Hobie E-Volve ??? Looking to Buy - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Riskey Water · 11-11-2010, 01:31 PM

Sorry Jim but I'm not one of those guys that put on the extra 100 lbs. I am a career swimmer who gets up at 4:45 am and swims 5,000 yds in an olympic size pool 5 Days a week with a resting heart rate of 32 bpm and a bp of 117 over 68 , My doctor told me to lighten up on the cycling and peddling .Had to hang up the Triathalon workouts but still surfing . I'm just trying to extend the warranty on this body . The E-Volve alternatives look nice but looking for feedback on the E-Volve itself

Riskey Water · 11-11-2010, 01:33 PM

Hey Iceman , thats a clean set-up you got there ,did you install it yourself ?

Fiskadoro · 11-11-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riskey Water

Sorry Jim but I'm not one of those guys that put on the extra 100 lbs. I am a career swimmer who gets up at 4:45 am and swims 5,000 yds in an olympic size pool 5 Days a week with a resting heart rate of 32 bpm and a bp of 117 over 68 , My doctor told me to lighten up on the cycling and peddling .Had to hang up the Triathalon workouts but still surfing . I'm just trying to extend the warranty on this body . The E-Volve alternatives look nice but looking for feedback on the E-Volve itself

It's cool... I give that same advice to all my friends. Sorry if it seemed heavy handed. It's a battle everyone goes through it. I've had to change my diet quite a bit over the last decade, and give up running do to knee issues but kayaking is one way I still keep in shape. My big issue is I get joint pain in my left shoulder from working a rod. Not so much with big fish, but more like little things like jigging Iron.

Good luck, Jim

Iceman · 11-11-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Hey Iceman , thats a clean set-up you got there ,did you install it yourself ?

This was a customer's yak. He purchased the Bassyak's motor set up and asked me to install it.

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...-System/Detail

http://www.bassyaks.com/about17.html

SteveK · 11-11-2010, 02:17 PM

Thanks Iceman, Riskey ,Looking to buy the E-Volve, that should be the last choice of everything out there. The gear noise and lack of runtime should make up your mind in a hurry. try one before you order one. Another thing, it may have a higher top speed than most but that's NOT a good thing, as kayaks don't plain out and the faster you go the higher the bow goes and the LOWER the tankwell goes, THAN YOU SINK! , that's right the tankwell fills when you get into the higher speed, somewhere around 5mph is where you want to be.
Why Bassyaks and not the others
1. Price
2. Over 60 different kits designed for specific kayaks, not universal
3. Remove the motor in 10 seconds, for transporting
4. The motor can be raised and lowered from the seat
5. The motor can be tilted to gain ground clearance, from the seat.
6. The motor can be run as a surface prop, also effective for removing weeds from the prop something you can't do with the Torque, or Torqeedo
7. Directional rear propulsion is the ONLY way to go. FMD LOL
8. Almost unlimited run time, using any 12 volt battery, even multiple batteries
9. Quite, no whine like the Torqeedo, No vibration like the Torque
10. Can be surf launched, can be beached without damage.
11. Can be dry launched, no standing in the water to launch, no need to walk the kayak to a 10" depth like the Torque
12. Very low center of gravity, like a sailboat keel , no cavitation in rough seas
13. Self righting if capsized, which is very hard to do because of the pendulum effect of the motor
14. The best maneuvering EK out there.
15. The motor stays in prosecution when reverse is engaged
16. The motor is spring loaded and will jump to a safe position if an underwater obstacle is encountered, pull the lever and it will return to the normal position
17. The tank well is still useful
18. Clean factory looking setup.
19. The same battery can be used for all of your electronics, you need a separate 12volt battery for the Torqeedo
We will concede the Top Speed to Torqeedo, but if you go too fast the hydrodynamics will cause the kayak to SINK as the back of the kayak gets pulled under water, starting with the tank well filling with water. Under 6 MPH is where you want to be!

dsafety · 11-11-2010, 02:33 PM

We seem to have two conversations going on here. I will comment on the age and fitness angle. I would bet that the tingling you have has something to do with the way you are sitting in the yak. If the legs still work and from the way you describe yourself, they must, I would try to find sitting position that does not put pressure on the nerve or blood vessel that is causing the problem. Try a different seat. Raise the seat a bit so your legs are at a different angle. You might even try some exotic treatments such as acupuncture.

