There are thousands of useful/helpful videos on UA-cam for just about anything. THIS video is BY FAR the most thought out and beneficial video I've watched. Well done!
I believe that is the best Kayak Motor out there. I have my 23' Hobie Compass and it's rigged with alot of PA Accessories. I wanted to get away from the 100 Lb empty hulls. Im 5ft' 7" 156 lbs. I have the NK 180 with a 100 AH. Amped outdoors battery. I also have my J2 Bixpy PP-768, Which i also love because its a complete pkg. 5 to 5.5 mph, us all you need on a 12 ft boat. Awesome vid my friend. 🛶 🌊 🎣
I still think it's one of the best and cheapest way to get this type of motor for the power/range. Unfortunately I had to part ways with it when I made a decision to downsize to the 45lb lynx. The drive well on the lynx was 1/4 inch too narrow for me to fit the NK180 through else I would have kept it. I don't feel like putting it in the back with rigging it up all over again :)
Very good break down,,I use a cut down bass pro 30 lb mtr. For around 120oo ,,on my bigger kayak i use a 1000amp hr battery 40lbs.and cost around 100oo On my compact kayak i use 35amp hr.agm battery and it usually cost around 70-80oo and weigh 20lbs,,i can use any battery i want also i can use lead acid,agm batterys,,the way things are going you might not be able to get a bixpy or tourquido battery or controller
What a great video. Thanks for the time and effort. I have an OldTown 120 AutoPilot and FPV 2x50 ah 12 volt in parallel. I've been looking at lighter weight Kayaks and motors. This video has everything I've been wondering about and trying to figure out. Thank you Sir.
Glad it helped. The one thing that's great about the AutoPilot is the spotlock, but you will pay for the weight of that kayak, don't think I want to even lug it around with my truck it's so heavy. Moving to the lighter setup with this motor, you will lose that spotlock feature but gain in mobility. Good luck.
If you mainly fish still water and don't have to travel huge distances spot lock is probably the only thing you need. Your just short on speed but you can carry enough battery to go full power for a long long time if you want to. I fish rivers mostly and need more power, I anchor where the fishing is good enough or beach if that makes sense. I find rivers and creeks to be WAAY less pressured then overcrowded, overfished local lakes and reservoirs where I live, and prettier also. Being able to solo fish a river by pedaling and now motoring upriver and floating back down to my launch is invaluable. Or if you're brave float down from the launch and trust you will be able to motor back upriver to the launch. Not really worth the risk imho, though my rivers so far have allowed me to pedal upriver, but it is NOT fun and only 2-3 miles max is reasonable for me. I also will always carry my PDL as backup in case the motor system goes out for any reason. It's awesome not needing to deal with limited (if any) shuttling arrangements, or the hassle of having a reliable fishing buddy available with a kayak and a big enough truck for yall to shuttle together and swap boats and trucks back and forth coming and going and waste all that time and energy.
Great video showing the downfall of Torqeedo and the weakness of Bixpy overall! This really shows the differences in detail, very nice work sir. Why anyone would choose anything other than the NK 180 is beyod my comprehension. I just got my nk 180 and it's going on tomorrow morning. I am powering it with two 12v 50AH lifepo4 batteries (23lbs total) from Amazon at $160 each. They may be junk but we will see how it goes and if they make it all 2023, they charged up good so far. I put them in a plastic toolbox from Harborfreight I wired in series myself with Newport's quick disconnect kit and 1 wire from the NK 180 kit (that is currently way to long but works for now) Then I am going into a slow river for it's first test run on my OT 120 PDL plus my 250lbs plus my Garmin 93UHD plus another 10-20lbs of poles, tackle, etc. I hope to save my legs and land some nice winter smallies! I really want more speed so I am already eyeing the new Nk 300 Newport Vessels just came out with, but quality 36v lifepo4 batteries cost a fortune so we will see. 3hp on a river would sure be nice to have! Bye Bye Torqeedo 1103AC, your time and rich man exclusivity is over! I may not make it through 2023 on the Nk 180 lol.
Hey great comments. I'm looking at the NK300 and comparing that to the 1103 AC from Torqeedo just for kicks, perhaps i'll make another video on that comparison. From my views so far I don't think the NK300 is going to really bring that big of an impact over the NK180. In my opinion the optimal speed is around 3 mph which is a balance between speed and longevity of the battery. If you crank it to the max power for any motor, it will drain your battery very fast and the curve of amp draw is exponential, not linear. I think the only time I would upgrade to NK300 is if you have an extremely heavy setup and in very bad current, that you need that extra torque on the 3 HP motor vs. the 1.8. Like you said, you have to pay another 1/3 battery to make it 36V, and it's heavier too. Good luck.
@@dmnguye69 The NK300 crushes the 1103 in power. With a better hull (I'm looking to leave my barge hull OT 120 PDL) you can get 6mph or more from this new motor, they do it with the weaker 1103 already. Yes 36v batteries are a little heavier, but with around 50ah (if you can find this size) you will still be 1/2 the weight of a marine 12v lead acid, and run WAY longer as more voltage is WAY more efficient. I'm looking forward to when the electric technology can turn our kayaks into jetskis that can rip up and down rivers lol. Yea I've seen those aquanami motorized kayaks but they suck and are not for fishing (or much of anything). Please do a comparison of the NK300 and crazy 1103ac, even better would be on the water tests, and use a decent hull.
for my lure 11.5 i went with the bixpy j2. I wanted to keep my rudder intact and also keep my sonar pod. the battery motor combo pack was absolutely perfect for my setup and what i do.
It might fit great and be waterproof, but you paid more money to go slower and less distance/time. Most of us would say more speed, distance/time, and less money is the only way to go. To each their own though, glad it works for you.
Originally I picked a 60 AH with the mentality that it's a 60AH 12V system, but it turns out that the 24V is already doubling your 12V power and it's sucking less current. The 60 AH in my book is an overkill for my requirements. The run time really all depends on how you use it (full throttle all the time, fix speed, distance, etc) I think i did the rough calculation and if you're going 3 mph, it should take you up to 40 miles or so on a 60 AH 24V battery.
@@trippingonfaith7094 You can also use that same battery for your fish finder, I had to buy a 24 to 12 volt stepdown. I have a lowrance active target sonar and that sucks 30-40ah for an entire day of fishing.
you did a great video with the big differences in price points,, i went with ebay seller: tobatteries . 500 shipped for 100ah 12.8v .american made, and free shipping
Whoa that's a big battery, my 60 AH doesn't come close to low most days. If you put it in full throttle at 100% then it'll quickly drain your battery like any motor so use full only if you need to, 50-60% is ideal. Just pay attention to the total watt that's being use.
Yes I did, but it's not a total suprise as I was one of the earlier buyer of a new product. Things were resolved and the support is super duper with NewVessel folks. I have another video going over my good and bad experience with the motor. I'm pretty sure they already change their design this year given what the found last year.
Indeed each to his own if the Xi3 works for you. Those boat motors are just way too big (size/weight) for me, if you cut the shaft then you void the warranty. I would consider one only for the sake of having a spot lock, but then the PDL has a version for that already. Also for any 24V range the cost is above 1k, anything below that is in the 12V which isn't that efficient. Good luck with the Xi3.
Wow, thanks for this. Helps a lot. Been trying to decide which to go for including more budget options. My shorter Yak doesn’t have a flat tail top for the mount or a rudder so that’s another thing to think about and a transom mount seems bulky. In NZ the Bixpy is the king of these types of motors but it’s pretty pricey. The Newport seems a good option if can sort a smaller/lighter battery and mount space. So much good info and much appreciated. PS. I always wonder with these American style kayaks where you put all your fish if the back is full of batteries and crates? Quite often fill the back of mine up with fish alone. First world problems was thinking where to put my fish if a big battery is there? lol.
Bixpy option would actually offer a smaller and lighter battery vs. the NK's 24V setup. It really boils down to how you're going to use your motor, for short trips, etc a Bixpy wouldn't be a bad option but it'll be more expensive to a degree where as the NK setup is a power house and potentially cheaper. I typically string my fish to the side and leave it in the water until the end of the trip.
