Adding autopilot trolling motor to PDL kayak?

[cyclops2]

I never worry about resell. I buy what I like  with my money.

[flyfisher]

4 hours ago, Gera said:

I would really like to consider this option but they don't offer an adapter for my topwater pdl, they however have a picture on their website. I would really like to know how did the mounted the motor there.. 

 

If you can mount a micro power pole, you can mount the motor.  They use the same 4 bolt set up.  It does look like they drilled into the hull though and if you have access or can gain access to that area, a backing plate can be added and you would be good to go.  

 

4 hours ago, Gera said:

I would really like to consider this option but they don't offer an adapter for my topwater pdl, they however have a picture on their website. I would really like to know how did the mounted the motor there.. 

 

If you can mount a micro power pole, you can mount the motor.  They use the same 4 bolt set up.  It does look like they drilled into the hull though and if you have access or can gain access to that area, a backing plate can be added and you would be good to go.  

 

[Seafury]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Resale never really comes to mind with fishing gear, until it isn't getting used. I put a lot of forethought into my purchases and rarely resell what I bought. 

I try hard to put a lot of thought and research into my purchases also.

Sometimes I fail and second guess myself.

 

Oh well life goes on, right

34 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

If you can mount a micro power pole, you can mount the motor.  They use the same 4 bolt set up.  It does look like they drilled into the hull though and if you have access or can gain access to that area, a backing plate can be added and you would be good to go.  

 

If you can mount a micro power pole, you can mount the motor.  They use the same 4 bolt set up.  It does look like they drilled into the hull though and if you have access or can gain access to that area, a backing plate can be added and you would be good to go.  

 

Yea I already knew I could mount a motor to that spot, it's just that it is off center and that really bothers me.

 

Plus, the bolt pattern is angled away from center which will make it visually even worse.

 

At the end of the day, that might be the way to go. I can also maybe offset that side weight to the side weight of my Garmin 93sv and Yakkattack switchblade.

Then again, the big lithium battery for a motor will provide counterbalance weight to place somewhere just right.

 

I just have a thing for things being symmetrical lol.

 

I think maybe I will look into motors and mounts for the rear powerpole offset mount.

[cyclops2]

Do not add any more stuff to your already OVERLOADED kayak. Stop & save up for a bigger boat. 

Please  ?

[Seafury]

16 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

Do not add any more stuff to your already OVERLOADED kayak. Stop & save up for a bigger boat. 

Please  ?

Lol.

 

It's not technically overloaded yet.

But it sure is heavy due mostly to me.....

 

[cyclops2]

You are being honest with yourself .  EXCELLENT.  You know the water line is high enough.  Stop adding more equipment weight.   Save up or swap with a bigger boat now.  

This is the time to find a boat in the off season.  SWAP

[schplurg]

With the scarce availability of kayaks you could probably sell the PDL for at least what you paid. When I bought my 106 most places were months away from having any in inventory, even to ship. I drove 150 miles to get mine and was lucky.

 

If you can't pedal for a mile then you definitely made the wrong choice. Or maybe not...I like the workout I get on my legs. I can go farther with semi-consistent use.

 

If I ever add a motor I will put it on the back where the power pole mounts are, skip Auto-Pilot, and use the pedals to keep me in place once I get to point B.

 

The plus side of this, or one of them, is that I won't have to paddle this tank back if the motor should fail.

5 hours ago, Seafury said:

Lol.

 

It's not technically overloaded yet.

But it sure is heavy due mostly to me.....

 

 

Pedals may help with that issue.

[Seafury]

10 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

You are being honest with yourself .  EXCELLENT.  You know the water line is high enough.  Stop adding more equipment weight.   Save up or swap with a bigger boat now.  

This is the time to find a boat in the off season.  SWAP

Thanks.

 

It's not that bad.

 

The only boats with more weight rating are Nucanoe, every other brand else is about the same as my 120 PDL.

