Kayaking is a sport that pulls all kinds of individuals.
You could possibly be an adrenaline-powered kayaker who loves to chop by way of massive and robust waves. On the flip aspect, you is also a laid-back kayaker who prefers to maneuver the water whereas fishing on the aspect.
When you fall in the direction of the adventurous aspect of the spectrum, you’ll possible need to paddle your approach by way of the water. Nevertheless, in case your pursuits lie in the direction of the opposite finish, you need to have thought of mounting a trolling motor to your kayak sooner or later.
Because you’re studying this text, we’ll assume that you just need to add a trolling motor to your kayak.
Nevertheless, the massive query is, do you need to purchase a trolling motor mount or make one your self?
Our suggestion falls in the direction of making your individual trolling motor mount. It’s because most good kayaks aren’t appropriate with pre-built trolling motor mounts anyway.
On high of that, constructing your individual trolling motor mount is cost-effective and will also be a enjoyable DIY venture. So, on this article, we’ll clarify how one can go about making a trolling motor mount for a kayak.
First Issues First – The place Do You Need the Mount to Be?
Earlier than you begin considering of constructing your individual trolling motor mount, you could know the place you need it. In spite of everything, how will you begin modeling and not using a particular place in thoughts?
There are just a few essential belongings you want to remember whereas selecting the proper spot.
● Motor fashion
Do you could dangle the trolling motor on the aspect or on the bow? The motors that are supposed to be held on the aspect are normally bigger and extra highly effective than these you’ll be able to dangle on the bow. Consequently, it’s important to know this earlier than you begin constructing a mount.
● Dominant hand
The trolling motor will possible be your major device for navigation whilst you’re on the kayak. Subsequently, all the time place the motor at your dominant aspect so that you could steer adequately.
● Ergonomics
The motor’s deal with ought to have an environment friendly association so that you could seize it in a safe place. It could be greatest in the event you didn’t must bend backward in your seat or twist your hand at an uncomfortable angle.
● House
A trolling motor doesn’t include the motor alone. As an alternative, it’s a union of the motor and its operating battery. So whereas you’ll be making house for the motor, additionally, you will must put it near its battery.
● Depth
A side-hanging trolling motor comes at a sure depth, and as you progress the deal with, the propeller strikes as effectively, altering instructions. Consequently, you’ll have to place the motor at a spot the place it has sufficient house to maneuver round with out hindering the kayak.
What Will The Trolling Motor Mount Look Like?
Nearly each kayaker has a unique concept of constructing their trolling motor mount.
Even with the fundamental construction in thoughts, each kayaker tends to need to construct a specialised mannequin for themselves. In spite of everything, a little bit of personalization doesn’t harm anybody, does it?
Assuming that you just’re prepared to construct a trolling motor mount for a side-hanging motor, we’ll clarify a typical construction that you would be able to observe on your mount.
To begin with, you’ll need to construct a platform for a wood plank to hold from one aspect to a different. The dominant hand aspect may have some a part of the plank protruding, the place the trolling motor can relaxation. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to improve this mount’s performance by making house for some fishing rods as effectively.
You’ll additionally insert two PVC pipes in every of the drilled mounting holes behind the kayak’s seat. Then, utilizing another instruments and provides, you’ll be capable to construct the trolling motor mount of your desires.
Getting Began: Select The Proper Supplies And Provides
When you’re endeavor a DIY venture, you will have some supplies beforehand. At this level, you may have the choice of both utilizing PVC or steel provides.
We advocate going with the previous as a result of PVC fittings gained’t drastically improve your kayak’s weight. Furthermore, they’re simpler to chop and work with at house, other than being cost-effective. In spite of everything, the purpose of creating a trolling motor mount at house is to get a easy and inexpensive product over a pre-made costly one.
If you’d like your trolling motor mount to have some house to carry fishing rods as effectively, you will have the next provides:
- A PVC pipe of 1.25 inches
- A 2 x 4 inches wood plank that’s thick and robust sufficient to face harsh climate components
- 4 PVC 4-way tees of 1.25 inches
- Two PVC tees of 1.25 inches
- Two 1.25-inch to 1.75-inch PVC adaptors
- Two 6- to 8-inch hex bolts in 3/8-inch
- 4 appropriate washers
- Two appropriate nuts
- A marker
- Tremendous adhesive glue
- A measuring tape
- A PVC pipe chopping device – a hacksaw or backsaw
- A drill
If you wish to make modifications to the usual design, or in the event you want to work in a unique technique, you’ll be able to make the most of extra instruments and provides.
After getting the gear at hand, the following step is making a trolling motor mount on your kayak.
Constructing Your Trolling Motor Mount
By now, you may have all of the instruments and provides you’ll want at hand. You even have an concept of the design you could construct an environment friendly trolling motor mount. So, what are you ready for?
