Fishing Victoria Forum

For any serious kayak Fishos out there (Please be responsible if you undertake this trial as it will have negative impacts on the rest of Kayak Fishos if you abuse or fail this test period) :thumbsup:
http://transportsafety.vic.gov.au/marit ... ric-motors

Victorian paddlers who want to fit a small electric motor to their kayaks or canoes will not be required to register their craft or hold a marine licence, as part of a trial exemption in 2018.

The trial aims to reduce red tape for low-powered vessels travelling up to 5 knots, while continuing to ensure safety. It will run between 1 January and 31 December 2018, and is for kayaks and canoes with electric motors of up to 40 pounds thrust (or 1 horsepower or 750 watts).

“If the trial period shows that the safety of paddlers is not compromised in any way, this exemption is likely to become permanent,” explained Peter Corcoran, Director, Maritime Safety Victoria.

“This will also enable an easier process for people taking their paddle craft interstate.”

The trial is in response to a recommendation from the Red Tape Commissioner to bring Victorian requirements closer to New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

The benefits of motor use are that kayakers and other paddlers can conserve energy and have some assistance in getting home after their trip.

Please click on the link for full details.

Looks like we will have yaks firther offshore now

Will be good idea for the responsibile yakers

smile0784 wrote:Looks like we will have yaks firther offshore now

Will be good idea for the responsibile yakers

The least appropriate place for electric motors on kayaks

Do other states already allow it?
Must do because it says to bring inline with other states.
So how were there trails?
So sounds like they want to see if victorian can be responsible before they lift the rules since already allowed in other states.

I’m sensing more rescue missions coming on

Just out of curiosity
On a normal boat the electic motor gets wired to the main boat battery and the main boat battery is charged from when the boat is run off the main motor.

Considering the size of a kayak, will it store a big boat battery or will only just a small battery and will it hold up to use of a electics motor for 4 to 5 hours a day with out charging

Kayaks need lower powered motors and hence batteries. So generally they can easily manage with a smaller 50ah or so battery. I have a 125ah battery only for the trolling motor. Plus another main battery

Tim399 wrote:I’m sensing more rescue missions coming on

Yes. That was my first thoughts as well. Many guys have already tried this and didnt know what to do when they capsized and couldnt manage a re-entry.

Another peoblem is now there will be a lot more of them further away from.land which makes it more dangerous in **** weather. Cause you cant see them.

Good points are basically they get more range. Which will.open up a lot of opportunities for them in bays and also lakes etc.

Does your 125ah get charged from the alterater

smile0784 wrote:Considering the size of a kayak, will it store a big boat battery or will only just a small battery and will it hold up to use of a electics motor for 4 to 5 hours a day with out charging

a bit of a guide
https://www.trollingmotors.net/blogs/se ... r-run-time

but on say a 30 lb thrust by there guide max speed about 30 amp med speed 15 amp and slow about 5 amp

purple5ive wrote: Yes. That was my first thoughts as well. Many guys have already tried this and didnt know what to do when they capsized and couldnt manage a re-entry.

so with a 50 AH half the charge is about 25 amp ( running the battery down 50 % )so for the above 30 lb lecky less than and hour flat out about 1 hour 40 min med speed or 5 hours slow speed

We did a trip out from Lang Lang with a guy that had a lecky motor , I'm pretty sure he had to run it fairly fast to keep up with our paddling only there was a bit of wind and tide to contend with about 7 km into the trip his battery was spent
Now the fun bit because he had the motor set up like a rudder ( easier to steer with while fishing hands free ) the motor couldn't be lifted
on the way back to the ramp we had the tide in our favour but every time Charlie stopped paddling the water drag on the motor at the rear turned him against the tide flow - paddling faster than the tide had extra drag of the motor + the extra weight of the battery

He was knackered by the ramp and only had a couple of Ks to paddle with the tide - all this drama in an easy to paddle area with beaches close both sides now imagine to same trip 7 km out in PPB with the battery dying 7 km back with a boat that doesn't paddle - I see more work for the coast guard

So some thought does need to be done to fit a motor - I don't think 50 ah is enough but a larger battery has the bad effects of higher C o G which could cut down stability and make it harder to right the kayak if tipped over