Jim McGilvray's Motorized W Fishing Kayak
Norfolk, UK
Video of
Jim's first
test trip in his motorized W Fishing Kayak:
-Click
to watch video
Jim lives in
the middle of the
Norfolk Broads, in the United
Kingdom. He is an engineer working in the oil and gas
industry
for a small independent Anglo-Irish oil company. He manages a
team of specialist technicians that are looking after the production
wells.
Jim tells the
story of his
motorized fishing kayak project:
-"Primary reason for my having the W yak is so I can go fish in the sea
and catch something. The motor is a convenience to get to the
sweet spots quicker thus
allowing short opportune trips rather than lengthy
expeditions.
Plus I
can get in sharpish if the weather turns unexpectedly.
However,
it
totally changes the boat into something quite different.
The outfit is work in progress, by no means finished. It will
look good and be more robust when I'm finished. I mounted the
boxy floats with the corner down, diamond fashion, so there is less
slapping than if it was flat side to the water. Plus there is
progressive buoyancy due to the taper if there is a leaning moment. All
nice and gentle. Most important in the sea where there will
be a
lot more wave action; don't want to over stress.
I reckon the drag from having the outboard mis-trimmed is losing me
about 2 knots.
The outfit is great fun! It all goes
on and in the car, no trailer required. My daughters were
asking
if it
would be possible to water-ski off the back. That would
perhaps
be pushing things a step too far but it certainly skims along at a good
lick."
Jim compares
his W paddling and
motorized experience:
-"The paddling mode without floats is gentle and peaceful, gliding
around silently, sliding round bends and allowing covert observation of
the waterfowl and animals. Whereas the power mode is like
riding
a motorbike - an off road trail bike. Yee Ha! Real
adrenaline stuff. That little 2.5 HP Suzuki engine is a
perfect
match for the W kayak, it only weighs 13 kg /29 pounds, and
it's
very quiet being water cooled. "
He adds:
-"I'm interested in fitting a sail system too. Built a sand
yacht
at school, and sailed it on dunes and beaches in Northeastern Scotland.
No petrol required but tough coming back into the wind..."
Camera:
Jim McGilvray
Jim designed and built this ingenious
integrated,
flip over, all-terrain, push or pull trolley system for his W boat.
Jim's boat is equipped with a 2.5 HP, 4 stroke
Suzuki
outboard motor and a pair of outriggers that Jim designed and built
himself.
View of the bow
View of outrigger - still unpainted.
View of the stern with 2.5 HP Suzuki outboard motor on
View of the motor in action...
