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A universal motor for kayaks
I was able to get out on the water with it last weekend. This motor is part of a ready-to-use kit.
Complete central motor kit
- Engine
- Battery in waterproof case
- Digital potentiometer with circuit breaker and charger
All connections are waterproof, and the whole unit is mounted on a marine-grade aluminum bracket.
This is a universal motor, suitable for all brands of steppe kayaks. Simply specify the model and year of the kayak on which this motor will be installed. The plate and central shaft will then be adapted to the model, so there's no "do-it-yourself" required!
The big idea behind this motor is the retractable propeller blades. There's no difficulty in inserting or removing the motor from the shaft, as I demonstrate in the video at the end of this article.
Power ratings are 1100W for the 24V battery and 1300W for the 42V battery. This will depend on the weight of the kayak to be moved.
You need to take into account the weight of the float, the person on it and the equipment being carried.
Test on an Alboran FX3 kayak
For the test in the attached video, I have the 24V model. The kayak is an Alboran FX3 weighing around 33 kg, the guy weighs 85 kg, add to that the fishing gear (rods, reels, on-board electronics, snacks, safety equipment). I spent around 06 h 00 on the water, with the engine running all the time, and made several speed tests. On a calm stretch of water with choppy, headwind conditions. By the end of the test, I had used up 15% of the battery. Average autonomy in this configuration is around 20 hours at 2 knots, 13 hours at 3 knots, 7 hours at 4 knots, 4 hours at 5 knots, and around 1 hour at maximum speed.
During the tests, I reached 11 km/h and had a little left over. These speeds and ranges are given for information only, and were achieved under the conditions described.
Easy to install
The kit comes in two cartons, and assembly of the motor takes about an hour. This assembly is done once and for all. Installation on the kayak takes barely a minute, no holes to drill, ultra simple. The whole unit weighs less than 11 kgs. The battery with its watertight casing weighs 7.5 kg, the motor and control unit 3.1 kg.
My impression of this equipment
The quality of the product tested is beyond reproach. The steppe well is easy to install and remove, and the idea of a retractable propeller is brilliant. Responsive remote control and easy-to-read information, even in bright sunshine...
In fast mode, well, it's very fast. Head-on waves, the kayak cuts through the waves, which is pleasant in summer. This morning, the water was 19°C. The battery autonomy is amazing, with the motor running from 06:30 to 12:30, with a few speed peaks, I used up 15% of the total autonomy. The battery is a 24V, which is more than enough for the Alboran FX3 with the 85 kg man and fishing gear, as well as the snack. No disturbance to sonar detection.
Distributor : Galaxy Kayaks
