Two Person Electric Fishing Kayak

This information is a reply that I made to an interested person that asked a question from my website:

The boat is coming along nicely. I took the proto-type down to the San Fran Delta this summer for some bass fishing and was very pleased with it. You are right, it is a far better boat for a person of your size. A number of small changes have been made to make is easier to build, improve fit and so on. The plans and manual are being updated.

I put a camera mount on the boat and will be making some videos of this seasons steel head fishing on the Chetco river. They will be put on Utube as they are completed. You can see them by going to Youtube and searching for ( videos-sports-kingfisher electric). I have one there now that is titled Searching for Dead Fred that has the 12 foot boat in it. Check it out.

I will check out the completed documentation by building another boat from it. I plan to make a video of that effort so that folks with no building experience can have a clear view of what the job will be like. It will probably be at least one disc long, possibly 2, so that is going to take some time to put together. The plans/manual will be available first, probably in the next 2-3 months. Here are some pics of the proto-type boat.

In the first picture, I have put a 1000 watt Honda motor generator in the back and a battery charger. The M/G has the ability to change its motor speed according to power demand. So if the electric motor is not drawing battery power, the Honda just idles along quietly. At full electric power the Honda is running at half power and the battery remains fully charged. When I start fishing, the Honda is shut down and I have a fully charged battery to work with. The m/g will run all day on a tank of fuel, about 1/2 gallon. This greatly extends the range of the boat, but is just experimental for now. I think it is the first hybrid electric kayak.

In the pictures, the boat is set up for salmon fishing on the river. Sadly the fish/game folks closed the river this year so I didn't have a chance to get into some larger fish. But you can see there is plenty of room in the back seat area for cooler and tackle.

Ready to go fishing. The boat is loaded into my P/U just as you see it with the cart wheels resting on the tail gate and tied in. When I get to the river it just slides off and is towed to the water. The strap securing the cart is released and the cart is left in the truck. The pipe on the right side (behind the seat) is the bilge pump outlet and camera mount. The font of the boat is clear of hardware to make fishing easier.

Thanks for your interest. Keep an eye on Youtube and the website for progress on this boat. It is a ton of fun to operate.

Needles and knives

Back in the days when the Vikings were the terror of Europe the folks that came in contact with them noticed that the Viking men often had hands that were unable to be opened completely. It was thought then that the cause was all those hours pulling on an oar in their boats. Their claw-like hands became known as Vikings Disease.

Hundreds of years later a fellow in France named Dupuytren discovered the reason for the limited mobility of the fingers was caused by scaring in the hands near the tendons that eventually involved the tendon, thus limiting the fingers travel. He developed an operation that freed the tendon from the scar tissue, thus restoring mobility to the affected finger. The disease was dubbed 'Dupuytrens Disease'.

The fingers most likely to be a problem is the ring finger and sometimes the little finger. Nodules can be seen in the palm of the hand on the tendon that serves the finger. The tendency for this condition is now known to be genetically passed on, most often occurring in men. The origin of the disease is still thought to be those Viking sailors, with the most affected populations being those that had contact with them. Apparently there is a Viking sailor in my family tree (or the nearby bushes) as most of the male members in my family are afflicted with this problem.

The disorder is progressive and over time the finger can curl to the point of being unable to open at all. Its progression makes little things like washing ones hands or face very difficult. Fishing your car keys out of your pocket becomes a two handed exercise, pushing the keys up with one hand and snagging them with the forefinger of the other. Tying a lure on the end of my line is darn near impossible, especially on a cold morning. So it was time to consider what to do about it.

There are presently two methods of correcting the problem. The 'standard' procedure in the US is to fillet the skin near the affected tendon and expose the underlying fascia, a membrane covering the tendons. This is lifted and the scar tissue is cut from the tendon and removed. The hand is then sewed up and the patient sent home to recover. The work is done in a hospital operating room under general anesthesia with several attending persons. Recovery time is several weeks and due to the local trauma of the operation, it is a one-time procedure.

