Trolling Motor

[Kayakaholic]

Hey guys & gals, I'm new to the forum. I've been kayak fishing for 3 years now mostly on Chickamauga. Every now and then I'll venture out on the TN River near Mullins Cove & Nickajack. When I first started yak fishing, I lived close to Savannah Bay & Wolftever out in Ooltewah where I've put a lot of hours in....sometimes 6-7 hrs a day. In an effort to fight the fatigue and heavy traffic on our lakes, I decided to add a trolling motor to my Ocean Kayak Trident 11. Don't get me wrong, I still paddle and kayak traditionally (especially when I'm with friends), I just wanted assistance to get from point A to B. Going into the project I wasn't sure how well I would be able to actually make this work. It started with an empty beer box where I made a template for a motor mount...now I'm trying to fine tune the wiring to this day. It's been a recent project and I wish I took more pictures along the way.

Anyway, I'll post a couple pictures of how it sits today. I'll talk to y'all later!

 

[porthos33]

Pretty sweet rig!

 

[Kayakaholic]

Thank you, sir. Work in progress! It's been a fun project though.

 

[Guest]

Extra nice, now all you need is registration decal and numbers, or just keep a watch out for Mr. Greenjeans!!

 

[Kayakaholic]

Good call! I actually went to the court house on Tuesday. Can you believe it was easier to register a kayak than my own vehicle that I also did this week??? I'm waiting on TWRA to send me my decals now! Woot!

 

[Kayakaholic]

I had lunch with my kayak today (that sounds really sad).

I decided the waterproof box that was housing my Speed Switch was way to clunky. I had to wrap my right leg over it or keep it in my lap. It had to go. I decided to run the wires into the hull which was easy because I could use the existing watertight conduit nut that was in the box. Cut the conduit to length and drilled a 7/8" dia. hole. To my left is where I mounted the switch using a step-drill & a jig saw for the keyhole. I then roughed up the underside where my gooped switch could adhere to better.

All my wiring is now outta sight. Clean & sleek. Just waiting for the goop to settle before installing the control knob.

 

[richg99]

"Waiting for TWRA to send your decals"?????? At least in Texas, and I am sure also in TN. all that you will get from TWRA is your registration papers. You are on your own to buy the stick on-numbers that match what they assigned to your craft.

You may find that the normal stick-on numbers/letters do not stick very well onto the kayak material. I had to fashion a piece of plexiglass and mount it to the front of my yak for my numbers. If you find some "stick-em" that works, I'd love to hear about it.

Unfortunately, that kayak is back in Texas (Winter home) or I'd shoot a picture of what I did.

richg99

 

[Kayakaholic]

Maybe so Rich. I've not had the luxury to own a registered boat (yet) so I'll let you know soon.

Thanks for the tip on the sticky or lack of it on HDPE material. I was thinking of making my own mounting plate like you're suggesting because originally I thought my numbers would be under water which would defeat the purpose. I would mount it on my front hatch if need be...

 

[Kayakaholic]

Asking around my boat enthusiast buddies, said they received their decals in the mail.

Let me add, the clerk at the court house may not know what they're talking about but they also said I would receive decals as soon as TWRA acknowledges the registration. ???? Either way, I really don't mind buying my own decals.

We shall see!

 

[scooby-doo pole]

So for now, the yellow copy of your registration paperwork acts as your temporary/proof of registration if stopped by TWRA while you're on the water; so it's vital to keep that on you at all times while on the water It will take a few weeks for the TWRA to send your official registration decal stickers in the mail. When I say "stickers," I'm not talking about the 3inch 123.. or ABC.. The registration stickers are different colors and have the year your registration expires. For example, my sticker is blue and has 17 for 2017. You won't know what your registration number/letter combination (TN 1234 AB) is until you receive those stickers in the mail. The official registration paperwork along with the stickers will have whatever regis. combo you end up with printed on both. Once you have that then you can go buy your ABC's and 123's.

 

[richg99]

OK...thanks to the above clear post, I figured out why I was so confused.

In Texas ( I spend 6 months there every year)..they assign the numbers and actually give you the boat-side Year/Month sticker when you register a boat in person at TPWD. In TN. they, apparently, don't assign your number instantly. So, you have to wait and buy the numbers after you receive the paperwork.

Where I was messed up was, I had registered a boat in TN two years ago, and didn't have to wait. That was because the boat was PREVIOUSLY registered in TN and already had numbers on the sides. I did have to apply the Month/Year sticker later.

Sorry for my confusion. richg99

 

[Guest]

No problem, Rich. What Scooby is saying makes total sense. So I will get a yearly sticker just like my vehicle but not the unique tag number. I'd be willing to bet my friends' boats had a previous registration as well....explains why they didn't have to get new numbers. Thanks Scooby for the clarification!

Let me add a couple more pictures, I'm pretty excited about the motor (if the file sizes aren't too big). Let me know if I'm posting too many redundant pictures....

 

[Kayakaholic]

Oops, I guess I wasn't logged in!!

 

[scooby-doo pole]

That's correct! If the boat you're buying is used, the registration numbers, 99% of the time, have already been assigned by TWRA and should be properly displayed on the hull. As the new owner of the boat, the only thing that should be required is renewal of the registration in the new owner's name. On the other hand; when purchasing a new boat, never been registered before obviously, yellow copy of registration paperwork is essentially the same thing as a temporary driveout tag from the dealership. Once the TWRA receives payment and files your registration paperwork only then can the hull registration ID be assigned for that individual vessel.

 

[granger]

I am new to this area (moved from Texas) and wanting to get a kayak to start some fishing. I didn't know you had to get a kayak registered. Or do you just have to get it registered if you have a trolling motor?

 

[Kayakaholic]

granger - 8/6/2016 10:30 PM

I am new to this area (moved from Texas) and wanting to get a kayak to start some fishing. I didn't know you had to get a kayak registered. Or do you just have to get it registered if you have a trolling motor?

Only for motorized vessels...

 

[richg99]

Granger... I spend half year near Crossville TN and half in Houston richg99

 

[granger]

I am in Ooltewah. I was from the Austin area.

Granger

 

[richg99]

TN is fine. Weather certainly better than TX in the summer. Winters, I am back in TX. richg99

 

[Randy H]

Very nice set up. This will be my first year kayak fishing, and newly relocated from the north ( yes a damn yankee). Any tips on where I should put in around the Hixson area? Close to Cedar Frost.