Motor for Hobie Mirage yaks. - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

PapaDave · 11-18-2014, 03:18 PM

Okay, so I stumbled across this while browsing YouTube and decided to try it out...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwU...oeKZwffCiHJYCw

I received the motor and hooked it up to a marine battery with a 101AH rating and turned it on. After 11 hours on high it was still going strong and I figured that was good enough for a test. Granted it didn't have a load on it, but even at half that time I am good.

Open water test run this weekend...

Raskal311 · 11-18-2014, 07:00 PM

Keep us updated!

ryan111 · 11-18-2014, 08:10 PM

how do you make the thing so it fits in the peddle slot? does it ruin the peddle?

HBOUND808 · 11-18-2014, 08:38 PM

LOL, kayaks and motors??

Raskal311 · 11-18-2014, 11:21 PM

The PA isn't a kayak

blazian · 11-18-2014, 11:32 PM

I fit a minn kota motor in place of the pedal drive. It pushes my
tandem outfitter at 4.2 mph. I love it cuz im lazy

TJones · 11-19-2014, 08:18 AM

the slip in hobie torqeedo which has lots of good things about it . like the motor itself . German made . top of line . battery of first generation was ok . second generation has an added cell , giving more range but I have not used it and can not give an opinion on . i sold my unit and the person buying it from me was intending on cutting into harness and using a different light weight nipo battery . this might actually be the best option (granted you are going to need an electrical degree to pull this off ). this battery he was planning on buying would be running into the the thousands . it might have been worth it , just to buy a second battery at the cost of 650 - 700 $ price range .

. on an outback , with all this extra weight (16 lbs.) and space consumed , hardly worth it . hooking up a motor on a PA is not a bad idea especially with an aging body . hope some of this information helps . let us know how it turns out .

Saba Slayer · 11-20-2014, 07:54 AM

I couldn't afford the $2000 Hobie German made version...so I opted for the Motor Guide R-3 trolling motor. I also used the Mirage Drive plug, but I used aluminum plates instead of some cutting board material. The rig fits on my Outback and on my PA 14. I tried a smaller PWC battery on the Outback but they just don't have the storage capacity to last very long. A big group 24 battery is easy to deal with on the PA and gives me plenty of battery time.
And you're right Raskal311...the Hobie PA is not a kayak!
Kareem korn...don't buy that POS...it looks like a toy. The MotorGuide R-3 is only about $120 and it's made so much better.

PapaDave · 11-20-2014, 08:54 AM

Besides, I am looking into getting a PA17....

fishingfiend · 12-09-2014, 09:45 PM

How are you liking the motor setup? He mentions in the video that he goes all day on a 35AH battery. The 35AH lithium from battery tender looks like it could be a good match. Weighs 3.75#
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...attery+lithium

Saba Slayer · 12-10-2014, 08:04 AM

I read on the Hobie chat boards that Hobie is coming out with a new trolling motor and it will be released on the 17th of this month...I tried to get Kevin to leak some info...but those guys at Hobie are like the CIA when it comes to keeping a secret!
Fishingfiend...After reading the reviews It looks like the battery tender is a 10ah battery not 35ah as listed.

fishingfiend · 12-10-2014, 07:04 PM

Good catch Jim! Dang, still hoping they'll come down in price. Now I'm curious as to what Hobie will announce. Thanks for the headsup.

danjor · 12-10-2014, 07:26 PM

Also interested in what hobie is going to release. I put my motor project on hold while awaiting a new thruster since i did not care for how heavy and inefficient trolling motors are. Hopefully this thruster will work as good as it does on paper. Weigh less than a pound, 10lbs thrust, super efficient brushless motor, integrated ESC, high pitched prop, plan is to use 2 to keep them in there most efficient range. And by than im hoping to have a pro angler too

PapaDave · 12-11-2014, 09:22 AM

I took the motor out for a spin at DP, worked fairly well but was not as fast as the 4 mph the guy got in his outback. My average with a fully loaded PA14 was 2.5. I used a regular deep cycle battery with 110 AH, a bit on the heavier side but in theory would last all day.

Took a little getting used to, didn't know what to do with my feet. And while it improves the turn radius and tracking on the PA, when in close to the kelp it was a pain in the arse. So I think that I will use the motor to get to an area as well as for trolling but switch over to the drive when I get there.

Okay, so all was going well until I snag a kelp strand with the motor in reverse. The retaining nut must have come loose or the prop broke, or something, as I lost the prop (Good thing I brought the peddles along eh?).

Now the real disappointment, I have been unable to find anyone who sells the prop for that brand of motor. Bummer, I was able to find one that was close enough that I could modify to work so next time out we will see what happens.