Most of us in the USA are sport fishing (AKA catch and release, especially in freshwater) and aren't fishing for food so we don't need a lot of room in the kayak for fish really, unless we land a trophy lol. Regardless there is room enough to keep plenty of fish if we wanted to, just have to be creative or use a stringer as most of us don't have large hungry reptiles around to worry about eating our fish or us. Yes, we do have many Darwin Award seekers in the south kayak fishing in gator filled waters but it's their life to risk... I'm sure many more saltwater fishermen are keeping the fish though and they do fine as long as sharks and barracuda don't get them lol. So many Darwin Award seekers these days......
Great video ! Thank you for making it. Where did you get the foil/fairing that's on your motor shaft. On the torqeedo 1103 stuff they claim that wing makes a huge difference.
Here is the link for the spoiler: www.ebay.com/itm/233168413839 I did an initial test run and found that by locking the motor in place and using my hobie rudder to steer didn't work out because the spoiler on the motor cancels out any turns. I went back and tied my motor steering to my hobie's black rudder cap to sync it up with my main rudder. I did hit 6-6.1 mph max during my test run, obviously tide/wind/weight is a factor.
@@dmnguye69 That's is awesome ! Apparently on the 1103s with the extra speed they see over the 403s the motor shift can cavitat at full power without the spoiler. I ordered one of these NK-180S and I'm going to outfit it to a Hobie tandem. I'm going to order that foil right now.
@@fredzimmer8626 Below are two video of was how I mount locked in the spoiler as it will be a bit lose, but i was able to secure it and an sample of my test run, nothing in detail but notice the power of 60lb of thrust against the wind and current. Fun stuff man. ua-cam.com/video/wtdNiXxUWFk/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/YwKcnmOHdT8/v-deo.html
What kind of yak do you have? Looks cool! The NK is now $1000. I like Bixby because its light, battery is light and while you have to buy extras, its still pretty cheap. I can run slow and make the battery last. But thanks for the vid!!
This motor was installed on a 2019 Hobie Outback. Yes I saw recently the price went up from 800 to 1k. Funny thing was this past black friday it dropped down to around 650. Inflation everywhere!!!
If you have a bigger kayak that can handle the NK180 then I would recommend you get it. My new lynx at the time had no place for me to mount the motor so I had to sell it unfortunately.
@@andreacamillozzi9000 That's only the battery system, and if you're speaking of water getting into a battery, just look for a trolling motor battery which will have water resistance/proof mitigations already. It's not every day a kayak gets totally flipped over and your battery totally submerge.
Thanks for the clarification, I was 100 watts off :) It's a 31 AH then, but the run time is correct. Please see this link to torqeedo.. www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/outboards/ultralight/ultralight-403-ac/1407-00.html
I have been trying to figure out torqeedas performance and it appears they use a pulse width module (Pwm) as opposed to forward/ reverse speeds which is way more efficient.The modules can be sourced cheaply for DIY enthusiasts who would prefer to source their own batteries.
I believe both motor is using PWM, i like to think them as variable speeds without fixed increments and yes they are more efficient on your battery. Bixpy is the only one out of the three that has fixed forward and reverse speed settings.
@@dmnguye69 I couldn't see that on the Newport website but guessed it is with variable electronic,thanks for verifying it,minnkota is also doing Pwm speed control lately I noticed,tight lines!
@@celticfirehorse9345 I actually purchased a brand new Minn Kota head unit with variable speed and replaced it with a water snake one, ended up sellling it to a buddy and got the NK180 instead :) Check my other video where i did show the variable speed of the NK180 on my youtube channel.
Great video! I've been looking at the 180S kit here in the UK. However, it's being advertised at what appears to be a much lower spec. It looks identical to yours in every way, except it's advertised as 18ft/lb. As I am a metric guy, so I have no idea whether this is equivalent to yours or not. What do you think?
Hi, my motor is 60lb thurst and 1.8 hp. Your 18ft/lb sounds really low, perhaps that's in kilogram? It's a very powerful motor, is it 24V from your side?
@@dmnguye69 Hi Doan, here are the specs, as they appear in the UK: 180S Thrust in lbs: 18. Voltage V: 24v. Current Draw A: 25A. Battery Meter: Y. Output Power W: 600W. Max Speed* Km/h: 4.8. Gears Forward: Digital control. Gears Reverse: Digital control. Ext Tiller: N. Shaft Length: 0.5m. Cable Length: 2m. Battery Clips: Y. Weight: 6.5kg.
@@tartanrambo Voltage, AMP draw, Output power all looks to be the same. The thrust and speed looks off and I think those are mistakes. This motor is rated at 5.4 mph, which translated to 8.6 K/h, the 18lb of thurst is not correct given the AMP/Watt draw. I would email them and ask for clarification. I can't see why they would make it a different spec for Europe.
ua-cam.com/video/YwKcnmOHdT8/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/wtdNiXxUWFk/v-deo.html I'll have more later as update videos to the motor, I just need to get a chance to go out more.
I ended up using the same throttle mount for the torqeedo, it fits perfectly. Also bought some hrail loops to keep the ropes align along the kayak, i forgot what those loops called.
@@johnroberts1037 Yes torqeedo is pricey. NK180 went up since I made this video but I do see one on amazon for 850. Add #2 12V battery together for a 24V 50AH for another 400 ish, which still puts you below 1300. 50AH if you going ~ 3 mph can really take you a long distant. ipowerqueen.com/products/12-8v-50ah-life-po4-battery?variant=39890416468013¤cy=USD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj7CZBhDHARIsAPPWv3eSckQz3KQRnwFyoGu3aRczrnlkblZ9f40JzirlOgBhAcr1LcazcPsaAkI6EALw_wcB
@@johnroberts1037 Check out the 1103 destroying new NK 300 Newport just dropped for Christmas! I am already eyeing that upgrade and I still have to install my brand-new NK 180 tomorrow lol. Hidden costs yes. 1) throttle mount if you don't already own something that will work. Yakattack stuff is hella pricey, their Torqeedo throttle mount they make works fine with the Nk 180 with a couple washers to shorten their long screws. 2) Then you need a cleat or line lock of some type for your motor stow and deploy. Thats bare minimum. 3) If you are using motor steering, (or if your motor is mounted centerline) you will need rear rails (or something) and track eyelets to run the rigging through to your pedals to steer, and another for your deploy/stow line. My motor is offset so I can keep my stock OT 120 PDL rudder and not cut into my boat by using the factory powerpole mounting location for the motor. I will keep my motor locked in the straight position, which also means it cannot slide up and down the shuttle pivot block making it tuck into the kayak more when stowed. Mine will instead stick out more, but that's the price I have to pay until I get a better kayak maybe next year or so like the new Bonafide P127 PDL with bottom rudder and rear centerline mount for the motor which will allow me to use pedals to steer the motor or the rudder. 4) Possibly wires and connectors of your choice, plus a battery box of some kind that fits your battery choice. I bought two 12v 50ah Amazon lifepo4 batteries and stuck them in a $15 harborfreight plastic toolbox with Newports $45 quick disconnect wiring kit. I also stuffed the toolbox with harborfreight toolbox draw liner and scrap shipping foam to pad the batteries. My current total without tax is: $900 Nk 180 motor $320 two 12v 50AH batteries $160 each $86 Lifepo4 charger $66 for toolbox, wiring, and foam padding. $45 custom powerpole mounting plate from Navarre Kayaks (corrects OT's dumbass angled powerpole mount on my left side transom so my motor can mount straight inline with the keel) Total $1417 plus tax. Torqeedo's slower, less distance 403 AC will run you $2499 plus tax LOL. I saved $1000 and got more everything. There is no contest.
saw in another video that you connected the steering to the kayak steering as just using the rudder did not work. I will have to do the same. Can you show how you did that? Much appreciated.... got the hobie compass power pole mount bracket (100$) to attach the newport and ready to install in next days.
I tried to lock the motor straight forward first and use my rudder only. That proved challenging to turn because the motor being so powerful will make the rudder's steering more difficult. I then went back to tying the cords to the steering wings directly into the rudder cap (black cap) which works. Give me your email and i'll send you a drawing of how I did it. I see that the compass has only 1 steering on the left vs. the outback which has two. I will tell you that i had to steer using both sides, simply again becuase the motor is too powerful. If you can see if you can install foot peddal steering which was really what this motor was meant for.