Let’s get all of your instruments, provides, and enthusiasm in place and begin constructing a trolling motor mount instantly.
Step 1: Drilling The Mounting Holes
The very first thing you could do for a well-fitting trolling motor is to have a delegated house the place the mount can stand.
Whether or not or not you’ll have to make the additional effort on your kayak will depend on its design.
Some leisure {and professional} kayaks, similar to inflatable fishing kayaks, include pre-drilled mounting holes. These are current proper behind the seat or on the stern of your kayak.
Nevertheless, in case your kayak doesn’t include these pre-made mounting holes, there’s no want to fret!
Listed here are the steps you’ll be able to observe to drill a gap in your kayak:
- Select the proper location: Because you get to decide on, ensure you place the holes ready that makes your trolling motor’s handles accessible.
- Select the proper drill dimension: Most pre-drilled kayaks have about 1.25 inches of smaller drill holes. Subsequently, make sure that to get one with an applicable dimension in order that your PVC pipe matches snuggly.
- Mark the spot: When you’ve chosen the fitting level on one aspect, take your marker and mark the spot. Then, measure a straight line from that time to seek out the right drilling spot on the opposite aspect, and mark that time as effectively.
- Drill away: On this step, you merely must take your drill machine, put on your security helmet, and drill a gap of the suitable dimension.
Step 2: Figuring out The PVC Stand Size
When you’re completed measuring your kayak’s depth, you’ll be able to transfer on to do the identical along with your trolling motor. Once more, it is because it’s important to know the way lengthy you want the stand for the mount to be.
You possibly can observe the given steps to get an concept of the suitable size of your stand:
- Measure your kayak: Stick your measuring tape contained in the kayak’s drill holes at a sloping angle. This provides you with an estimate relating to the depth of your kayak. On the whole, most fishing kayaks are 9-inch deep below the drill holes.
- Repeat the measurement: Though each side of your kayak can be of the identical depth, it’s all the time higher to be protected. Subsequently, use the measuring tape on the opposite aspect’s drill gap as effectively.
- Measure your trolling motor: The motor will maneuver below the water’s floor and may both hit the kayak immediately or, at occasions, with stress. Furthermore, it will assist when you have the deal with in a spot that’s simple so that you can attain.
- Finalize the size: The ultimate size you want on your trolling motor mount stand ought to depend upon the depth you need your motor to be at. Usually, in case your kayak is about 9-inch deep, it is best to go for a 15-inch-long stand, 9 out of which is able to go contained in the kayak.
Step 3: Slicing And Becoming The PVC
For the following step, you’ll be able to observe the instructions given under to chop and match the stand in your kayak:
- Mark the spots: Use your measuring tape to get an concept of the size you need. Suppose you need the stand to be 15-inch tall. On this case, you’ll must measure 15-inches on the pipe and mark each side.
- Minimize the fitting size: Take your noticed or every other chopping device you may have selected and snip two PVC items of an applicable dimension.
- Attempt to match the pipe: Now that you’ve the fitting dimension, you’ll be able to attempt to match the tube into the holes. Nevertheless, it probably gained’t work due to the same width. Don’t fear; that is for the most effective!
- Regulate the drill gap if the pipe matches: The purpose is to make the pipe match so snuggly that you just gained’t have to make use of adhesives. Subsequently, if the pipe can enter the drill gap with out further effort, you’ll have to fill the hole or readjust it with some instruments and putty.
- Minimize slits on the PVC: As soon as your pipe doesn’t match within the drill gap anymore, you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction. Now, you could mark a straight line as much as the kayak’s depth and reduce slits into the PVC pipe. That may make the pipe squeeze inwards and match tightly into the opening.
- Last becoming: If the pipe nonetheless doesn’t match, you may need to make one other slit to make a small ridge within the pipe. Nevertheless, as soon as the pipe is inside, give it a tough push to verify it doesn’t come out simply. Then, repeat the identical on the opposite aspect, and your body’s size can be prepared!
Step 4: Repair The Tees
Now that the body is of an applicable size, let’s begin engaged on giving it some limbs!
- Repair two 4-ways: On the uncovered finish of your PVC lengths, repair a 4-way becoming with the assistance of an Be certain that the flat aspect of the 4-way is at a 90o angle from the primary PVC pipe.
- Measure the perimeters of the 4-ways and the tees: Take your measuring tape and see how lengthy your tee and 4-ways legs are. For higher understanding, we’ll assume that each have 1-inch-long legs.
- Minimize out extra PVC: As per our assumption, you will have to chop two small PVC items to connect the tees from the 4-ways. Subsequently, if every leg is 1-inch, it is best to reduce out 2.5-inch-long PVC pipes for each side.
