11-15-2013, 10:52 PM
Hey Pon --
I started laughing when I read the "model airplane" prop bit. I am a model airplane guy and I cannot tell you how many times I've considered replacing the big, nasty MinnKota prop with one from my planes.
I'm definitely going to do that for the Toon.
Is there a link to a discussion about diameter/Pitch/Brand of props being used on the MinnKotas?
But to reset, my passion and purpose here is FISHING, not pedal boats. I'm looking to create a fishing craft that can troll around all day without an electric trolling motor --- not break speed records.
My Project 1 Boat is going to have a Mirage drive. I came to that decision by the following reasoning (in order of importance):
1) I found a used, great condition Mirage Drive for sale, CHEAP.
2) All the people I've spoken to who have used Mirage Drives, love them. "All" being about 5 individuals.
3) It looks pretty easy to adapt the Mirage Drive to fit on a Pontoon.
4) The performance numbers on the Kayaks lead me to believe there is a good chance the project will be successful.
Perhaps after spending a season fishing with a pedal boat I'll get more ambitions about creating "the better pedal drive". That actually is something within my "wheelhouse" of hobby ability. But it's outside what I'm willing to spend time and $$$ on today.
Heaven knows after spending last season fishing from a tube I've become much more passionate about individual fishing craft.
FlyGoddess -- yeah, power systems are expensive. No matter the size of the craft, a good power system is going to at least double the cost.
Really, that isn't any different with this project. A new Mirage drive is $500+. That's a dang nice toon.
This entire project started with the base "want" for an "all day capable" power system for a tube.
I looked a the little 2.5-3.5HP gas engines, MinnKota systems with LOTS of battery capacity, and finally settled on wanting to try the pedal drive (although I will be beefing up my supply of lithium batteries for the electric motor too).
The pedal drive has the added advantage of providing some additional physical exercise as well. For me that is a plus, not a minus.
I'm still a real newbie to personal watercraft fishing. In hindsight, I'm really glad I went with a cheap-ish tube for my first adventure last year because as much as I love it, it probably won't get used much if the Pontoon project works.
And I'm looking for an inexpensive, used Pontoon for the same reason.
At this point I figure no matter what I buy I'm going to learn a lot this season and want something different/better next season.
No work is going to happen this weekend as Scofield is calling an I found another soul crazy enough to brave the storm and head after the BIG one up there.
Thanks for all the encouragement and advise!
[signature]
I started laughing when I read the "model airplane" prop bit. I am a model airplane guy and I cannot tell you how many times I've considered replacing the big, nasty MinnKota prop with one from my planes.
I'm definitely going to do that for the Toon.
Is there a link to a discussion about diameter/Pitch/Brand of props being used on the MinnKotas?
But to reset, my passion and purpose here is FISHING, not pedal boats. I'm looking to create a fishing craft that can troll around all day without an electric trolling motor --- not break speed records.
My Project 1 Boat is going to have a Mirage drive. I came to that decision by the following reasoning (in order of importance):
1) I found a used, great condition Mirage Drive for sale, CHEAP.
2) All the people I've spoken to who have used Mirage Drives, love them. "All" being about 5 individuals.
3) It looks pretty easy to adapt the Mirage Drive to fit on a Pontoon.
4) The performance numbers on the Kayaks lead me to believe there is a good chance the project will be successful.
Perhaps after spending a season fishing with a pedal boat I'll get more ambitions about creating "the better pedal drive". That actually is something within my "wheelhouse" of hobby ability. But it's outside what I'm willing to spend time and $$$ on today.
Heaven knows after spending last season fishing from a tube I've become much more passionate about individual fishing craft.
FlyGoddess -- yeah, power systems are expensive. No matter the size of the craft, a good power system is going to at least double the cost.
Really, that isn't any different with this project. A new Mirage drive is $500+. That's a dang nice toon.
This entire project started with the base "want" for an "all day capable" power system for a tube.
I looked a the little 2.5-3.5HP gas engines, MinnKota systems with LOTS of battery capacity, and finally settled on wanting to try the pedal drive (although I will be beefing up my supply of lithium batteries for the electric motor too).
The pedal drive has the added advantage of providing some additional physical exercise as well. For me that is a plus, not a minus.
I'm still a real newbie to personal watercraft fishing. In hindsight, I'm really glad I went with a cheap-ish tube for my first adventure last year because as much as I love it, it probably won't get used much if the Pontoon project works.
And I'm looking for an inexpensive, used Pontoon for the same reason.
At this point I figure no matter what I buy I'm going to learn a lot this season and want something different/better next season.
No work is going to happen this weekend as Scofield is calling an I found another soul crazy enough to brave the storm and head after the BIG one up there.
Thanks for all the encouragement and advise!
[signature]