Come to think of it, I think you should try to keep it simple and put the pin in so the motor will be straight all the time. Try that with your rudder first before trying any fancy steering to the rudder cap. I found another compass that has the torqeedo and they had the motor locked straight and used rudder. See this web link... www.theplastichull.net/2018/02/hobie-compass-torqeedo-ultralight-install/ Here is another one where they did tied the steering to the rudder cap...if you want to go that approach. ua-cam.com/video/vVoRR1zXuME/v-deo.html
@@dmnguye69 damn... you are very good finding the perfect source... I googled and googled and did not find it... probably go with second option as steering was never great especially with some current. This will give me so much more confidence to actually hit some flowing rivers. Also looking at that Torqueedo set-up... wow someone definitely copied bog time.
Hi, I actually switched kayak and sold my outback and motor. Two issues i had was the original controller's software version didn't tune different batteries correctly (power level) but that was quickly fixed with another controller release on warranty. The second issue which Newvessel caught from a video I sent to them was the motor sounded odd, come to find out the seal broke and water got in. They told me to send the entire motor in and gave me a new one fast. It was the first generation so i'm not suprise, but the support from the company is 100% spot on. Outside of those two issues, the power and handling was everything I expected. I'm sure now they fixed and updated any flaws the first generation motor/controller has. Good luck.
Please qualify the black rudder on the shaft of your NEWPORT motor shaft....did that come with the unit or was it a option at what cost? Whom did you purchase it?
I have an Old Town 106 PDL and was considering adding a NK-180 to the spot reserved for the power pole mount but due to it being offset from the stern, do you think that it would be possible to fix the motor to remain perpendicular using the cable steering mechanism in some way?
I have the OT 120 PDL. Here is what you need to know! The Nk 180 is standard powerpole mounting size for most kayaks including ours. 1) throttle mount if you don't already own something that will work. Yakattack stuff is hella pricey, their Torqeedo throttle mount they make works fine with the Nk 180 with a couple washers to shorten their long screws. 2) Then you need a cleat or line lock of some type for your motor stow and deploy. Thats bare minimum. My motor is offset so I can keep and use my stock OT 120 PDL rudder and not cut into my boat by using the factory powerpole mounting location for the motor. I will keep my motor locked in the straight position, which also means it cannot slide up and down the shuttle pivot block making it tuck into the kayak more when stowed. Mine will instead stick out more, but that's the price I have to pay until I get a better kayak maybe next year or so like the new Bonafide P127 PDL with bottom rudder and rear centerline mount for the motor which will allow me to use pedals to steer the motor or the built in bottom rudder. 4) Possibly wires and connectors of your choice, plus a battery box of some kind that fits your battery choice. I bought two 12v 50ah Amazon lifepo4 batteries and stuck them in a $15 harborfreight plastic toolbox with Newports $45 quick disconnect wiring kit. I also stuffed the toolbox with harborfreight foam toolbox draw liner ($6) and scrap shipping foam to pad the batteries (free). My current total without tax is: $900 Nk 180 motor $320 two 12v 50AH batteries @ $160 each $86 Lifepo4 charger (does one 12v battery at a time in around 5hrs from empty) $66 for toolbox, wiring, and foam padding. $45 custom powerpole mounting plate from Navarre Kayaks in FL (corrects OT's dumbass angled powerpole mount on my left side transom so my motor can mount straight inline with the keel, Call Nick at Navarre and he will hook you up with this plate, he is the BEST!) Total $1417 plus tax. Torqeedo's slower, less distance 403 AC will run you $2499 plus tax LOL. I saved $1000 and got more everything. There is no contest.
Doan Nguyen I've reallly been meaning do a follow up video. The 60AH for my usage is an overkill as I went 2-3 times without recharging. Average trip is around 6-10 miles. For the average user who wants to get to and from the fishing spot I recommend a 30 AH. In addition to this I have a Lowrance Live Target sonar which is a power hogger but even then it didn't put a dent in the 60 AH battery. Plenty of battery in the US that you can buy, don't have to buy it from China which has it's risks. I recommend outdoor amps to start. Good luck.
Doan Nguyen 0 seconds ago I've reallly been meaning do a follow up video. The 60AH for my usage is an overkill as I went 2-3 times without recharging. Average trip is around 6-10 miles. For the average user who wants to get to and from the fishing spot I recommend a 30 AH. In addition to this I have a Lowrance Live Target sonar which is a power hogger but even then it didn't put a dent in the 60 AH battery. Plenty of battery in the US that you can buy, don't have to buy it from China which has it's risks. I recommend outdoor amps to start. Good luck.
I have and for the range/power it's the same price as the entry level Torqeedo. My current setup is around 1300 for motor/battery which gives me 1.8 hp/60 thrust and well over 40 mile range if I maintain a speed of 3-4 mph. No comparison there so I didn't even add the Texas Power Paddle in my reviews. Something else to consider, even some of these motor advertise speed, I found out that having a bigger thurst makes a world of difference if you're hitting nasty currents/wind conditions. Low power motor struggle to keep up and your speed will plummet quickly, to compensate you have to crank it up to the max which will eat up your battery in no time. Texas Paddle doesn't seem to have high thrust capacity and if they did, I do not see them advertise it on their product pages.
I have been really interested in the Newport. If I may, how is your battery working out from Ali Express? Do you have a link to seller etc? I may consider going that route if your experience was good. Thanks
The battery from Ali Express 24V 60AH ~ 30lb so far has been an overkill for my use. Example: I went on a two day (7-9 hours/each) fishing trip each day averaging 6-9 miles of usage, variable speed from low trolling to max speed burst, in heavy current in some cases. The entire day I also connected my fish finder to it with a 24V to 12V step down converter. My fish finder is a lowrance active target and the sonar's usage adds around ~30AH a day to it...high power draining sonar. Let's just say at the end of the two day excursion the battery dropped down to ~ 44%. If i had to do it all over again I would want to find a battery around 40-50AH and perhaps save on some weight. I'm not sure if you can find that AH size with a 24V system so you might have to buy #2 12V and run them in series. It really depends how you're planning to use your motor, but so far it's been a super efficient motor unlike your typical 12V motor. The Ali Express battery so far works fine but it's always a risk to buy it from those sites so buy at your own risk. Good luck. xnsd.aliexpress.com/store/5128131?spm=a2g0o.detail.100005.1.4bfa29e7hL9lFH
@@dmnguye69 Thanks, I have heard through the grapevine that Newport is allegedly coming out with a motor that will be comparable to the Torqueedo 1103. While it does generate some interest, you can only go but so fast safely and efficiently and then there is the obvious cost difference. Have you experienced or wished that you had more "juice" as it were during your use or are you satisfied with the performance of the motor ?
@@thomasr.1bad21ultra9 The 60 lb of thrust is more than plenty for my kayak so i'm very satisfy. I think if anything it'll be nice to go up to perhaps 8-10 mph, but even at those speeds it might be unsafe if you hit a wave and flip. I think the bigger 1103 AC that Torqeedo comes out might be for bigger kayak like a Hobie PA size, you have a big person with tons of gears. Keep in mind the original 403 AC is only 1 hps rated, and less thrust then 60lb. Bigger motor will consume more power hence bigger battery, really depends on your needs.
@@thomasr.1bad21ultra9 I'm going to guess you won't need the 3 hps for the PA, just a guess but you could always wait and see if they do come out with one. Just keep in mind 60lb of thrust, is that enough for your PA and gears. Good luck.
The battery is still working as expected. I would not recommend you buying from overseas because warranty is only for 1 year and shipping anything back and forth just takes over a month. Since the making of this video there are so many other US vendor that you can buy from. Buy local for warranty reasons.
Doesn't look like your 2019 Hobie Compass has a 4 bolt motor mount in the back like the Hobie Outback does. If you really want to go with it then you have to find this kit: www.austinkayak.com/Hobie-Compass-Power-Pole-Mounting-Bracket-Kit-2021/ACK25465P.html It's meant for a power pole, but it does have 4 screws on top that you can then mount the NK-180s motor plate on top I believe. Screwing in the power pole "white piece" will require nuts inside of your hull, not sure how you can do that if there isn't a hatch where you can access that. To solve this issue you can use a "well nut" where you don't need to have nuts on the inside to hold your screws. www.amazon.com/Pieces-Rubber-Stainless-Hardware-Fasteners/dp/B07T9GST5H/ref=asc_df_B07T9GST5H/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385629036932&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16957582904493897749&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9053018&hvtargid=pla-849371247554&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=78921461456&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385629036932&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16957582904493897749&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9053018&hvtargid=pla-849371247554 Unfortunately not all kayak meant to have a power ready mounting plate in the back so you just have to improvise.