- Add the adaptors to the tees: One aspect of your tees will repair into the 4-ways whereas the opposite two can be uncovered. It is advisable repair the adapter on a aspect reverse to the others. Do that for each the tees.
- Repair the tees: The tees play a vital function in serving to to repair the wood mount on the body. Stick the two.5-inch PVC pipe into the tee after which push it contained in the 4-way. Make it possible for the aspect with the adaptor faces the kayak’s bow.
- Last repair: When you’ve connected the 4-way becoming, pipe, and tees, it’s best to test if any of the elements are wobbly. When you see any such motion, you should use an adhesive to repair it.
Step 5: End The Body
The benefit of utilizing 4-ways is that they aid you create the rod holders. Nevertheless, the dangerous half is that they improve your work considerably and may cost greater than the options. Regardless, right here’s how one can go about ending the body:
- Measure the gap between the 4-ways: Measure the horizontal distance from one aspect’s 4-way to the opposite. Right here, we’ll assume that the house is about 22 inches.
- Measure your 4-ways: You’ll perceive the aim of this step later. Nevertheless, for now, measure the gap within the 4-way the place the horizontal pipe can’t enter even when inserted on each ends. Let’s suppose that this distance is about half an inch.
- Minimize the PVC pipe: Based mostly on the above assumptions, you’ll want to chop out a 21-inch-long piece of PVC. That’s as a result of it’s a must to divide this pipe into three elements so as to add the remaining 4-ways to the horizontal body. Since every 4-ways’s unreachable distance is 0.5-inch and the general size is 22 inches, a 21-inch PVC pipe ought to work simply superb.
- Minimize into smaller items: Now, it is best to reduce the lengthy PVC pipe into three equal elements. Based mostly on our supposed measurements, you will have three 7-inch items of the pipe.
- Regulate every little thing collectively: Within the subsequent step, it’s a must to connect the 2 4-ways into the horizontal house with the assistance of the PVC pipe. That is just like the way you connected the tees to the 4-ways. Nevertheless, be sure that the perimeters of all of the 4-ways are on the identical angle as those beforehand connected.
- Last Examine: This development ought to appear to be a correct body now. Earlier than transferring on to the following step, make sure that all of the elements match snugly into each other.
When you don’t need rod holders, you’ll be able to repair an extended PVC pipe between the 2 4-ways instead.
Step 6: Measure And Mark The Wood Plank
Now that your PVC body is prepared, it’s time so that you can create the mount with a wood plank.
This plank will run parallel to the body and fasten it to the tees on each side. However, first, let’s see how one can repair the wood plank on the body.
- Measure the body’s horizontal size: Use a measuring tape to estimate the horizontal body size.
- Measure the trolling motor’s width: Subsequent, measure the attachment that’s imagined to go over your trolling motor mount. This can aid you estimate how vast the mount must be.
- Measure your wood plank: Your wood plank ought to be at the very least two inches longer than the mixed dimension of the trolling motor’s width and the horizontal body. Furthermore, it’s essential to maintain the motor as distant from the kayak as attainable.
- Mark the non-dominant aspect: Place one finish of the plank over the adaptor of your non-dominant aspect. Push your marker by way of the tee and mark the final space the place the plank wants fixing.
- Mark the dominant aspect: You possibly can measure the gap between the tees and mark accordingly. Alternatively, you’ll be able to attempt to maintain the plank and mark in the identical approach as the opposite aspect.
Step 7: Drill And Repair
That is the step the place your trolling motor mount will lastly be prepared. Just some easy issues left to do, and then you definately’re completed!
- Drill holes: Since you may have marked the spots, take your drill and create tiny holes within the plank. These ought to be of an applicable dimension that can permit your bolts to go in.
- Repair the arrangement: Take a washer, add it to the hex bolts, and make them undergo the plank. Subsequent, place the plank over a tee and permit the bolt to return out of the adaptor’s finish. Then place one other washer and screw them along with a nut. Repeat the method on the opposite aspect.
- Last Examine: Be certain that your complete association is mounted appropriately and the place of the trolling motor mount is acceptable.
Step 8: Ornament and Registration
The ultimate step is non-compulsory, so you’ll be able to skip this if aesthetics aren’t your factor. Nevertheless, if you wish to add some character to your kayak, you’ll be able to pull out your complete mount from the drill holes and paint it in line with your liking.
Summing Up
With a motor in your kayak, the one factor you want fishing paddles for is to steer at occasions when the motor won’t do the trick. In any other case, you’ll go quite a bit quicker, permitting your fishing sport to grow to be extra productive and fruitful.
Constructing your individual kayak trolling motor mount is undoubtedly an intensive and time-consuming course of. Nevertheless, the end result you get is passable to the purpose that you just’ll be glad you didn’t accept one of many premade ones.