As one the the more senior guys out there, (I will be 60 in a couple weeks), I can say that a full day on the water wears me out. The knees ache and the muscles burn. On the other hand, it is activities such as this that keep me from feeling my age most of the time.

I don't know anyone that has the E-volve but there are a couple of guys on this forum, Morgan, (Roosta) and Chris (Hypoxic), who have the stern mounted version. From what I have heard, they love them, especially for the long trips to and from the grounds. Personally, I would rather have the exercise and ward off the pain with a nice bottle of wine later on.

Bob

Riskey Water · 11-11-2010, 02:54 PM

Hey DSafety ,thanks but I should have been more specific on the tingle in my leg ,its right on the the area of bone fracture , a spiral fracture of the lower tibia that didnt heal exactly straight ,3" above the ankle

dsafety · 11-11-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riskey Water

Hey DSafety ,thanks but I should have been more specific on the tingle in my leg ,its right on the the area of bone fracture , a spiral fracture of the lower tibia that didnt heal exactly straight ,3" above the ankle

I don't have a fix for that... except for maybe the wine.

Bob

bubblehide · 11-11-2010, 05:31 PM

Risky, I got injured pretty bad a few short years ago. I took a short break off of yaking (amongst other things), and slowly started getting back into it; I discovered that it was a bit early for me to be out there yaking. I went through times when both my legs would go numb and upon landing, I couldn't use my legs for a minute or two; luckly for me, I wasn't alone, and I always let the person(s) I was with know that I would be needing some assistance upon landing. I got that weird tingling feeling as I began to gain use of my legs again, it would subside after a while. After several months of that, I took another break from most everything for a few months; it seems to have done the trick, and I back at most everything (with some limitations). But I do have to constantly adjust my position on the yak, bend my knees, straighten my knees, through my feet over the side... Just keep at it at a pace that's good for you.

As for the E-volve, the only thing I know is that it looks cool; but that doesn't mean it's practical. But if you do get one, please let us know what you think of it.

lterrero · 11-12-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsafety

We seem to have two conversations going on here. I will comment on the age and fitness angle. I would bet that the tingling you have has something to do with the way you are sitting in the yak. If the legs still work and from the way you describe yourself, they must, I would try to find sitting position that does not put pressure on the nerve or blood vessel that is causing the problem. Try a different seat. Raise the seat a bit so your legs are at a different angle. You might even try some exotic treatments such as acupuncture.

As one the the more senior guys out there, (I will be 60 in a couple weeks), I can say that a full day on the water wears me out. The knees ache and the muscles burn. On the other hand, it is activities such as this that keep me from feeling my age most of the time.

I don't know anyone that has the E-volve but there are a couple of guys on this forum, Morgan, (Roosta) and Chris (Hypoxic), who have the stern mounted version. From what I have heard, they love them, especially for the long trips to and from the grounds. Personally, I would rather have the exercise and ward off the pain with a nice bottle of wine later on.

Bob

yeah, what's wrong in getting a boat

805gregg · 12-01-2010, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lterrero

yeah, what's wrong in getting a boat

A kayak is a boat.

WahooUSMA · 11-16-2010, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iceman

This was a customer's yak. He purchased the Bassyak's motor set up and asked me to install it.

http://www.kayakfishingsupplies.com/...-System/Detail

http://www.bassyaks.com/about17.html

Sure as hell beats $1900 bucks for the evolve. Very clean set-up Andy, as usual!