@@dmnguye69 bro thanks for this comment. I have this same kayak and looking into getting this. Though I may have access too...was thinking about cutting the circle out and mounting a marine speaker in it haha we shall see.
You can search ebay for "yakima windjammer airfoil" it's under 20 bucks. This will also act as a rudder so you can't have fix steering, the motor's steering control has to be tied to the steering hub on the outback or any other kayak.
At the time I purchased my lynx there was no way to connect it to the back. The diameter of the NK was too big to fit through the drive well (1/4) inch too big to be exact. I think Louisiana Kayak made a aftermarket kit for the lynx, but you sacrific the lynx's native rudder control in place of the motor which I do not prefer. I ended up using a cheap watersnake T24. It gets the job done from a to b, but in rough currents and winds, i'm screwed :) I would recommend the lynx and FPV motor adapter ($200) combo. Yes the adapter is somewhat expensive but it is so versital vs. the drill/glue on cassette method.
I actually took a watersnake 24lb V12, cut it, put on a new minn kota controller (variable speed) and used a FVP hobie drive mount vs. a cassette. www.mariner-sails.com/motor-mout-kit-hobie-drive.html. I ended up selling that mod to one of my friend and went with the NK180 instead. The watersnake worked good, but the spec and build quality of the motor isn't comparable to the motors i've went over. Also another one of my friend dropped his accidentally and broke the bottom metal rudder off, can't replace that piece so you either have to buy a new one, or weld it back together somehow. If budget is a concern and you don't mind moding the watersnake to fit the hobie drive well, then it's not a bad choice by no means.
It probably is an overkill depending on where you fish and the conditions. Inshore fishing you deal with a lot of winds and very strong currents. By the time you load up your kayak and gears, the motor is probably pushing close to 300 lbs.
I went with some cheap chinese Aliexpress 24V 60 AH for bit over $500. It's got more power then what I use it for. I think you easily get #2 30 AH 12V battery from AMP Outdoor battery and run them in series to get 24v. I think the warranty and quality of build is more reliable.
The Chinese Alixpress battery I purchased 24V 60 AH weighs 30lb but it's also a higher watt battery and cost way less than the torqeedo. I suppose i could find a smaller AH 24V system that can weigh less, but I don't see 22 extra lb being a deal breaker. Check my test run out, kayak was pretty loaded and I was able to hit 6 mph at one point. In the video noticed how i'm going against the wind and it was still flying. ua-cam.com/video/wtdNiXxUWFk/v-deo.html
@@dmnguye69 thanks so much for sharing all the details.... I did have a 54ah dakota 12v battery already... so bit the bullet and ordered a second one as mix/match of batteries is not recommended (yes overall about 900$) ... this will give me 54AH 24v system which will be complete overkill for my Compass... BUT: I always felt that big disadvantage was that boaters go to the fishing spots and with my prev 12v motor with max 3.5mph it drained it really fast... Now I can go 5mph for 60 mins if needed to get to the 5 miles away honey hole.... maybe faster. with that battery I probably just leave the mirage drive at home... in worst case of failure I would just have to use my arms. Maybe I still have the drive in front but but cassette in to be faster. I would probably also miss my leg workout.
@@openmind6969 I'm going to guess that going 3.5 mph was max for your 12 V which will drain your battery fast for two reasons..#1 it's a 12V system which draws more current/power, and top speed for any motor will always not be efficient. With that said it'll be true for the NK-180 as well. If you plan to go 5.x mph then it will drain your batter fast, eventhough it's a more efficient 24V system. I'm assuming you're looking to use the NK-180 and not try to have connect your previous motor to a 24V battery bank in serial :) ? This was the calculation I did based on speed/amp draw that I've obtained from Newvessel for their NK180. ~ 3.8 mph was the one they didnt provide and I had to estimate. 1440 Watt/60AH @ 24V Independent Battery (Chinese 24V/60AH Lifepo4) 2 mph /85 miles/ 42 hours @1.4 AMP Consumption 3.4mph /45 miles/ 13.3 hours @4.5 AMP Consumption 3.8 mph / 34 miles / 9 hours @6.6 AMP Consumption (average between 40 and 60 percent throttle specs to around half way stats) 4.2 mph /28.9 miles/ 6.8 hours @8.7 AMP Consumption 4.9 mph /21 miles/ 4.2 hours @14 AMP Consumption 5.4 mph / 16.2 miles / 3 hours @20 AMP Consumption For your 54 AH system, take 10% off for reserves which the battery will need. (54x.1)-54 = ~ 48.6 AH/24V of realistic power you have. Per the calculation above let's say you go 4.2 mph vs. 5.4, here is what you'll be looking to get out of your 48.6 AH/24V Dakota. 4.2 mph @ 8.7 AMP draw = 5.58 hr or (5.58hr x 4.2 mph = 23.46 miles range) 5.4mph @ 20 AMP draw = 2.43 hr or (2.43hr X 5.4 mph = 13.1 miles range) From the example you see, going 4.2 mph speed will give you a 23.46 mile range vs. going 5.4 mph which will drop it down to only 13.1 mph. I do not recommend you going max speed unless your range is below 13 miles round trip. These numbers will vary a bit base on current, weight, kayak type, etc but does give you an idea of your capabilities based on your battery size. ps. DO NOT LEAVE THE MIRAGE DRIVE AT HOME. Murphy's law exist and you will never know if you need your drive or not. Besides the fact that the NK180 motor mounts in the back will not mess with your drive well.
@@dmnguye69 thanks so much for the detailed response. Yeah I know Murphy’s law. 😉 it can also be in the drive well and tied back for less drag. Is there a way to track the amount of wattage used for a trip? That would give good indication on capacity left. Not sure how good the device is showing capacity of battery for a high end battery such as Dakota which has very constant discharge before it drops in end quickly.
This is a hidden gem of a video. Been looking all over for something like this. Very helpful. Thanks for putting in the effort.
There are thousands of useful/helpful videos on UA-cam for just about anything. THIS video is BY FAR the most thought out and beneficial video I've watched. Well done!
Thank you..that's the feeling I get when I tried to look for this sort of things when I was on the market for a motor.
I believe that is the best Kayak Motor out there. I have my 23' Hobie Compass and it's rigged with alot of PA Accessories. I wanted to get away from the 100 Lb empty hulls. Im 5ft' 7" 156 lbs. I have the NK 180 with a 100 AH. Amped outdoors battery. I also have my J2 Bixpy PP-768, Which i also love because its a complete pkg. 5 to 5.5 mph, us all you need on a 12 ft boat. Awesome vid my friend. 🛶 🌊 🎣
I still think it's one of the best and cheapest way to get this type of motor for the power/range. Unfortunately I had to part ways with it when I made a decision to downsize to the 45lb lynx. The drive well on the lynx was 1/4 inch too narrow for me to fit the NK180 through else I would have kept it. I don't feel like putting it in the back with rigging it up all over again :)
Great job explaining the options. I agree with your bring your own battery approach.
This is a fantastic video and very much appreciated!!
Great job. I appreciate the amount on information you took the time to chart for your viewers.
How does this not have more views? Thanks for doing this and answering questions!
Now I see it has views but not many took the time to hit like
@@bethsmith1003 thanks for the feedback. I’m here to offer to others what I learn so it’s all good how they use it, like or no like 😀
Thanks for putting in all that work. What a great video
Great analysis, thank you. I have considered all the same options and this video helps.
Excellent comparison, lots of great information.
Very good break down,,I use a cut down bass pro 30 lb mtr. For around 120oo ,,on my bigger kayak i use a 1000amp hr battery 40lbs.and cost around 100oo On my compact kayak i use 35amp hr.agm battery and it usually cost around 70-80oo and weigh 20lbs,,i can use any battery i want also i can use lead acid,agm batterys,,the way things are going you might not be able to get a bixpy or tourquido battery or controller
excellent job on the video. thank you im more informed now and for the future
What a great video. Thanks for the time and effort. I have an OldTown 120 AutoPilot and FPV 2x50 ah 12 volt in parallel. I've been looking at lighter weight Kayaks and motors. This video has everything I've been wondering about and trying to figure out. Thank you Sir.
