Been considering the BassYak or Torqueedo 403 for my Commander 120. Have done some research on both and both set ups have pros and cons. Torqueedo 403 obviously huge plus is the weight of the unit, 15-20 lbs, with lithium battery but is costly at $1800. Bassyak looks like a solid unit but concerned with weight of the battery. Price without the battery is around $900.00. If you purchase the optional Lithium battery at $600.00, price for Bassyak is not considerably less than Torqueedo.
Anyone have opinions or experience with either of these setups.
Thanks

Aggie61,

Both are nice set-ups! I think lithium batteries will eventually come down in price, at least I hope so.

I don't know whether this would be applicable to a Commander 120, or not, but Kevin Bullington shows a really nice TM rigging for a Jackson Big Rig. It is just very clean looking. I believe he said his total costs were <$300 and that might have included the battery. See below, just to take a look.

Also, I'd at least give Kevin Dismuke a shout. He is located in Fort Worth, an electrician by vocation but he makes customized TM systems for kayaks. They look great. See a video below of one of Kevin's

Brad

TM for kayak

Dismuke kayak TM rigging

Here is one I found the other day. I was considering both of the ones you mentioned for my Big Tuna.

I have decided to sell my Big Tuna and keep my Hobie PA12 so I have stopped looking around for them.

Electric Kayak Co

BigDozer66 provides another excellent choice. I viewed Electric Kayak Co.'s product page and it appears to be all quality parts and construction.

I'll know soon enough how and what I need for my new Jackson Big Rig. If I want to fish the full potential of even a relatively small or medium sized lake like Athens, 1799 acres, I'd likely need one of these to cover the distance, especially in wind. The price point looks great!

Brad

I saw another place in Florida that made custom trolling motor set ups that looked very nicely done and at a very nice price point but I did not save the page.

It was a company that builds custom rod holders, etc. and I found it through a post (somewhere) that someone asked about "Who made the rod holders".

The company that is partnered with the Electric Kayak Company, B&C Power Yaks is located in Palm Harbor, FL, less than 2 hours from me. Just like the idea of the Lithium battery carrying around less weight in the Commander. I would think, though may cost $$ could use a lithium battery for these set ups as well.
Thanks for information have to check them out.

Are the Bassyaks and Electric Kayak Company type trolling motor set ups more durable than the Torqueedo set up for saltwater. Majority of my fishing will be saltwater.

That is probably why I didn't save the link then! I am sure it was them that I was thinking of.

I was wondering if they made aluminum rocket launchers for Hobie PA's but didn't see any listed in their stuff.
It was just a thought and not a concrete I want to do that kind of thing.

After taking my new Big Rig out again last late afternoon, let me tell you that I was dreaming of a trolling motor on the way back paddling to my boat house! I like every single thing about the Big Rig, so well designed for fishing right off the showroom floor so to speak, excepting its speed.

It actually paddles around 2.5 mph I'd guess, then one can push it to 3.5 or 4 mph in sprints . . . but it has more inertia to overcome than lighter, skinnier vessels that's for sure. It needs a very aggressive, large paddle. Unlike paddling a lighter kayak, the paddle pushes back and you can feel the strokes.

I think I'll likely add a TM after a few more months of testing just to allow me to cover a relatively small lake, Athens at 1799 acres. It'd be about 4 miles, if I recall correctly, from my place to the dam. It'd be nice to use a TM just to cover water and get to remote locations, then paddle around once on various spots.

If my calculations are correct, it sounds to me like I'd use about 10 miles worth of potential for just going out and getting home.

Brad

Received from quotes from BassYak for my Commander 120:
Base Kit $499
45lb Thrust motor $150 no additional charge if select standard 30lb thrust.
EH Upgrade $355
Saltwater Upgrade $100
Battery Box $15
Lift Kit $59
Total without Battery: $1260

Marine Battery group 24 79ah AGM $240
Greenlife 50ah Lithium Battery $649


Torqeedo 403 Light Kit with battery $1799

BassYak Kit with Marine Battery is $1,500 and with Lithium Battery $1,900. Not much difference in price between the light weight torqeedo unit and bassyak unit. Don't know if 45lb thrust motor is necessary. Standard with the bassyak is 30lb thrust, 45lb thrus is $150 upgrade.

If you are not in a hurry might want to check them out.

Bixpy Jet

Will be a direct competition for Torqeedo with a much better price.