If I add the trolling motor, I will be near the max limit rated.

 

I have seen people heavier with more gear in these same kayaks.

[Seafury]

4 hours ago, schplurg said:

With the scarce availability of kayaks you could probably sell the PDL for at least what you paid. When I bought my 106 most places were months away from having any in inventory, even to ship. I drove 150 miles to get mine and was lucky.

 

If you can't pedal for a mile then you definitely made the wrong choice. Or maybe not...I like the workout I get on my legs. I can go farther with semi-consistent use.

 

If I ever add a motor I will put it on the back where the power pole mounts are, skip Auto-Pilot, and use the pedals to keep me in place once I get to point B.

 

The plus side of this, or one of them, is that I won't have to paddle this tank back if the motor should fail.

 

Pedals may help with that issue.

Maybe, I drove 2.75 hrs each way to southern Va to get mine lol.

They are available now and more are coming from the manufacturer every day.

Doubt I can get what I paid, but maybe close, maybe.

 

I can pedal for a mile, but it's less than fun, (especially in winter gear, waders and boots) being exhausted after a day's fishing due to all the peddling is worse than wading fishing all day because at the end instead of changing to dry clothes and driving away, I have to unload the kayak and then haul and load it into my truck bed, then unload all that crap and the kayak at home.

 

I absolutely do need to the exercise overall, which is partly why I bought this, but the pedal drive is stiffer than expected, or maybe just turning it in the water is, there is nothing wrong with it and I know it will get easier over time. I just need to suck it up buttercup lol.

 

I think if I do the motor it will go in the back powerpole spot, or I will mod the PDL drive well block off plate to except a bixpy type motor setup and steer with the rudder.

 

Anyway, enough of this, until someone comes out with a nice mod for adding motors to the PDL drive well hole, this is just going in circles.

[flyfisher]

6 minutes ago, Seafury said:

Thanks.

 

It's not that bad.

 

The only boats with more weight rating are Nucanoe, every other brand else is about the same as my 120 PDL.

If I add the trolling motor, I will be near the max limit rated.

 

I have seen people heavier with more gear in these same kayaks.

Any boats weight capacity isn't going to make it sink as soon as it hits that limit but performance will suffer as more of the hull is in the water than was designed to be.  Motors really aren't that heavy but the batteries can be which is why I went Lithium.  

[cyclops2]

good point about batteries. I would save up for a NONE Lead Acid type. Like a LIFEPO4 type.  They are sealed & can be left forever full  /  half  /  run down for years.  I have some of the first power tool battery packs STILL at + 90 percent.   No worry about water running down each winter. Less than 1/2 the weight......... Cost ?  Dirt cheap.  IF IF  you keep it forever.   Like I have.    Enjoy

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

I have some of the first power tool battery packs STILL at + 90 percent. 

The original battery packs for Ryobi, Milwaukee and DeWalt were NiCads...I still have one for my Ryobi (bought in 2007). The newer packs are Lithium-Ion...not LiFePo...ya, I got a couple of those as well.

[schplurg]

Pedals were tougher than I thought too, but I doubt any are easier on any fishing yaks this stable.

 

My first words the first time I pedaled were, "This isn't as easy as I expected." But I'm basically propelling a bathtub and pushing a lot of water. Reminds me of an exercise bike. But I learned to slow it down just a tad which makes a big difference.

 

Once I start fishing the Delta more I will know whether or not I need a motor, but it will go in the back so I can keep the pedals.

 

Why I love the pedals:

 

In a video I made I am floating slowly with the current, facing shore and docks, using very small pedal motions backward and forward to keep the distance I want from everything. That would be harder with a motor I think, especially without a foot controller.

 

So I'd use the motor for point A to point B and pedals for everything else.

 

Finally, if it ever feels like your rudder is hard to steer (not sure if that's what you meant) it is probably not 100% in the downward position. On my 106 if I hit some vegetation it can pop the rudder up ever so slightly, but it makes it way harder to turn it.