Glad it helped. The one thing that's great about the AutoPilot is the spotlock, but you will pay for the weight of that kayak, don't think I want to even lug it around with my truck it's so heavy. Moving to the lighter setup with this motor, you will lose that spotlock feature but gain in mobility. Good luck.
If you mainly fish still water and don't have to travel huge distances spot lock is probably the only thing you need.
Your just short on speed but you can carry enough battery to go full power for a long long time if you want to.
I fish rivers mostly and need more power, I anchor where the fishing is good enough or beach if that makes sense.
I find rivers and creeks to be WAAY less pressured then overcrowded, overfished local lakes and reservoirs where I live, and prettier also.
Being able to solo fish a river by pedaling and now motoring upriver and floating back down to my launch is invaluable.
Or if you're brave float down from the launch and trust you will be able to motor back upriver to the launch.
Not really worth the risk imho, though my rivers so far have allowed me to pedal upriver, but it is NOT fun and only 2-3 miles max is reasonable for me.
I also will always carry my PDL as backup in case the motor system goes out for any reason.
It's awesome not needing to deal with limited (if any) shuttling arrangements, or the hassle of having a reliable fishing buddy available with a kayak and a big enough truck for yall to shuttle together and swap boats and trucks back and forth coming and going and waste all that time and energy.
Great video showing the downfall of Torqeedo and the weakness of Bixpy overall!
This really shows the differences in detail, very nice work sir.
Why anyone would choose anything other than the NK 180 is beyod my comprehension.
I just got my nk 180 and it's going on tomorrow morning.
I am powering it with two 12v 50AH lifepo4 batteries (23lbs total) from Amazon at $160 each.
They may be junk but we will see how it goes and if they make it all 2023, they charged up good so far.
I put them in a plastic toolbox from Harborfreight I wired in series myself with Newport's quick disconnect kit and 1 wire from the NK 180 kit (that is currently way to long but works for now)
Then I am going into a slow river for it's first test run on my OT 120 PDL plus my 250lbs plus my Garmin 93UHD plus another 10-20lbs of poles, tackle, etc.
I hope to save my legs and land some nice winter smallies!
I really want more speed so I am already eyeing the new Nk 300 Newport Vessels just came out with, but quality 36v lifepo4 batteries cost a fortune so we will see.
3hp on a river would sure be nice to have!
Bye Bye Torqeedo 1103AC, your time and rich man exclusivity is over!
I may not make it through 2023 on the Nk 180 lol.
Hey great comments. I'm looking at the NK300 and comparing that to the 1103 AC from Torqeedo just for kicks, perhaps i'll make another video on that comparison. From my views so far I don't think the NK300 is going to really bring that big of an impact over the NK180. In my opinion the optimal speed is around 3 mph which is a balance between speed and longevity of the battery. If you crank it to the max power for any motor, it will drain your battery very fast and the curve of amp draw is exponential, not linear. I think the only time I would upgrade to NK300 is if you have an extremely heavy setup and in very bad current, that you need that extra torque on the 3 HP motor vs. the 1.8. Like you said, you have to pay another 1/3 battery to make it 36V, and it's heavier too. Good luck.
@@dmnguye69 The NK300 crushes the 1103 in power. With a better hull (I'm looking to leave my barge hull OT 120 PDL) you can get 6mph or more from this new motor, they do it with the weaker 1103 already.
Yes 36v batteries are a little heavier, but with around 50ah (if you can find this size) you will still be 1/2 the weight of a marine 12v lead acid, and run WAY longer as more voltage is WAY more efficient.
I'm looking forward to when the electric technology can turn our kayaks into jetskis that can rip up and down rivers lol.
Yea I've seen those aquanami motorized kayaks but they suck and are not for fishing (or much of anything).
Please do a comparison of the NK300 and crazy 1103ac, even better would be on the water tests, and use a decent hull.
How has the 180 been holding up so far?
for my lure 11.5 i went with the bixpy j2. I wanted to keep my rudder intact and also keep my sonar pod. the battery motor combo pack was absolutely perfect for my setup and what i do.
Yep, nothing wrong with the bixpy at all if it fits your setup.
It might fit great and be waterproof, but you paid more money to go slower and less distance/time.
Most of us would say more speed, distance/time, and less money is the only way to go.
To each their own though, glad it works for you.
@@riverpirate1022 for what i do i would not trade it for any other solution.
Excellent information! Ty
😂 great video! I’ve called bixby so many times to see if they are going to release a bigger battery! I’m probably going with Newport too.
I’m about to purchase a nk180 what is your expected run time on the 60ah thank you for all your help
Originally I picked a 60 AH with the mentality that it's a 60AH 12V system, but it turns out that the 24V is already doubling your 12V power and it's sucking less current. The 60 AH in my book is an overkill for my requirements. The run time really all depends on how you use it (full throttle all the time, fix speed, distance, etc) I think i did the rough calculation and if you're going 3 mph, it should take you up to 40 miles or so on a 60 AH 24V battery.
@@dmnguye69 yup bought the nk180 and two amped outdoor 60ah can’t wait to get out!
@@trippingonfaith7094 You can also use that same battery for your fish finder, I had to buy a 24 to 12 volt stepdown. I have a lowrance active target sonar and that sucks 30-40ah for an entire day of fishing.
Thank you. Subscribed.
you did a great video with the big differences in price points,, i went with ebay seller: tobatteries . 500 shipped for 100ah 12.8v .american made, and free shipping
Whoa that's a big battery, my 60 AH doesn't come close to low most days. If you put it in full throttle at 100% then it'll quickly drain your battery like any motor so use full only if you need to, 50-60% is ideal. Just pay attention to the total watt that's being use.
Nice comparison!
Glad you enjoyed it
Very Informative!! Have you had any issues using the 180 motor?
Yes I did, but it's not a total suprise as I was one of the earlier buyer of a new product. Things were resolved and the support is super duper with NewVessel folks. I have another video going over my good and bad experience with the motor. I'm pretty sure they already change their design this year given what the found last year.
The answer is simple. None of the above! Xi3 for the win.
Indeed each to his own if the Xi3 works for you. Those boat motors are just way too big (size/weight) for me, if you cut the shaft then you void the warranty. I would consider one only for the sake of having a spot lock, but then the PDL has a version for that already. Also for any 24V range the cost is above 1k, anything below that is in the 12V which isn't that efficient. Good luck with the Xi3.
Wow, thanks for this. Helps a lot. Been trying to decide which to go for including more budget options. My shorter Yak doesn’t have a flat tail top for the mount or a rudder so that’s another thing to think about and a transom mount seems bulky. In NZ the Bixpy is the king of these types of motors but it’s pretty pricey. The Newport seems a good option if can sort a smaller/lighter battery and mount space. So much good info and much appreciated. PS. I always wonder with these American style kayaks where you put all your fish if the back is full of batteries and crates? Quite often fill the back of mine up with fish alone. First world problems was thinking where to put my fish if a big battery is there? lol.
Bixpy option would actually offer a smaller and lighter battery vs. the NK's 24V setup. It really boils down to how you're going to use your motor, for short trips, etc a Bixpy wouldn't be a bad option but it'll be more expensive to a degree where as the NK setup is a power house and potentially cheaper. I typically string my fish to the side and leave it in the water until the end of the trip.
Most of us in the USA are sport fishing (AKA catch and release, especially in freshwater) and aren't fishing for food so we don't need a lot of room in the kayak for fish really, unless we land a trophy lol.
Regardless there is room enough to keep plenty of fish if we wanted to, just have to be creative or use a stringer as most of us don't have large hungry reptiles around to worry about eating our fish or us.
Yes, we do have many Darwin Award seekers in the south kayak fishing in gator filled waters but it's their life to risk...
I'm sure many more saltwater fishermen are keeping the fish though and they do fine as long as sharks and barracuda don't get them lol.
So many Darwin Award seekers these days......
Great video ! Thank you for making it. Where did you get the foil/fairing that's on your motor shaft. On the torqeedo 1103 stuff they claim that wing makes a huge difference.