PAL · 11-17-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

PAL, {“Range isn't a Big deal"} Range or runtime is everything. I'd like to have the option of 20 miles opposed to 2miles. The evolve with its 30 min full speed run time on our test kayak just doesn’t make it, and on top of that the noise is ridiculous, it sounds like a Roots style blower on a hot rod. All of the kits we installed had major problems, one guy was stranded because the Orange plastic steering connection snapped in halve, another problem is inside the throttle control unit, there is a plate which is supposed to be spot welded but it snaps off inside. You must have received a good wiring harness, one of the ones I received just had the metal pins just pressed into the rubber grommet with NO sealant on the other end, and water could touch the pins directly. I was wondering if the wiring is Marine grade.fficeffice" />>>
The throttle control unit should be backlit for night fishing.>>
The rudder rising out of the water is dangerous and could land you up on the rocks before you know it. Once you learn the motorized kayak, you’ll use reverse just as much as forward, you want it to work properly>>
I heard that Torqeedo is increasing the size of the battery for more run time>>
You’re promoting something that you have very little experience with, and possibly don’t realize its faults.>>
The stealth serpent takes up too much room in the cockpit, it’s in the way, and you’ll have wires in your lap. If you strike something underwater how does the shaft deflect the force??>>
These are the things you should consider before purchasing any EK >>

Very interesting. I don't have a stake in any of these boats. Riskey Water asked about the eVolve. I shared my experience.

A few clarifications:

I could have been more specific on the range comment. With the eVolve, you know your power consumption, your speed, your remaining run time at that speed, and an estimated range. That means the user doesn't have to guess, and can adjust speed to reduce power consumption, extending range.

At full throttle the eVolve prop cavitates. Only an idiot would put the thing on the water then run it at full power, needlessly burning juice. That's another way of saying that in practice, I don't think anyone's going to do that.

It's better to ask whether you can get a 4, 6, or 8 hour day out of the thing, and how that translates to range in miles. Whether the eVolve battery is adequate is a matter of perception as tested against a particular user's needs. It was fine for our uses, although the Torque's heavy marine battery lasted much longer.

The eVolve was the loudest of the three systems we tested, but it wasn't obnoxious.

The issue of the rudder powering itself out of the water when in reverse is overstated. If you put it in 'R' then floor your car or truck, the results probably won't be to your liking. Land someone on the rocks - I don't think so. Remember, we spent most of our test time in the surf. Maneuverability was excellent.

We played with two Torqeedo motors. 1, Hobie's eVolve; 2, a Torqeedo kit. Our wiring harnesses were fine. We'd have said so if they weren't.

Although the eVolve is a Torqeedo motor, Hobie modified it heavily. It should be judged on its own merits. I note that picture shows a Pro A; Hobie's eVolve doesn't have a stern mounting option for that bad boy.

The throttle unit's positioning is adjustable. We laid it nearly flat on the gunwale, with the wires running through the hull directly beneath the unit. It didn't take much space or get in the way.

If you run into something with the rudder mount, it simply kicks up. The motor shuts off if it feels resistance. We repeatedly ran the test unit up onto the sand with no issues. I'd be leery of doing that with the cassette mount, but I don't have an opinion either way.

This isn't a comparison with a BassYaks kit, and I'm making no judgement on bang for the buck. The eVolve / Torqeedo is a premium product, a boutique item really.

Perhaps someday we'll take a look at the available aftermarket options. I think we should. Electric motors are carving a niche in kayak fishing. Personally, I prefer the simplicity of paddling, but I won't knock anyone who decides otherwise. Last I checked it's a free country.

I'm interested in hearing about the strong points of the BassYaks kits, particularly as they relate to west coast ocean use and surf transits. We were rough on the manufacturer models, managing to break one but not the other two. I'd like to know how the typical aftermarket kit would hold up.

11-11-2010, 01:31 PM	#1
Riskey Water Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: On the water ofcourse Posts: 142	Sorry Jim but I'm not one of those guys that put on the extra 100 lbs. I am a career swimmer who gets up at 4:45 am and swims 5,000 yds in an olympic size pool 5 Days a week with a resting heart rate of 32 bpm and a bp of 117 over 68 , My doctor told me to lighten up on the cycling and peddling .Had to hang up the Triathalon workouts but still surfing . I'm just trying to extend the warranty on this body . The E-Volve alternatives look nice but looking for feedback on the E-Volve itself

11-11-2010, 01:33 PM	#2
Riskey Water Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: On the water ofcourse Posts: 142	Hey Iceman , thats a clean set-up you got there ,did you install it yourself ?

