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01-02-2025 REELLIFE DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 16


that keeps it from getting
banged up by underwater
objects.
INCREASED BUOYANCY
& STANDUP-ABILITY
Kayaks that have stand-up
ability aren’t necessarily
a new concept, yet it is a
concept that is being more
widely integrated into
peddle kayaks and kayaks
that are electronic motor
compatible. These kayaks
typically have increased
hull buoyancy and hull
width to allow the operator
to stand up while fishing.
Some are built with an
open deck to increase the
surface area for your feet
while standing. Standing up
provides a great advantage
while fishing by allowing
the angler to have better
positioning for site fishing
and affords a significant
amount of increased
comfort by allowing the
angler to stretch their legs
and move to new positions.
ELECTRONIC MOTORS
Finally, we get to electronic
motor drives. This is where
we see the line between
traditional fishing boats
and kayaks start to get
fuzzy. “Human-powered
watercraft” is the term that
has traditionally defined
the kayak. Integrating an
electronic motor certainly
moves us away from that
category, but still, the
convenience of electronic
motors is appealing to
anglers who want their
focus to be on fishing
and not on peddling or
paddling.
Motor-compatible kayaks
have a few options for
mounting the motor, and
that will be determined
by your specific kayak.
Generally, the options for
mounting are the stern, the
bow, or a couple of feet aft
of the seat in the same port
your peddle drive would
normally sit in. Steering is
achieved by either a motor
tiller or a steering lever that
controls a rudder.
Motor-compatible kayaks
are built to support the
weight of the motor, the
batteries, the angler, and
his or her gear. This means
they are generally larger
and heavier than your
standard fishing kayak
and more often than not,
they will require a trailer
to be transported to and
from your fishing grounds.
Pulling a trailer for a kayak?
Why not just get a regular
boat? Well, that’s a valid
question and is why I
personally stick to kayaks
that can be thrown on top
of something as small as a
Subaru outback. However, If
you’re ok with charging and
relying on batteries, you
don’t mind using a trailer,
and are ok with the extra
volume and weight you’ll
have to tote around, then
motorized kayaks might
work for you.
Spring will be here sooner
than you expect, and
hopefully, this info will
inspire you to look at some
of the many options out
there in the kayak fishing
world. Remember, the best
way to beat the crowds is
to get away from them.
Peddling (or paddling) your
kayak out into the open
water will allow you to do
just that.