 

My 106 seems a bit front heavy, don't know if it really is. But if so the motor and battery in the back might help.

[Maxbasstn]

Late to the thread but want to give my two cents. 
 

I was in your shoes last year with a perception pedal drive.  Wanted to fit a gps trolling motor inside the hole where the pedal assembly goes. 
 

I ended up and sold the kayak for 200 less than paid for and bought a nucanoe with gps bow mount setup.  It’s pricey for sure but completely worth it.  I’ve fished with spotlock in river current, decent chop on the lake, and general windy days and had a blast whereas if I was in the pedal drive I would have been ticked off the whole time.  It’s about as close to being a one man bass boat as I could imagine. I’m sure you could sell the kayak easily as well with this market. 
 

if not check out one objective for their kayak mounts and maybe they have a bow mount for old towns. 

[Seafury]

On 12/24/2021 at 10:51 PM, Maxbasstn said:

Late to the thread but want to give my two cents. 
 

I was in your shoes last year with a perception pedal drive.  Wanted to fit a gps trolling motor inside the hole where the pedal assembly goes. 
 

I ended up and sold the kayak for 200 less than paid for and bought a nucanoe with gps bow mount setup.  It’s pricey for sure but completely worth it.  I’ve fished with spotlock in river current, decent chop on the lake, and general windy days and had a blast whereas if I was in the pedal drive I would have been ticked off the whole time.  It’s about as close to being a one man bass boat as I could imagine. I’m sure you could sell the kayak easily as well with this market. 
 

if not check out one objective for their kayak mounts and maybe they have a bow mount for old towns. 

Thanks for the good advice.

 

I think I will keep the 120 PDL for at least the next season.

I might get close to what I paid for it, but at $2500 losing even a little will hurt lol.

I may add a rear trolling motor, we will see.

 

Spotlock sure would be nice, but to be honest I don't know if I will be on big enough water often enough to be worth the expense. The rear motor I know I would use fairly often.

 

Yea One Objective makes mounts I think I looked at them already.

 

We will see what I end up doing this next season.

[Zcoker]

In my opinion, I would get a factory built powered craft for your intended usage, if possible, and avoid the add-ons, which can require a lotta mods as well as expense (can be as much as the boat itself!). Only speaking from experience from owning a factory powered kayak. In my case, I bought the Old Town Sportsman 106 powered my Minn Kota and that boat has been a game changer for me here in the Everglades. I have taken it miles and miles with no problems whatsoever. I was on the fence between it and the the 120. What swayed me was how far the motor hung down on each boat, that and the length and weight of the overall boat. The motor in the 106 is tucked tightly into the hull. On the 120 it sticks down twice the distance. It has to for the spot lock feature. The ability to be powered with least hang-ups in very, very shallow water was a must for me. Also length and weight was important, the ability to launch solo in some of the most remote launch areas and maneuverability around the sawgrass islands and the submerged tree fields. Here in the Everglades I have taken my 106 through the nastiest gnarliest stuff imaginable with zero issues. It's easy to launch solo with no trailers required or dedicated launch areas. Maneuverability is awesome.  My decision worked out perfectly for my intended usage. One happy camper here! 

[Seafury]

***UPDATE***

 

I FOUND a unicorn!

Someone selling a brand-new Autopilot unit from an OT Autopilot kayak! (Minus remote)

Very cheap too!

I am picking it up Sunday!

 

Then I will begin trying to figure out how to engineer it into the PDL hole on my OT Sportsman 120 PDL, if it is even possible....

 

Depends on if the shaft clears the bottom of my kayak, or if I need a longer motor shaft, then if it will be able to pivot out once I make a mechanism to allow it to pivot like the PDL drive does.

Worse case I will lengthen the shaft and figure a way to bow or stern mount it I guess.