About 30 years ago a doctor in Paris developed a procedure that uses a needle. The needle is inserted under the skin/fascia and moving it laterally along the tendon, the surgeon cuts away the connecting scar tissue around the tendon. Several insertions are made along the length of the tendon until it is cut free and mobility is restored to the finger. This is an out-patient procedure that is performed under a local anesthetic. Upon completion of the procedure the patient can observe the restored mobility of the finger and is sent home with a bandage on their hand. No further visits to the doctor are usually required for follow up treatment.

So what are the differences in the results of these two types of treatments? I searched the web for info and found little to hang my hat on. The disease is not cured by either operation, and it is possible (likely?) that the scar tissue under the fascia will continue to develop until the tendon is again involved, and mobility of the finger is reduced. How long will that take? I could find no answers, perhaps years, perhaps months. Both operations involve risk of infection, nerve damage, skin trauma that requires grafting and so on.

The Needle procedure leaves far less scaring in the hand and it can usually be repeated if necessary. The procedure is also far less invasive and recovery time is less. Being an outpatient is far more attractive than 'going under the knife', especially at the medical facilities we have available up here in So Oregon. So I searched the web for doctors that use the Needle procedure (it is abbreviated - Dupuytrens N.A.) To my astonishment, there are only a few doctors in the US that are trained to use this procedure. You can find a listing of them on the web under Dupuytrens NA . We had a choice of Dr Kline in Boise ID or a doctor near San Fransisco CA. You can't get to Boise from here so I opted for Dr. K Denkler in Larkspur CA.

The procedure was much like going to the dentist. The needle used for the local anesthetic was the worse part of the procedure and I had both hands done in about 1 hour. During the procedure we could talk about kayaks, fishing in Alaska and even Dr stuff, and in the end I could enjoy the mobility of the ring finger on both hands. That was 2 days ago. Today the needle punctures are closed over and there is no pain at all. I will keep my hands clean and bandaged for a few days, and see if I can stay away from strenuous activity. This is the first time in a while that I can type using more than 3-4 fingers and it is a pleasure. Fishing will be even better.

I am not a medical guy and don't even take an aspirin unless I am in serious pain. So medical things are not all that interesting to me. I have found that a positive attitude, healthy food and activity and reliance on my immune system for 70 years has worked pretty well. Of course there are times when intervention is a must, and this was one of them. So I offer this experience in hopes that it will be helpfull to others with this disease. Please do not take it as a recommendation for you. Learn all you can about your condition and then make an informed decision.

Building an Electric Fishing Kayak

Build your KF-10 with confidence

The KF10 is offered as a kit boat with all parts available except the skin and finsh material. The skin panels (4 x 8 ft) are too large to package and ship. We have left these for the builder to purchase locally. The frame of the boat is first constructed with provisions for installation of all parts completed. then the skin is then placed on the frame. The skin panels are designed so that precise cutting of the material is avoided, and ordinary tools and skills give good results. The skin is then covered with 4 oz. fiber lass for additional strength. Finally the motor and electrics are installed to complete the job.

The Construction/Operation and Maintenance manual provides over 100 pages of text, pictures and drawings of all of the parts that make up the boat. Schematics and assembly drawings of electrical assemblies are provided so you can fabricate these, or you can purchase them ready to install. The critical parts of the frame are full sized drawings and are easily transferred to wood making the construction of the frame easy and accurate. Step by step instructions are provided so that builders can avoid most of the pitfalls boat builders face.

The Motor Control Unit is not a kit, but a component that must be ordered from Kingfisher Electric Boats.

Building Options

Option 1 -DIY (least expensive)

Purchase the Manual and Motor Controller Unit. Find, fabricate or scrounge all of the material and parts called for in the manual. Assemble the boat from these. The time required will vary depending upon your gathering skills, but figure around 100 + hours.

Option 2 (less expensive)

Purchase parts and kits in the table below and assemble smaller assemblies as instructed in the manual. Build the boat. Time required will be many hours but less than option 1. See Table 2 below.

