterra have made me a very happy man. Fishing handsfree on a heading or a troll line or a contour without needing to steer a boat.......should have done this years ago.
SABMGB.....you were absolutely right.....I love this motor and that it works in conjunction with the Hummingbird.....wow.....just awesome......this is a real game changer for me.
Sorry no pics this time......hoping to set a camera up for video soon.
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So I was out today and discovered that this trolling motor even has cruise control. the I-Pilot guides it by satellite and cruise control governs the speed so that you don't have to keep adjusting it when changing directions due to current or wind.....it just automatically detects and corrects to the speed you set. That to me is amazing and an awesome option.
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the nav feature is amazing, especially while trying to reel in a fish, you don't double back on the other lines. I didn't know you can get speed control. Going to have to read the instructions again.
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QUOTE (sabmgb @ Jun 16, 2024 - 07:52 pm)
the nav feature is amazing, especially while trying to reel in a fish, you don't double back on the other lines. I didn't know you can get speed control. Going to have to read the instructions again.
lol....I haven't read the instructions and finding stuff by going through the remote menu and pushing the button......I find you really have to watch on the touch screen mode.....it does not take much to activate something unwanted at the time......but it is an amazing machine and has already increased my fishing, my comfort and I can really concentrate on the fish and the feel of the rod instead of fighting the wind. Only prob is I asked it to make me a couple of pieces of toast and it did not deliver.
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QUOTE (longfish @ May 24, 2024 - 08:41 pm)
Took a few videos today , taking a test run, to see if moving the seat back was enough to change my balance issue and it looks like we are finally ready to take this yak fishing. It performed beautifully. Top end is 5 MPH but it has a lot of thrust due to the 80# of power. That is fast enough as salmon trolling hovers around 2.5, it will do that on a prop setting of 4, so the batteries should last forever. I had the motor on my tinny as well and ran for 8 hours and still had 25% battery left. The kayak being lighter , I am thinking they would be good for 10 hours. Videos are taken on Fairy Lake Acton. I am very happy with the trolling motor performance....handsfree is a beautiful thing.
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QUOTE (xiaolu @ Jun 20, 2024 - 10:13 am)
QUOTE (longfish @ May 24, 2024 - 08:41 pm)
Took a few videos today , taking a test run, to see if moving the seat back was enough to change my balance issue and it looks like we are finally ready to take this yak fishing. It performed beautifully. Top end is 5 MPH but it has a lot of thrust due to the 80# of power. That is fast enough as salmon trolling hovers around 2.5, it will do that on a prop setting of 4, so the batteries should last forever. I had the motor on my tinny as well and ran for 8 hours and still had 25% battery left. The kayak being lighter , I am thinking they would be good for 10 hours. Videos are taken on Fairy Lake Acton. I am very happy with the trolling motor performance....handsfree is a beautiful thing.
Thanks James . Now that I have tried it I am moving things around. Tweeking it for comfort, putting them within better reach. I am going to build a aluminum bridge in front of the seat that will house two strong aluminum rod holders on the ends of the bridge and in the middle on a track will be my GPS and Fishawk. I will make it a removable piece as it will be specific to hold the strength of a salmon when they hit.
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OK here we go again....Now that I have used the kayak a few times. I noted some changes that I want to do to make my experience more comfortable so here is what I worked on today. I Got a lot of work done on the bridge i told you I was manufacturing. Now waiting for a large 36 inch track. The track will bolt to this I rail I made today. It will bolt to the front of the seat rail. This will hold the two Canon rod holders(multidirectional) and my Helix 10 GPS/sonar and my Fishawk. They will then all be in good reach of where I am seated.
I will finish it on Monday as that is when the track will be delivered.
Building a fishing kayak, with a Minnkota Ulterra
