Hobie PA 12 Minn Kota motor build

[Montesdad]

Thought I'd post some pics of my motor build for a Hobie PA 12 with a West Marine Minn Kota 40 motor.
I used a standard Hobie plug, installed some aluminum plates for support and encountered some trial and error.

Berfore you start something like this, check the exterior diameter of any motor, the blade path and the width of your particular plug hole.
Hobie PA's have a wider hole then some of the older Revo's - this unit will not fit in my Revo.

Drilling out the support plates



Preliminary mounting





Opted to reinforce the internal of the plug with some foam - this was a treat and a learning experience

[Montesdad]

Checking the preliminary fit -







still checking the fit - dremeled off the excess of the stainless steel screws

[Montesdad]

Ok - we have a problem here. Getting the thing in and out is going to be an issue. It won't maneuver properly with the seat in place - this is going to be a pain.



Even with the top off, it won't fit - hummmmmm!!!!



Ah - the solution, it comes and goes quite easily this way. Spin it around, drop the head into the storage hatch and it comes and goes easily -
Just need to make sure the prop is lined up when taking it out.

[Montesdad]

So, now we shorten the post so it sits lower to the water and is out of the way for fishing - after eyeballing and doing this cutting, I would have left the post about two inches longer but, it still comes and goes easily.



I inserted a cut down paint stir stick to make sure I didn't cut any of the wires with the hacksaw -

[Montesdad]

Now for the electronics - I cut the wires down the same amount of the post removal, put fresh connections on them and rewired so there wouldn't be so much left over. Drilled a fresh hole for the top mount and put it all back together.






Decided to trim the propeller guard off to help with facilitating removal and insertion into the plug hole. In retrospect, I could have left it on - just seems a bit easier for removal.
I figure I'm not going to be running over any objects and I always have me pedals stowed as a backup.

[619-SWIM-DOG]

Dont forget to register your PA now that your a motorized vessel.

[Montesdad]

I didn't want to run the power cables directly thru to the battery - so I picked up a black cutting board at Bed Bath and Beyond which had a very convenient hole in just the right place. Cut a piece off to the same dimensions as the Hobie pole holder unit where it'll go.
If fit perfectly with a West Marine plug that I picked up for $20.



I installed a recommended 50 amp manual reset circuit breaker to the back side of the plate and installed it on the right side of the yak in place of the pole holders.

Made a little mounting plate and epoxied the unit to the back of the plug place internally



Some basic wiring started





A Sealed, Lead Acid, GEL type, 55 AMP NF-22 battery fits perfectly between the scupper tubes internally directly under the center of mass/seat.

[Saba Slayer]

Try the new Hobie plug/cassette, it is much sturdier and the locking nubs on the sides are much stronger...also...there's no need to hack up the motor..the Motor Guide R-3 fits right through the mirage drive hole. I run the cable thru the boat and use the minnkotta flushmount three-prong twist-plug for the power, rigged by the mast mount up front...nice and clean rig.

I also use a larger battery mounted behind the seat which still allows for the bait tank to fit and a longer run time. I have the same small PWC battery that you have and I use it for my Scotty power hauler... but it really doesn't give me very much run time with the trolling motor. The R-3 is only about $125. I take my mirage drive with me as backup but haven't had to use it yet.


Before I started the project I went to the "Trolling Motor Doctor" in Long Beach and we tried all his smaller (affordable) motors untill we found a good one that fit in the mirage drive hole. The R-3 with the 2 blade prop fit best. He was quite helpful and really knew all the motors very well. Since I'm on the Hobie team I tried to stay away from the Johnson products (Minn Kota).

[Raskal311]

Which R3 is that, there seems to be a few different models.

[Saba Slayer]

Raskal
Here is a photo of the motor...

[Montesdad]

I remember seeing a picture of your motor before starting - gave me some ideas on my project.

I wanted an internal battery - just too many times out on the ocean on a bad in my revo, surf launches etc. - seemed best to keep the center of gravity as low as possible.

Looked at the Motorguides with 30 pounds of thrust - they will get the job done. Was down at West Marine with my yak on the top of the car and they had two of these salt water Minn Kota units left - we took it out of the box and saw that the motor housing was 3.25" and I had 3.35" of plug hole clearance and it fit with the two blade prop that comes with it. Since they were offering a discount - brought it home and went that way. If I was just doing flat water fishing and needed extended range - an exterior battery pack like yours might be the way.

Really, the only hacking I did that I now feel was necessary is to shorten the post -

With an internal battery and the R-3 motor, they'll fit on a Revo without having to go the +$2K range for a Hobie unit with a Lithium battery.

[HAVABASS]

If you are lazy and not a mechanic, there is always the bassyaks website....

They sell complete kits