11-11-2010, 02:17 PM	#5
SteveK Junior Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 22	Thanks Iceman, Riskey ,Looking to buy the E-Volve, that should be the last choice of everything out there. The gear noise and lack of runtime should make up your mind in a hurry. try one before you order one. Another thing, it may have a higher top speed than most but that's NOT a good thing, as kayaks don't plain out and the faster you go the higher the bow goes and the LOWER the tankwell goes, THAN YOU SINK! , that's right the tankwell fills when you get into the higher speed, somewhere around 5mph is where you want to be. Why Bassyaks and not the others 1. Price 2. Over 60 different kits designed for specific kayaks, not universal 3. Remove the motor in 10 seconds, for transporting 4. The motor can be raised and lowered from the seat 5. The motor can be tilted to gain ground clearance, from the seat. 6. The motor can be run as a surface prop, also effective for removing weeds from the prop something you can't do with the Torque, or Torqeedo 7. Directional rear propulsion is the ONLY way to go. FMD LOL 8. Almost unlimited run time, using any 12 volt battery, even multiple batteries 9. Quite, no whine like the Torqeedo, No vibration like the Torque 10. Can be surf launched, can be beached without damage. 11. Can be dry launched, no standing in the water to launch, no need to walk the kayak to a 10" depth like the Torque 12. Very low center of gravity, like a sailboat keel , no cavitation in rough seas 13. Self righting if capsized, which is very hard to do because of the pendulum effect of the motor 14. The best maneuvering EK out there. 15. The motor stays in prosecution when reverse is engaged 16. The motor is spring loaded and will jump to a safe position if an underwater obstacle is encountered, pull the lever and it will return to the normal position 17. The tank well is still useful 18. Clean factory looking setup. 19. The same battery can be used for all of your electronics, you need a separate 12volt battery for the Torqeedo We will concede the Top Speed to Torqeedo, but if you go too fast the hydrodynamics will cause the kayak to SINK as the back of the kayak gets pulled under water, starting with the tank well filling with water. Under 6 MPH is where you want to be!

11-11-2010, 02:33 PM	#6
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	We seem to have two conversations going on here. I will comment on the age and fitness angle. I would bet that the tingling you have has something to do with the way you are sitting in the yak. If the legs still work and from the way you describe yourself, they must, I would try to find sitting position that does not put pressure on the nerve or blood vessel that is causing the problem. Try a different seat. Raise the seat a bit so your legs are at a different angle. You might even try some exotic treatments such as acupuncture. As one the the more senior guys out there, (I will be 60 in a couple weeks), I can say that a full day on the water wears me out. The knees ache and the muscles burn. On the other hand, it is activities such as this that keep me from feeling my age most of the time. I don't know anyone that has the E-volve but there are a couple of guys on this forum, Morgan, (Roosta) and Chris (Hypoxic), who have the stern mounted version. From what I have heard, they love them, especially for the long trips to and from the grounds. Personally, I would rather have the exercise and ward off the pain with a nice bottle of wine later on. Bob

11-11-2010, 02:54 PM	#7
Riskey Water Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: On the water ofcourse Posts: 142	Hey DSafety ,thanks but I should have been more specific on the tingle in my leg ,its right on the the area of bone fracture , a spiral fracture of the lower tibia that didnt heal exactly straight ,3" above the ankle

11-11-2010, 05:31 PM	#9
bubblehide Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 552	Risky, I got injured pretty bad a few short years ago. I took a short break off of yaking (amongst other things), and slowly started getting back into it; I discovered that it was a bit early for me to be out there yaking. I went through times when both my legs would go numb and upon landing, I couldn't use my legs for a minute or two; luckly for me, I wasn't alone, and I always let the person(s) I was with know that I would be needing some assistance upon landing. I got that weird tingling feeling as I began to gain use of my legs again, it would subside after a while. After several months of that, I took another break from most everything for a few months; it seems to have done the trick, and I back at most everything (with some limitations). But I do have to constantly adjust my position on the yak, bend my knees, straighten my knees, through my feet over the side... Just keep at it at a pace that's good for you. As for the E-volve, the only thing I know is that it looks cool; but that doesn't mean it's practical. But if you do get one, please let us know what you think of it.