I have found another source for a motor for Mirage drive kayaks. Check these out, some even have a remote control.

http://www.islandhopperoutboards.com...for-hobie.html

11-18-2014, 03:18 PM	#1
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	Motor for Hobie Mirage yaks. Okay, so I stumbled across this while browsing YouTube and decided to try it out... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwU...oeKZwffCiHJYCw I received the motor and hooked it up to a marine battery with a 101AH rating and turned it on. After 11 hours on high it was still going strong and I figured that was good enough for a test. Granted it didn't have a load on it, but even at half that time I am good. Open water test run this weekend... __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

11-18-2014, 07:00 PM	#2
Raskal311 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Santa Ana/Westminster Posts: 1,256	Keep us updated! __________________ Kevin Yellow PA12 Last edited by Raskal311; 11-18-2014 at 11:22 PM.

11-18-2014, 08:10 PM	#3
ryan111 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: la jolla CA Posts: 146	how do you make the thing so it fits in the peddle slot? does it ruin the peddle? __________________

11-18-2014, 11:21 PM	#5
Raskal311 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Santa Ana/Westminster Posts: 1,256	The PA isn't a kayak __________________ Kevin Yellow PA12

11-19-2014, 08:18 AM	#7
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,526	never thought about the slip in hobie torqeedo which has lots of good things about it . like the motor itself . German made . top of line . battery of first generation was ok . second generation has an added cell , giving more range but I have not used it and can not give an opinion on . i sold my unit and the person buying it from me was intending on cutting into harness and using a different light weight nipo battery . this might actually be the best option (granted you are going to need an electrical degree to pull this off ). this battery he was planning on buying would be running into the the thousands . it might have been worth it , just to buy a second battery at the cost of 650 - 700 $ price range . . on an outback , with all this extra weight (16 lbs.) and space consumed , hardly worth it . hooking up a motor on a PA is not a bad idea especially with an aging body . hope some of this information helps . let us know how it turns out . Last edited by TJones; 11-19-2014 at 08:19 AM. Reason: typo

11-18-2014, 08:38 PM	#4
HBOUND808 Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 51	LOL, kayaks and motors??

11-18-2014, 11:32 PM	#6
blazian Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 106	I fit a minn kota motor in place of the pedal drive. It pushes my tandem outfitter at 4.2 mph. I love it cuz im lazy

11-20-2014, 07:54 AM	#8
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,855	Motor Guide R-3 I couldn't afford the $2000 Hobie German made version...so I opted for the Motor Guide R-3 trolling motor. I also used the Mirage Drive plug, but I used aluminum plates instead of some cutting board material. The rig fits on my Outback and on my PA 14. I tried a smaller PWC battery on the Outback but they just don't have the storage capacity to last very long. A big group 24 battery is easy to deal with on the PA and gives me plenty of battery time. And you're right Raskal311...the Hobie PA is not a kayak! Kareem korn...don't buy that POS...it looks like a toy. The MotorGuide R-3 is only about $120 and it's made so much better. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

11-20-2014, 08:54 AM	#9
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	Besides, I am looking into getting a PA17.... __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

12-09-2014, 09:45 PM	#10
fishingfiend Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 196	How are you liking the motor setup? He mentions in the video that he goes all day on a 35AH battery. The 35AH lithium from battery tender looks like it could be a good match. Weighs 3.75# http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...attery+lithium

12-10-2014, 08:04 AM	#11
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,855	New Hobie motor I read on the Hobie chat boards that Hobie is coming out with a new trolling motor and it will be released on the 17th of this month...I tried to get Kevin to leak some info...but those guys at Hobie are like the CIA when it comes to keeping a secret! Fishingfiend...After reading the reviews It looks like the battery tender is a 10ah battery not 35ah as listed. __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 12-10-2014 at 08:12 AM.

12-10-2014, 07:04 PM	#12
fishingfiend Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 196	Good catch Jim! Dang, still hoping they'll come down in price. Now I'm curious as to what Hobie will announce. Thanks for the headsup.

12-10-2014, 07:26 PM	#13
danjor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 673	Also interested in what hobie is going to release. I put my motor project on hold while awaiting a new thruster since i did not care for how heavy and inefficient trolling motors are. Hopefully this thruster will work as good as it does on paper. Weigh less than a pound, 10lbs thrust, super efficient brushless motor, integrated ESC, high pitched prop, plan is to use 2 to keep them in there most efficient range. And by than im hoping to have a pro angler too

12-11-2014, 09:22 AM	#14
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,473	I took the motor out for a spin at DP, worked fairly well but was not as fast as the 4 mph the guy got in his outback. My average with a fully loaded PA14 was 2.5. I used a regular deep cycle battery with 110 AH, a bit on the heavier side but in theory would last all day. Took a little getting used to, didn't know what to do with my feet. And while it improves the turn radius and tracking on the PA, when in close to the kelp it was a pain in the arse. So I think that I will use the motor to get to an area as well as for trolling but switch over to the drive when I get there. Okay, so all was going well until I snag a kelp strand with the motor in reverse. The retaining nut must have come loose or the prop broke, or something, as I lost the prop (Good thing I brought the peddles along eh?). Now the real disappointment, I have been unable to find anyone who sells the prop for that brand of motor. Bummer, I was able to find one that was close enough that I could modify to work so next time out we will see what happens. I have found another source for a motor for Mirage drive kayaks. Check these out, some even have a remote control. http://www.islandhopperoutboards.com...for-hobie.html __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...