- #1
KayakGuy
- 1
- 0
Simple Question (I hope) being that air flow and water flow are similar...I own a Hobie ProAngler Kayak that I've modified. I built a transom mount and added an electric trolling motor (Motorguide, Varimax T-55). The Kayak's normal propulsion is a pedal drive system that uses wing-like flippers. The kayak has a rudder system that when in the stowed position (under the Kayak) acts like part of the keel, and can be deployed by release of a string located in the cockpit. The steering system consists of a pully hub that's movement is controlled by spectra control line that runs to a steering lever located in the cockpit, and the pully is attached to a vertical shaft that runs through the Kayak's hull that is attached to the rudder.
When on the water using just the pedal drive, and as long as the kayak has water moving across the rudder, the Kayak steers great (will turn a radius within the Kayak's length...I currently have the trolling motor fixed in a straight forward position, attached to the transom behind the rudder, and use the Kayak's rudder to steer. When using the motor, the Kayak has a much larger turning radius...Soo...My question is...
If I wanted to use the trolling motor in addition to the Kayak's rudder to steer (both being aligned with the centerline of the Kayak, and both attached to the same steering hub pully, allowing coordinated movement)...Would the rudder and motor steering work together to shorten the turning radius, or would the turbulence created by the Kayak rudder interfere with the motor's steering, causing the two to work against each other or be less efficient?
Thanks
When on the water using just the pedal drive, and as long as the kayak has water moving across the rudder, the Kayak steers great (will turn a radius within the Kayak's length...I currently have the trolling motor fixed in a straight forward position, attached to the transom behind the rudder, and use the Kayak's rudder to steer. When using the motor, the Kayak has a much larger turning radius...Soo...My question is...
If I wanted to use the trolling motor in addition to the Kayak's rudder to steer (both being aligned with the centerline of the Kayak, and both attached to the same steering hub pully, allowing coordinated movement)...Would the rudder and motor steering work together to shorten the turning radius, or would the turbulence created by the Kayak rudder interfere with the motor's steering, causing the two to work against each other or be less efficient?
Thanks