Electric Inflatable Kayak

I just created my first electric boat.

Used a Sevylor Quick Pak 5 Inlfatable Kayak,
and built a PVC frame to mount the electric motor on.

I used an 30 pound thrust Minn Kota trolling motor,
and a 80 Amp Hour Deep Cycle 12 Volt Marine battery.

Top speed is only about 2.4 mph, but fast enough for slow cruising,
and at least as fast as I could paddle.

I will try to post some pics later.

Kayak weight is approx 24 lbs
Kayak can support 250lbs
Electric motor Weight is 15 lbs
Battery weight is 45 lbs

I did look int LiOn batts, but too expensive for now.

Pics, or it never happened.

Here's some pics from the web

K5 Kayak

http://www.sevylor.com/QuikPak-K5-Kayak-P2140C41.aspx

I paid about $230 for the kayak on Amazon



Minn Kota trolling motor
http://www.walmart.com/ip/15686718?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000648076&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=13943685070&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34862268910&veh=sem

I got this for $60 on Craigslist


The deep cycle battery I got for $75 at Costco.


Cost of the PVC motor mount was approx $20,
thats not inculding PVC cement.

About $15 in rope, used to secure the motor frame to the kayak.


I also got a deep cycle battery charger. about $50 on Amazon.
This pulse, and reduces sulfation, and also has a specific AGM / Deep cycle mode.
Can be used to trickle charge as well.,

jimw1960 said:

Pics, or it never happened.

Click to expand...

I got video, but too big to upload ....

You can upload to youtube and send a link. I'm really curious to see your project in action.

I have thought about such a thing quite often. Never is design terms though, just that it would be cool.

I just had a look, and was surprised to find forums on the subject and a shop selling 12v trolling motors for $120 new. A used inflatable with wooden back for motor mounting is not a great deal of money. I should of done this months ago.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/trolling-motor-mount-for-inflatable-canoe-kayak-sevylor-canyon-hudson-colorado-/261276106568?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_CanoesKayaks_Rafts_SM&hash=item3cd544ff48

I've considered the idea of making an electric boat, towing it to some water with an ebike and then just doing whatever it is I'd do with a boat. But I keep going in circles on the idea that I'd be leaving the ebike behind. So I imagine either putting the ebike in the boat or making the ebike into a boat.

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=48416 This thread is sort of about the notion. I've yet to do anything like that, but it seems interesting. What I imagine for extreme mobility is being able to ride the ebike across some water.

I got inspiration for the pvc mount from this youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrzCUrX6Uug


Sadly the guy sank his kayak, watch it until the end.
Fortunately he was ok, and made it back to shore.

So i made sure I had a life jacket, and was on small river, where easier to get back to shore if necessary.
Fortunately it seems pretty safe.


I have had 2 trips on my ekayak.
Maiden voyage was Aug 31st, and just had it out again on Sept 1.

There are some improvements I could make.
The 15lbs motor does cause a bit of a lean to the side it is mounted on,
so i have to compensate by leaning to the other side a bit with my body weight.

I didnt want to do the outrigger skeg on the opposite side of the motor,
as i figured it would slow down the boat due to more water resistance and weight.

So leaning my body weight does compensate a bit for the motor weight.

A bit of water does leak into the K5 skirt, as the orange part of the boat is not water proof.
In 2.5 hours i took on about 1/2 gallon of water, but Im not really worried about sinking.
if more water came in, I would know, and it would also spill out the top.
The water sits in the bottom of the kayak bag....
The kayak is a grey inflatable PVC boat, with 3 air chambers, which fits into a nice Cordura nylon,
and PVC bag.
The bag protects the kayak, and also has a skirt on top.

friendly1uk said:

I have thought about such a thing quite often. Never is design terms though, just that it would be cool.

I just had a look, and was surprised to find forums on the subject and a shop selling 12v trolling motors for $120 new. A used inflatable with wooden back for motor mounting is not a great deal of money. I should of done this months ago.

Click to expand...

Sevylor has a 18 lb thrust trolling motor for about $90 new,
but I wanted the 30lb thrust.

Here's their kit
http://www.amazon.com/SEVYLOR-Electric-Boat-Trolling-Motor/dp/B0082126N8/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1378245788&sr=1-3&keywords=sevylor+motor+mount+kit



But you can get the trolling motors used cheaper, and a bigger battery.

The mount only works for their dinghy boats, not for kayaks.

I'm in the uk so should of said £80 really. I won't get the competitive pricing you get over there unfortunately.

I just added this link to my last post, not realising how fast the thread was moving. It sounds a lot like what you have made
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/trolling-motor-mount-for-inflatable-canoe-kayak-sevylor-canyon-hudson-colorado-/261276106568?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_CanoesKayaks_Rafts_SM&hash=item3cd544ff48

Edit: Wow, your link has opened my eyes. Next summer perhaps. I think the one I was looking at wouldn't keep up with the tide lol

Nice pic.

For 20$ and a bit of work, you can easily make that out of PVC.
It wont be as strong, but all it has to support is the 15lb weight or lighter of the motor,
and the 30lb thrust.
I think the PVC is more than strong enough.

Here's a video.
Its taken POV from the ekayak, so you cant actually see the ekayak.
Next time I will have my friend video me.
You can see Sevylor K5 in action, as my friend has the same kayak, just no electric motor.


http://youtu.be/SCXULWqv9c0

posting a few pics

I will try to add explanation
when I have time

hard to put the comments in with the photos

a few comments

Used a steel hurricane strap to give the clamps something more solid to hold on to
That is what is under the duct tape

Used wing nuts on the battery to make it a wrenchless install

Used rope in what was originally bungee tie down straps, to secure the pvc frame to the kayak

Lead acid battery fits nicely in the dry well.
I did have a marine battery box but it was too big to fit in the dry well

used rope to secure motor to frame, just in case the clamps failed

The clamps held well, even when I hit sand bottom
Kayak and frame is very flexible

The depth of the motor us adjustable.
for shallow water i put it about 12 nches into the water
I also tried deeper prop which makes the throttle control lower in height