Kayak - Trolling motor gets semi-stuck when turning too far.

[ACGOG]

Hey ya'll,

 

Finally got around to doing a project I've wanted to do for the past 5+ years: installed a trolling motor on my kayak.

I installed my own rudder pedals but one issue I've found is that if I turn the trolling motor too far in one direction or another it basically gets stuck. With enough brute force I can turn it but I'm worried about breaking the ferrule/something else.

 

Does anyone have a solution? I was thinking about adding some kind of grease or lube to the drum instead of putting stops in the pedals so that I wouldn't have to worry about losing turning radius but I don't know if that would work. Should also note, this is on a Coosa HD that didn't have a rudder so I installed my own pedals and cables.

 

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Gera]

Clean job, looks great

[Darth-Baiter]

man, i would use bump stops right before the point of seizure.  

 

cool install!!  what motor is that?

[ACGOG]

Thanks guys! It actually looks even better now that I've added some tubing; I'll try and get another pic later.

It's a MinnKota 40lb thrust I found on FB that had only been used once or twice for $50. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on something I thought I was probably going to mess up lol.

 

I'm not 100% sure where I'd put the bumpstops?

[Fishingmickey]

Put the stops on the cables where they enter the yak? Maybe crimp a split shot (easily removable) on each cable at it farthest point in the turn.

Fishingmickey

[Bankc]

Patient:  "Hey doc, my trolling motor gets stuck when I turn it too far."

 

Doctor:  "Don't turn it too far."

 

What you're experiencing is a design flaw with the V-wing attachment on the trolling motor that you have your cables connected to.  There's not really a way around that, other than replacing the V-wing with a complicated pulley system.  What's happening is you're getting close to the threshold where the force of the cable pulling forward wants to turn the trolling motor in the opposite direction.  And the amount of force needed to turn the trolling motor when you near that point is going to go up considerably, because you're losing the leverage of the V-wing.  

 

The best solution is to add some stops so you don't approach that threshold.  

[Darth-Baiter]

Prob easiest to put bump stops at the foot pedals. 
 

 

[ACGOG]

32 minutes ago, Bankc said:

Patient:  "Hey doc, my trolling motor gets stuck when I turn it too far."

 

Doctor:  "Don't turn it too far."

 

Sometimes the easiest solution is the best solution lol. I'll pop those on when I get a chance.

 

Here are a couple more photos from the install. I made a box for the PWM that I'll eventually add track mounts to the bottom. It plugs in via 2x SAE plugs (I'll add a more permanent labeling solution than the sharpie later):

 

[Bankc]

Bump stops at the pedals would probably be easiest.  I use the NovelBee foot brace pedals on my kayak.  They work pretty well and can be set to not allow you to turn too far.  Plus, they stay in place to make paddling easier when you want to do that.  And they're not crazy expensive or hard to install.  

[Boomstick]

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

Put the stops on the cables where they enter the yak? Maybe crimp a split shot (easily removable) on each cable at it farthest point in the turn.

Fishingmickey

Either this or put a peg on the track behind the pedals so it limits their motiion.

[ACGOG]

Yeah I'm just going to add pegs on the track, will be easiest.

[flyfisher]

Is it the steering triangle or the crimps you are using as that travel is not very much at all? Mine seems to hang on full throttle and turning hard but that is ok for my use.  You could also go with a stick steer Also be careful when using those cables as they will eat through the plastic much more than you think.  I use some wilderness systems rudder cord on mine and it is much smoother.  I also see you went in hull but then where does it come out of the hull as that can cause an issue as well.  

[ACGOG]

On 11/14/2023 at 8:26 AM, flyfisher said:

Is it the steering triangle or the crimps you are using as that travel is not very much at all? Mine seems to hang on full throttle and turning hard but that is ok for my use.  You could also go with a stick steer Also be careful when using those cables as they will eat through the plastic much more than you think.  I use some wilderness systems rudder cord on mine and it is much smoother.  I also see you went in hull but then where does it come out of the hull as that can cause an issue as well.  

 

Stick steer? I'd love to know how to set that up. I'll look into the rudder cord you recommended as well.

 

I ran it through some refrigerator waterline tubing in the hull and melted the plastic on both ends and so far haven't dealt with a lot of rub.

 

I got to test it out on the water a few weeks back and it works decently well without being able to go to one extreme angle or the other but I did notice that with my age one of my knees was starting to hurt by the end of the day 😅. My buddy said to move my seat back a little and that should help, which I think will also help with the extreme angle issue too. I'm hoping the weather keeps up to test that out this week.

[flyfisher]

39 minutes ago, ACGOG said:

 

Stick steer? I'd love to know how to set that up. I'll look into the rudder cord you recommended as well.

 

I ran it through some refrigerator waterline tubing in the hull and melted the plastic on both ends and so far haven't dealt with a lot of rub.

 

I got to test it out on the water a few weeks back and it works decently well without being able to go to one extreme angle or the other but I did notice that with my age one of my knees was starting to hurt by the end of the day 😅. My buddy said to move my seat back a little and that should help, which I think will also help with the extreme angle issue too. I'm hoping the weather keeps up to test that out this week.

Here is the set up.  I have since changed the pole itself but the concept is the same.  it is yak gadget steering arm paired with a bixpy stick steer link.  When seated I just sit it next to me, i have a track mount for it but that was kind of a pain.  The real nice part is when cruising and standing because I can steer while standing more easily.  I use that often when on the river to be able to scout out areas before I get to them.  I may buy an extra control module this winter and see if i can take out the internals and mount it to the steering pole itself but who knows if I will get around to doing that or not.  I primarily use the stick set up for river fishing and the foot steering for flat water though.