Either way for the price I will try very hard to figure a way to make it work, it's going to cost me LESS than half what an ipilot GPS bow mount would cost, even used!

 

So, it looks like I will have ipilot on my 120 PDL for dirt cheap! (eventually)

 

Super excited!

 

Idk how/why this guy is selling his, but he said he got it from a buddy cheap but won't elaborate. I don't think it is stolen or anything, I'm thinking some kind of warranty replacement situation where he ended up with a spare.

I have seen videos of it working after I walked the current owner through how to temp wire a battery to it and use the app on his phone to pair and test it. (Does not have a remote atm)

 

I will try my best to document the journey because as far as I have researched, nobody has done this mod yet, mainly because nobody ever parts with the Autopilot unit from their OT Autopilot kayak lol.

 

I start a new job Monday so progress will be slow, but I have all winter to figure it out (and save up for an $800 lifepo4 100ah battery lol).

 

[casts_by_fly]

14 hours ago, Seafury said:

***UPDATE***

 

I FOUND a unicorn!

Someone selling a brand-new Autopilot unit from an OT Autopilot kayak! (Minus remote)

Very cheap too!

I am picking it up Sunday!

 

Then I will begin trying to figure out how to engineer it into the PDL hole on my OT Sportsman 120 PDL, if it is even possible....

 

Depends on if the shaft clears the bottom of my kayak, or if I need a longer motor shaft, then if it will be able to pivot out once I make a mechanism to allow it to pivot like the PDL drive does.

Worse case I will lengthen the shaft and figure a way to bow or stern mount it I guess.

Either way for the price I will try very hard to figure a way to make it work, it's going to cost me LESS than half what an ipilot GPS bow mount would cost, even used!

 

So, it looks like I will have ipilot on my 120 PDL for dirt cheap! (eventually)

 

Super excited!

 

Idk how/why this guy is selling his, but he said he got it from a buddy cheap but won't elaborate. I don't think it is stolen or anything, I'm thinking some kind of warranty replacement situation where he ended up with a spare.

I have seen videos of it working after I walked the current owner through how to temp wire a battery to it and use the app on his phone to pair and test it. (Does not have a remote atm)

 

I will try my best to document the journey because as far as I have researched, nobody has done this mod yet, mainly because nobody ever parts with the Autopilot unit from their OT Autopilot kayak lol.

 

I start a new job Monday so progress will be slow, but I have all winter to figure it out (and save up for an $800 lifepo4 100ah battery lol).

 

 

The autopilot motors are only available from Old Town as warranty replacements  or if you already have an Autopilot and broke yours.  You can't just order one directly, so that's why they are never for sale.  Someone would needed to have broken their boat or had it stolen to have a spare motor unit.  Or, as you guess (and I suspect) there was a warranty replacement but the old one is still serviceable.

 

The biggest challenge will be where to mount it.  The mount in the autopilot that is attached to the boat is very heavy and bolted down tight.  It has to be because it is a lot of force to deploy the motor.  I also don't think the PDL hole is big enough to fit the AP unit so you're probably looking at cutting down the AP unit and adding an adapter plate of some type.  Nick at Navarre would be a good resource for this.  He does all kinds of custom work.

[Seafury]

On 10/21/2022 at 11:17 AM, casts_by_fly said:

 

The autopilot motors are only available from Old Town as warranty replacements  or if you already have an Autopilot and broke yours.  You can't just order one directly, so that's why they are never for sale.  Someone would needed to have broken their boat or had it stolen to have a spare motor unit.  Or, as you guess (and I suspect) there was a warranty replacement but the old one is still serviceable.

 

The biggest challenge will be where to mount it.  The mount in the autopilot that is attached to the boat is very heavy and bolted down tight.  It has to be because it is a lot of force to deploy the motor.  I also don't think the PDL hole is big enough to fit the AP unit so you're probably looking at cutting down the AP unit and adding an adapter plate of some type.  Nick at Navarre would be a good resource for this.  He does all kinds of custom work.