Here is the link for the spoiler: www.ebay.com/itm/233168413839
I did an initial test run and found that by locking the motor in place and using my hobie rudder to steer didn't work out because the spoiler on the motor cancels out any turns.
I went back and tied my motor steering to my hobie's black rudder cap to sync it up with my main rudder. I did hit 6-6.1 mph max during my test run, obviously tide/wind/weight is a factor.
@@dmnguye69 That's is awesome ! Apparently on the 1103s with the extra speed they see over the 403s the motor shift can cavitat at full power without the spoiler. I ordered one of these NK-180S and I'm going to outfit it to a Hobie tandem. I'm going to order that foil right now.
@@fredzimmer8626
Below are two video of was how I mount locked in the spoiler as it will be a bit lose, but i was able to secure it and
an sample of my test run, nothing in detail but notice the power of 60lb of thrust against the wind and current. Fun stuff man.
ua-cam.com/video/wtdNiXxUWFk/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/YwKcnmOHdT8/v-deo.html
What kind of yak do you have? Looks cool! The NK is now $1000. I like Bixby because its light, battery is light and while you have to buy extras, its still pretty cheap. I can run slow and make the battery last. But thanks for the vid!!
This motor was installed on a 2019 Hobie Outback. Yes I saw recently the price went up from 800 to 1k. Funny thing was this past black friday it dropped down to around 650. Inflation everywhere!!!
I see you in the newer videos with Bixpy , what happened to this motor ? I am considering one o my kayak
If you have a bigger kayak that can handle the NK180 then I would recommend you get it. My new lynx at the time had no place for me to mount the motor so I had to sell it unfortunately.
I like Newport motor better, my motor my choice of battery 👍👍👍👌
This is true, but torquedo is a closed system, no water in the electric connection and believe me , over the water this is very important....
@@andreacamillozzi9000 That's only the battery system, and if you're speaking of water getting into a battery, just look for a trolling motor battery which will have water resistance/proof mitigations already. It's not every day a kayak gets totally flipped over and your battery totally submerge.
Just so you know. Torqeedo AC is a 915w 31AH battery. Not 815W and 27.5AH. So you runtime are wrong.
Thanks for the clarification, I was 100 watts off :) It's a 31 AH then, but the run time is correct. Please see this link to torqeedo.. www.torqeedo.com/us/en-us/products/outboards/ultralight/ultralight-403-ac/1407-00.html
Thanks for the great comparison. I recently stumbled on the Newport. Can you share the coupon on the Newport or where you found it?
It's been months ago so not sure if it still works or not. ISHWITHFISH
I have been trying to figure out torqeedas performance and it appears they use a pulse width module (Pwm) as opposed to forward/ reverse speeds which is way more efficient.The modules can be sourced cheaply for DIY enthusiasts who would prefer to source their own batteries.
I believe both motor is using PWM, i like to think them as variable speeds without fixed increments and yes they are more efficient on your battery. Bixpy is the only one out of the three that has fixed forward and reverse speed settings.
@@dmnguye69 I couldn't see that on the Newport website but guessed it is with variable electronic,thanks for verifying it,minnkota is also doing Pwm speed control lately I noticed,tight lines!
@@celticfirehorse9345 I actually purchased a brand new Minn Kota head unit with variable speed and replaced it with a water snake one, ended up sellling it to a buddy and got the NK180 instead :)
Check my other video where i did show the variable speed of the NK180 on my youtube channel.
Great video! I've been looking at the 180S kit here in the UK. However, it's being advertised at what appears to be a much lower spec. It looks identical to yours in every way, except it's advertised as 18ft/lb. As I am a metric guy, so I have no idea whether this is equivalent to yours or not. What do you think?
Hi, my motor is 60lb thurst and 1.8 hp. Your 18ft/lb sounds really low, perhaps that's in kilogram? It's a very powerful motor, is it 24V from your side?
@@dmnguye69 Hi Doan, here are the specs, as they appear in the UK: 180S Thrust in lbs: 18. Voltage V: 24v. Current Draw A: 25A. Battery Meter: Y. Output Power W: 600W. Max Speed* Km/h: 4.8. Gears Forward: Digital control. Gears Reverse: Digital control. Ext Tiller: N. Shaft Length: 0.5m. Cable Length: 2m. Battery Clips: Y. Weight: 6.5kg.
@@tartanrambo Voltage, AMP draw, Output power all looks to be the same. The thrust and speed looks off and I think those are mistakes. This motor is rated at 5.4 mph, which translated to 8.6 K/h, the 18lb of thurst is not correct given the AMP/Watt draw. I would email them and ask for clarification. I can't see why they would make it a different spec for Europe.
It doesn't mention Newport and appears to be a Chinese clone? I was looking at it too but the specs seem vague.
You have a link directly for that European model? I'm curious now that you mention it.
more videos please.
ua-cam.com/video/YwKcnmOHdT8/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/wtdNiXxUWFk/v-deo.html
I'll have more later as update videos to the motor, I just need to get a chance to go out more.
Great video! Curious if there was any hidden cost for hardware such as mounting throttle or anything else needed.
I ended up using the same throttle mount for the torqeedo, it fits perfectly. Also bought some hrail loops to keep the ropes align along the kayak, i forgot what those loops called.
Thanks, appreciate it. I priced a 1103 w installation $3550. INSANE ,lol
@@johnroberts1037 Yes torqeedo is pricey. NK180 went up since I made this video but I do see one on amazon for 850. Add #2 12V battery together for a 24V 50AH for another 400 ish, which still puts you below 1300. 50AH if you going ~ 3 mph can really take you a long distant. ipowerqueen.com/products/12-8v-50ah-life-po4-battery?variant=39890416468013¤cy=USD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj7CZBhDHARIsAPPWv3eSckQz3KQRnwFyoGu3aRczrnlkblZ9f40JzirlOgBhAcr1LcazcPsaAkI6EALw_wcB
@@dmnguye69 Their website has it $999 w/ 20% off , so $799.
@@johnroberts1037 Check out the 1103 destroying new NK 300 Newport just dropped for Christmas!
I am already eyeing that upgrade and I still have to install my brand-new NK 180 tomorrow lol.
Hidden costs yes.
1) throttle mount if you don't already own something that will work.
Yakattack stuff is hella pricey, their Torqeedo throttle mount they make works fine with the Nk 180 with a couple washers to shorten their long screws.
2) Then you need a cleat or line lock of some type for your motor stow and deploy.
Thats bare minimum.
3) If you are using motor steering, (or if your motor is mounted centerline) you will need rear rails (or something) and track eyelets to run the rigging through to your pedals to steer, and another for your deploy/stow line.
My motor is offset so I can keep my stock OT 120 PDL rudder and not cut into my boat by using the factory powerpole mounting location for the motor.
I will keep my motor locked in the straight position, which also means it cannot slide up and down the shuttle pivot block making it tuck into the kayak more when stowed.
Mine will instead stick out more, but that's the price I have to pay until I get a better kayak maybe next year or so like the new Bonafide P127 PDL with bottom rudder and rear centerline mount for the motor which will allow me to use pedals to steer the motor or the rudder.
4) Possibly wires and connectors of your choice, plus a battery box of some kind that fits your battery choice.
I bought two 12v 50ah Amazon lifepo4 batteries and stuck them in a $15 harborfreight plastic toolbox with Newports $45 quick disconnect wiring kit.
I also stuffed the toolbox with harborfreight toolbox draw liner and scrap shipping foam to pad the batteries.
My current total without tax is:
$900 Nk 180 motor
$320 two 12v 50AH batteries $160 each
$86 Lifepo4 charger
$66 for toolbox, wiring, and foam padding.
$45 custom powerpole mounting plate from Navarre Kayaks (corrects OT's dumbass angled powerpole mount on my left side transom so my motor can mount straight inline with the keel)
Total $1417 plus tax.
Torqeedo's slower, less distance 403 AC will run you $2499 plus tax LOL.
I saved $1000 and got more everything.
There is no contest.
👍
saw in another video that you connected the steering to the kayak steering as just using the rudder did not work. I will have to do the same. Can you show how you did that? Much appreciated.... got the hobie compass power pole mount bracket (100$) to attach the newport and ready to install in next days.
I tried to lock the motor straight forward first and use my rudder only. That proved challenging to turn because the motor being so powerful will make the rudder's steering more difficult. I then went back to tying the cords to the steering wings directly into the rudder cap (black cap) which works. Give me your email and i'll send you a drawing of how I did it. I see that the compass has only 1 steering on the left vs. the outback which has two. I will tell you that i had to steer using both sides, simply again becuase the motor is too powerful. If you can see if you can install foot peddal steering which was really what this motor was meant for.
Come to think of it, I think you should try to keep it simple and put the pin in so the motor will be straight all the time. Try that with your rudder first before trying any fancy steering to the rudder cap. I found another compass that has the torqeedo and they had the motor locked straight and used rudder. See this web link...
www.theplastichull.net/2018/02/hobie-compass-torqeedo-ultralight-install/
Here is another one where they did tied the steering to the rudder cap...if you want to go that approach.
ua-cam.com/video/vVoRR1zXuME/v-deo.html
@@dmnguye69 damn... you are very good finding the perfect source... I googled and googled and did not find it... probably go with second option as steering was never great especially with some current. This will give me so much more confidence to actually hit some flowing rivers. Also looking at that Torqueedo set-up... wow someone definitely copied bog time.
Are you still liking and using the NK180 two years later? Any issues?
Hi, I actually switched kayak and sold my outback and motor. Two issues i had was the original controller's software version didn't tune different batteries correctly (power level) but that was quickly fixed with another controller release on warranty. The second issue which Newvessel caught from a video I sent to them was the motor sounded odd, come to find out the seal broke and water got in. They told me to send the entire motor in and gave me a new one fast. It was the first generation so i'm not suprise, but the support from the company is 100% spot on. Outside of those two issues, the power and handling was everything I expected. I'm sure now they fixed and updated any flaws the first generation motor/controller has. Good luck.
@@dmnguye69 Thanks for the info!
Please qualify the black rudder on the shaft of your NEWPORT motor shaft....did that come with the unit or was it a option at what cost?
Whom did you purchase it?
The black plastic piece on the shaft didn't come with motor.
www.ebay.com/itm/233168413839
I have an Old Town 106 PDL and was considering adding a NK-180 to the spot reserved for the power pole mount but due to it being offset from the stern, do you think that it would be possible to fix the motor to remain perpendicular using the cable steering mechanism in some way?
I suppose that can be done, make sure the diamension of the nk180 bracket fits first.
I have the OT 120 PDL.
Here is what you need to know!
The Nk 180 is standard powerpole mounting size for most kayaks including ours.
1) throttle mount if you don't already own something that will work.
Yakattack stuff is hella pricey, their Torqeedo throttle mount they make works fine with the Nk 180 with a couple washers to shorten their long screws.
2) Then you need a cleat or line lock of some type for your motor stow and deploy.
Thats bare minimum.
My motor is offset so I can keep and use my stock OT 120 PDL rudder and not cut into my boat by using the factory powerpole mounting location for the motor.
I will keep my motor locked in the straight position, which also means it cannot slide up and down the shuttle pivot block making it tuck into the kayak more when stowed.
Mine will instead stick out more, but that's the price I have to pay until I get a better kayak maybe next year or so like the new Bonafide P127 PDL with bottom rudder and rear centerline mount for the motor which will allow me to use pedals to steer the motor or the built in bottom rudder.
4) Possibly wires and connectors of your choice, plus a battery box of some kind that fits your battery choice.
I bought two 12v 50ah Amazon lifepo4 batteries and stuck them in a $15 harborfreight plastic toolbox with Newports $45 quick disconnect wiring kit.
I also stuffed the toolbox with harborfreight foam toolbox draw liner ($6) and scrap shipping foam to pad the batteries (free).
My current total without tax is:
$900 Nk 180 motor
$320 two 12v 50AH batteries @ $160 each
$86 Lifepo4 charger (does one 12v battery at a time in around 5hrs from empty)
$66 for toolbox, wiring, and foam padding.
$45 custom powerpole mounting plate from Navarre Kayaks in FL (corrects OT's dumbass angled powerpole mount on my left side transom so my motor can mount straight inline with the keel, Call Nick at Navarre and he will hook you up with this plate, he is the BEST!)
Total $1417 plus tax.
Torqeedo's slower, less distance 403 AC will run you $2499 plus tax LOL.
I saved $1000 and got more everything.
There is no contest.
Navarre kayak has an offset mounting block for $75
Do you have an update regarding your battery performance? Also, could you link that exact battery? Thanks
Doan Nguyen
I've reallly been meaning do a follow up video. The 60AH for my usage is an overkill as I went 2-3 times without recharging. Average trip is around 6-10 miles. For the average user who wants to get to and from the fishing spot I recommend a 30 AH. In addition to this I have a Lowrance Live Target sonar which is a power hogger but even then it didn't put a dent in the 60 AH battery. Plenty of battery in the US that you can buy, don't have to buy it from China which has it's risks. I recommend outdoor amps to start. Good luck.
Great video since this video has been out awhile how did the battery hold up was it worth the money and the motor for a season
Doan Nguyen
0 seconds ago
I've reallly been meaning do a follow up video. The 60AH for my usage is an overkill as I went 2-3 times without recharging. Average trip is around 6-10 miles. For the average user who wants to get to and from the fishing spot I recommend a 30 AH. In addition to this I have a Lowrance Live Target sonar which is a power hogger but even then it didn't put a dent in the 60 AH battery. Plenty of battery in the US that you can buy, don't have to buy it from China which has it's risks. I recommend outdoor amps to start. Good luck.
Have you looked at Texas Power Paddle?
I have and for the range/power it's the same price as the entry level Torqeedo. My current setup is around 1300 for motor/battery which gives me 1.8 hp/60 thrust and well over 40 mile range if I maintain a speed of 3-4 mph. No comparison there so I didn't even add the Texas Power Paddle in my reviews. Something else to consider, even some of these motor advertise speed, I found out that having a bigger thurst makes a world of difference if you're hitting nasty currents/wind conditions. Low power motor struggle to keep up and your speed will plummet quickly, to compensate you have to crank it up to the max which will eat up your battery in no time. Texas Paddle doesn't seem to have high thrust capacity and if they did, I do not see them advertise it on their product pages.
I have been really interested in the Newport. If I may, how is your battery working out from Ali Express? Do you have a link to seller etc? I may consider going that route if your experience was good. Thanks
The battery from Ali Express 24V 60AH ~ 30lb so far has been an overkill for my use.
Example: I went on a two day (7-9 hours/each) fishing trip each day averaging 6-9 miles of usage, variable speed from low trolling to max speed burst, in heavy current in some cases. The entire day I also connected my fish finder to it with a 24V to 12V step down converter. My fish finder is a lowrance active target and the sonar's usage adds around ~30AH a day to it...high power draining sonar.
Let's just say at the end of the two day excursion the battery dropped down to ~ 44%. If i had to do it all over again I would want to find a battery around 40-50AH and perhaps save on some weight. I'm not sure if you can find that AH size with a 24V system so you might have to buy #2 12V and run them in series.
It really depends how you're planning to use your motor, but so far it's been a super efficient motor unlike your typical 12V motor.
The Ali Express battery so far works fine but it's always a risk to buy it from those sites so buy at your own risk. Good luck.
xnsd.aliexpress.com/store/5128131?spm=a2g0o.detail.100005.1.4bfa29e7hL9lFH
@@dmnguye69 Thanks, I have heard through the grapevine that Newport is allegedly coming out with a motor that will be comparable to the Torqueedo 1103. While it does generate some interest, you can only go but so fast safely and efficiently and then there is the obvious cost difference. Have you experienced or wished that you had more "juice" as it were during your use or are you satisfied with the performance of the motor ?
@@thomasr.1bad21ultra9 The 60 lb of thrust is more than plenty for my kayak so i'm very satisfy. I think if anything it'll be nice to go up to perhaps 8-10 mph, but even at those speeds it might be unsafe if you hit a wave and flip. I think the bigger 1103 AC that Torqeedo comes out might be for bigger kayak like a Hobie PA size, you have a big person with tons of gears. Keep in mind the original 403 AC is only 1 hps rated, and less thrust then 60lb. Bigger motor will consume more power hence bigger battery, really depends on your needs.
@@dmnguye69 Thanks, I do have a Hobie PA14 thus the question on performance for this particular motor.