Yep I agree with most of what you said.

 

As to the PDL hole issue, we will see. I REALLY hope to make it work in the PDL hole, I'd hate to have to bow or stern mount it but if that's what it takes to get ipilot at the price I am paying it's still VERY worth it.

 

I have only seen 1 Autopilot in person (When I bought my PDL) but since it was way out of my price range, and I was focused more on skinny water I didn't look at it intently and it was a year ago.

Based on pics I have looked at, the autopilot hole is long and skinny, but not really long.

My PDL hole is longish and wider so I am hoping it will work out, somehow.

As far as the mounting and pivot, yes that's likely to be my biggest challenge, and if whatever mechanism I devise is able to pivot into the hole afterwards or not.

The PDL mounts to a bar that is clamped down fairly well. I am imaging getting another similar bar and then rigging some other parts to make it pivot and work together but it's all about the angles.

I also have concerns of the prop clearing the underside of my hull since these boats are shaped differently underneath and my PDL hangs really low compared to what I have seen on the Autopilot units. I may have to swap in a slightly longer motor shaft, but we will see.

 

I am planning to use the block off plate I already have from Navarre as a base, or more specifically making myself another one (Navarre is awesome but some of his stuff (like this plate) is insanely overpriced) I have mad modding skills, but very limited workspace, (Packed full townhouse) and as a result limited wood/cutting type tools. Most of my tools are tiny sized for RC airplanes I fly, or auto mechanics tools from my prior life in automotive.

 

Once I get the unit tomorrow, I will begin to get a much better picture of if/how I can mount it, but it's gonna work, one way or another lol!

For what I am saving in money it's very worthwhile to try and figure it out.

[Seafury]

Alrighty, I got the unit home and double tested it after testing in person (all using the ipilot app until I can buy a remote)

 

Works perfectly!

(I tested all features the app has, Heading hold, spot lock, motor speeds, steering left and right)

 

Some of yall are gonna hate this.......

I paid $200 for it ?

No remote.

No battery.

No mounting brackets.

Just the complete self-contained motor unit, fully functional

 

 

I played around with the pivot mechanism.

This is more complex than I realized.

It has to be pivoted all the way down for the ball on the shaft to line up in the plastic guide hole that holds the ball tabs into place against the lower steering motor turning tabs which is what does the steering.

This isn't too much of an issue, I have it down in position and tied the plastic handle to the rubber handle on the base with wire to hold it deployed for now.

However, I noticed the long plastic base is flat, but the front metal bracket, when deployed, rotates forward and hangs down below the flat plane of the base.

 

I'll get pics for yall later to illustrate.... 

 

OK so I can't add pics because they have to be 1.46mb or less. 

What the hell man! 

My pics are around 9mb each, who takes pics that small and low resolution? 

My phone won't even take pics lower than 4mb resolution in settings. 

This website needs to be updated big time guys, this is pathetic!

 

This is going to require some significant ingenuity, but anything is possible with some thinking and tools ?

I may have to see about removing the gas shock in the pivot bracket so there is no resistance to deploy it and stow it just to make it easier to do those actions.

The gas shock is only there to make the unit spring up to assist in stowing it, it does nothing when its deployed.

 

Much to consider, and I will need to reach out to Navarre and maybe some people more local to my area to see what can be done, (and for what price as the name of the game here is savings)

 

More to come as the days go by!

 

[Darth-Baiter]

you paid $200 for a old town autopilot motor?!  wow..good for you!!!

 

sadly, probably BAD for the dude that lost it.  hahahha..  whatever.  good luck with the retrofit.

 

I havent fished in almost a month.  this Saturday, is gonna burn my legs, but I love the burn.  

[Seafury]

8 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

you paid $200 for a old town autopilot motor?!  wow..good for you!!!