@@thomasr.1bad21ultra9 I'm going to guess you won't need the 3 hps for the PA, just a guess but you could always wait and see if they do come out with one. Just keep in mind 60lb of thrust, is that enough for your PA and gears. Good luck.
How did the aliexpress battery workout? Would you recommend it and have a link?
The battery is still working as expected. I would not recommend you buying from overseas because warranty is only for 1 year and shipping anything back and forth just takes over a month. Since the making of this video there are so many other US vendor that you can buy from. Buy local for warranty reasons.
Doan, where did you get your upgrade Outback aluminum rudder?
Looks like the paint it over now...www.snipeairindustries.com/product-page/sai-super-rudder
@@dmnguye69 Thank you Doan! You are a big help.
I am having issue finding a mounting plate for my 2019 hobie compass. What and where you got yours?
Doesn't look like your 2019 Hobie Compass has a 4 bolt motor mount in the back like the Hobie Outback does.
If you really want to go with it then you have to find this kit:
www.austinkayak.com/Hobie-Compass-Power-Pole-Mounting-Bracket-Kit-2021/ACK25465P.html
It's meant for a power pole, but it does have 4 screws on top that you can then mount the NK-180s motor plate on top I believe.
Screwing in the power pole "white piece" will require nuts inside of your hull, not sure how you can do that if there isn't a hatch where
you can access that. To solve this issue you can use a "well nut" where you don't need to have nuts on the inside to hold your screws.
www.amazon.com/Pieces-Rubber-Stainless-Hardware-Fasteners/dp/B07T9GST5H/ref=asc_df_B07T9GST5H/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385629036932&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16957582904493897749&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9053018&hvtargid=pla-849371247554&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=78921461456&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385629036932&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16957582904493897749&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9053018&hvtargid=pla-849371247554
Unfortunately not all kayak meant to have a power ready mounting plate in the back so you just have to improvise.
@@dmnguye69 bro thanks for this comment. I have this same kayak and looking into getting this. Though I may have access too...was thinking about cutting the circle out and mounting a marine speaker in it haha we shall see.
How's that battery holding up?
Unfortunately sold it to a friend of mine who's using it now, but no issues so far yet from him.
Where did you get the fairing for the motor shaft?
You can search ebay for "yakima windjammer airfoil" it's under 20 bucks. This will also act as a rudder so you can't have fix steering, the motor's steering control has to be tied to the steering hub on the outback or any other kayak.
Have you tried this motor on your new Lynx? I have a Lynx and want a motor
At the time I purchased my lynx there was no way to connect it to the back. The diameter of the NK was too big to fit through the drive well (1/4) inch too big to be exact. I think Louisiana Kayak made a aftermarket kit for the lynx, but you sacrific the lynx's native rudder control in place of the motor which I do not prefer. I ended up using a cheap watersnake T24. It gets the job done from a to b, but in rough currents and winds, i'm screwed :) I would recommend the lynx and FPV motor adapter ($200) combo. Yes the adapter is somewhat expensive but it is so versital vs. the drill/glue on cassette method.
What about watersnake?
I actually took a watersnake 24lb V12, cut it, put on a new minn kota controller (variable speed) and used a FVP hobie drive mount vs. a cassette.
www.mariner-sails.com/motor-mout-kit-hobie-drive.html. I ended up selling that mod to one of my friend and went with the NK180 instead.
The watersnake worked good, but the spec and build quality of the motor isn't comparable to the motors i've went over. Also another one of my friend dropped his accidentally and broke the bottom metal rudder off, can't replace that piece so you either have to buy a new one, or weld it back together somehow. If budget is a concern and you don't mind moding the watersnake to fit the hobie drive well, then it's not a bad choice by no means.
i got a Newport 55lb thrust motor for my tamarak its overkill put i can haul my son brother and father upstream with it
It probably is an overkill depending on where you fish and the conditions. Inshore fishing you deal with a lot of winds and very strong currents. By the time you load up your kayak and gears, the motor is probably pushing close to 300 lbs.
Which battery are you using?
I went with some cheap chinese Aliexpress 24V 60 AH for bit over $500. It's got more power then what I use it for. I think you easily get #2 30 AH 12V battery from AMP Outdoor battery and run them in series to get 24v. I think the warranty and quality of build is more reliable.
Sneaky! Is this the big surprise?
Tis is, John got my watersnake build.
How about a battery weight comparison, torqeedo battery weights 8lb as compared to 30+ lbs for the lithium battery
The Chinese Alixpress battery I purchased 24V 60 AH weighs 30lb but it's also a higher watt battery and cost way less than the torqeedo. I suppose i could find a smaller AH 24V system that can weigh less, but I don't see 22 extra lb being a deal breaker.
Check my test run out, kayak was pretty loaded and I was able to hit 6 mph at one point. In the video noticed how i'm going against the wind and it was still flying. ua-cam.com/video/wtdNiXxUWFk/v-deo.html
@@dmnguye69 thanks so much for sharing all the details.... I did have a 54ah dakota 12v battery already... so bit the bullet and ordered a second one as mix/match of batteries is not recommended (yes overall about 900$) ... this will give me 54AH 24v system which will be complete overkill for my Compass... BUT: I always felt that big disadvantage was that boaters go to the fishing spots and with my prev 12v motor with max 3.5mph it drained it really fast... Now I can go 5mph for 60 mins if needed to get to the 5 miles away honey hole.... maybe faster. with that battery I probably just leave the mirage drive at home... in worst case of failure I would just have to use my arms. Maybe I still have the drive in front but but cassette in to be faster. I would probably also miss my leg workout.
@@openmind6969 I'm going to guess that going 3.5 mph was max for your 12 V which will drain your battery fast for two reasons..#1 it's a 12V system which draws more current/power, and top speed for any motor will always not be efficient. With that said it'll be true for the NK-180 as well. If you plan to go 5.x mph then it will drain your batter fast, eventhough it's a more efficient 24V system. I'm assuming you're looking to use the NK-180 and not try to have connect your previous motor to a 24V battery bank in serial :) ?
This was the calculation I did based on speed/amp draw that I've obtained from Newvessel for their NK180. ~ 3.8 mph was the one they didnt provide and I had to estimate.
1440 Watt/60AH @ 24V Independent Battery (Chinese 24V/60AH Lifepo4)
2 mph /85 miles/ 42 hours @1.4 AMP Consumption
3.4mph /45 miles/ 13.3 hours @4.5 AMP Consumption
3.8 mph / 34 miles / 9 hours @6.6 AMP Consumption (average between 40 and 60 percent throttle specs to around half way stats)
4.2 mph /28.9 miles/ 6.8 hours @8.7 AMP Consumption
4.9 mph /21 miles/ 4.2 hours @14 AMP Consumption
5.4 mph / 16.2 miles / 3 hours @20 AMP Consumption
For your 54 AH system, take 10% off for reserves which the battery will need. (54x.1)-54 = ~ 48.6 AH/24V of realistic power you have.
Per the calculation above let's say you go 4.2 mph vs. 5.4, here is what you'll be looking to get out of your 48.6 AH/24V Dakota.
4.2 mph @ 8.7 AMP draw = 5.58 hr or (5.58hr x 4.2 mph = 23.46 miles range)
5.4mph @ 20 AMP draw = 2.43 hr or (2.43hr X 5.4 mph = 13.1 miles range)
From the example you see, going 4.2 mph speed will give you a 23.46 mile range vs. going 5.4 mph which will drop it down to only 13.1 mph. I do not recommend you going max speed unless your range is below 13 miles round trip. These numbers will vary a bit base on current, weight, kayak type, etc but does give you an idea of your capabilities based on your battery size.
ps. DO NOT LEAVE THE MIRAGE DRIVE AT HOME. Murphy's law exist and you will never know if you need your drive or not. Besides the fact that the NK180 motor mounts in the back will not mess with your drive well.
@@dmnguye69 thanks so much for the detailed response. Yeah I know Murphy’s law. 😉 it can also be in the drive well and tied back for less drag. Is there a way to track the amount of wattage used for a trip? That would give good indication on capacity left. Not sure how good the device is showing capacity of battery for a high end battery such as Dakota which has very constant discharge before it drops in end quickly.
@@openmind6969 controller has battery bars on there to give you an idea of how much is left. When you get close to 2 bars, time to head back to shore.