 

sadly, probably BAD for the dude that lost it.  hahahha..  whatever.  good luck with the retrofit.

 

I havent fished in almost a month.  this Saturday, is gonna burn my legs, but I love the burn.  

 

Thanks! 

It's going to be tough to make it work after all. 

I am waiting to hear back from Nick Navarre to see what he thinks can be done. 

I may end up selling it and buying a normal ipilot unit to bow mount or selling it and my kayak and buying an ipilot kayak or maybe a Nucanoe Unlimited, idk yet lol.

 

The guy I got it from says he wants to stick with his boat, and the guy he got it from, he doesn't know why he sold it......but claims it's his "buddy" so idk..... Whatever. 

 

I was all excited but now that I have it in hand I can see its going to be very difficult to adapt it to my 120 PDL. 

 

We will see if Nick comes up with anything, or if I or anyone else I ask about it does. 

 

From Googling everywhere, nobody has done this mod yet, or if they have they didn't write about it or make a YouTube video..... Maybe because it's not possible.

[FryDog62]

If in your pursuit to find variations of the Autopilot - if you come across a hull only (either 120 or 136) I may be interested... I already have an Autopilot and store the hull in Florida in the summer, but take the motor, batteries, GPS home with me to Minnesota.  Ideally, I would like a hull in both locations to use and transport the accessories when I drive to/from.   TIA

[Motoboss]

On 10/23/2022 at 1:47 PM, Seafury said:

Alrighty, I got the unit home and double tested it after testing in person (all using the ipilot app until I can buy a remote)

 

Works perfectly!

(I tested all features the app has, Heading hold, spot lock, motor speeds, steering left and right)

 

Some of yall are gonna hate this.......

I paid $200 for it ?

No remote.

No battery.

No mounting brackets.

Just the complete self-contained motor unit, fully functional

 

 

I played around with the pivot mechanism.

This is more complex than I realized.

It has to be pivoted all the way down for the ball on the shaft to line up in the plastic guide hole that holds the ball tabs into place against the lower steering motor turning tabs which is what does the steering.

This isn't too much of an issue, I have it down in position and tied the plastic handle to the rubber handle on the base with wire to hold it deployed for now.

However, I noticed the long plastic base is flat, but the front metal bracket, when deployed, rotates forward and hangs down below the flat plane of the base.

 

I'll get pics for yall later to illustrate.... 

 

OK so I can't add pics because they have to be 1.46mb or less. 

What the hell man! 

My pics are around 9mb each, who takes pics that small and low resolution? 

My phone won't even take pics lower than 4mb resolution in settings. 

This website needs to be updated big time guys, this is pathetic!

 

This is going to require some significant ingenuity, but anything is possible with some thinking and tools ?

I may have to see about removing the gas shock in the pivot bracket so there is no resistance to deploy it and stow it just to make it easier to do those actions.

The gas shock is only there to make the unit spring up to assist in stowing it, it does nothing when its deployed.

 

Much to consider, and I will need to reach out to Navarre and maybe some people more local to my area to see what can be done, (and for what price as the name of the game here is savings)

 

More to come as the days go by!

 

I found this hack to outstanding!

 

 

On another note

”The guy I got it from says he wants to stick with his boat, and the guy he got it from, he doesn't know why he sold it......but claims it's his "buddy" so idk..... Whatever. ”

 

I’d check the serial number with Old Town to see if it is, ummmmmm,,,,,,,,,un warm  

[Junk Fisherman]

On 12/13/2021 at 3:21 PM, Seafury said:

Prices went up from 2021 model year.

2021 I believe was $2149 or $2199

2022 pricing that I and everyone else will now pay is $2349

With tax I was right at $2500 out the door.

 

$2500 out the door for a PDL?  Now add for rigging, electronics, and a battery.  Wow.  I kicked around the idea of getting a pedal-drive kayak but I'll stick to my Wilderness System Ride 115 for the couple times a year I use it.