Option 3 (a little more money, a lot less time)

Order kits in the following table. Notice the electrical kit, modified motor, control panel and steering hardware are assembled and either installed (Frame 2 pedal assembly) or ready to install. All are tested and insure a trouble-free boat. Build time about 70 hours. See Table 3 below.

Option 4 (Bend the Budget - fastest way)

The KF10 is available as a completely constructed boat. It and the manual is crated and shipped to your home ready to mount the included motor. Buy yourself a PFD, a paddle and a battery to power the boat. Get your gear and head for the water. Be sure to have someone read the operation section of the manual to you while traveling to the lake.

Kingfisher Electric Kayak 12 Foot Two-Seater Coming Soon

We have had many request for a 12 foot two-seater kayak. We decided that what you want is what you get! The kayak is still not finished, but here is a slide show illustrating the progress made so far. We sure would love to hear your comments..sarcastic or not.

New 12 Foot Electric Kayak Coming Soon

This is Karen reporting for Jim. He has been swamped with finishing up his patent for his Kingfisher Kayak and now he is buried in building another kayak. This time it is the two seater that so many people have requested. He should be done in another week, so look forward to seeing it on his website, Kingfisher Electric Boats.


We also took the time to have official logos made; which you can see above. We also purchased a toy hauler to take the kayaks to boat and sport shows in the Pacific Northwest. We can now eat, sleep and haul in one trailer.

We look forward to attending Mess Abouts with an Oregon based hand-built boating group that Jim met up in Port Townsand, WA at the Wooden Boat Show. In May, they are meeting up at the Lagoon Area just south of us below Crescent City, CA. Jim has always thought he would love to fish those lagoons.

Jim has built into the toy hauler brackets to hold two kayaks up against one wall to take the least amount of space. We even have room for a couple recliners! We think we may need those if we stand on our feet all day at a boat show. After all, we aren't as young as we used to be. We are pulling the trailer with our old trusty diesel truck. They will hear us coming! We could even put a couple of our dogs in the back of the truck for camping situations. I know Mags would love going. She is Jim's shadow and hates to be left behind.

Sadie, our youngest lab, would also enjoy swimming and hiking. She has defective hips, but isn't limping yet. We keep her close so she won't ruin herself, but swimming is the best thing she can do for herself. She swims in our pond all year long and then comes into the house dripping wet! I haven't managed to get her to understand that wet dogs are not welcome. Sometimes, a dog door isn't the best thing.

You might just meet up with us at one of the shows or in a camp ground somewhere within a few hundred miles of Brookings, Oregon. We will be putting large logos on the top sides of the toy hauler and on the back. We will be easy to spot. I will get a schedule onto Jim's website soon.

I also ordered Jim and I white T-shirts with the logo on them. You can spot us easy - we are are a gray haired couple talking kayak talk wearing white t-shirts with a Kingfisher logo. I'll have to hide the shirts while we are at home, or Jim will manage to get fiberglass stuck on the front of his! He has fiberglass on my favorite down vest. It is his vest, but I love to wear it too - and now it just doesn't look so good.

KF-10 kayaks at the Port Townsen Wooden Boat Show

The Port Townsend anual wooden boat festival is one of the largest and attracts wood boat lovers from all over the country. It was to be the first show we have participated in with the Kingfisher Kayak and we had some concerns about being the 'new weird kayak' of the group, located out in the far end of the show grounds. But the administrative folks there were very generous and gave us a section of dock space for the demo kayak and a nice location near the dock ramp for a static display. The static display was a kayak on its transport cart, with the motor turning the prop at about 120rpm. Few people walked by without stopping for a look. We had brought along a novel to read and literature to pass out.

There were many kinds of boats at the show. At one of the scale there was a Kon-Tiki style raft that was made of lumber they might have found along a railroad track, with a tree stuffed in the middle for shade, and a stump for the pilot to sit on to run the 6 horse merc outboard. Six adventurous souls arrived on this vessel and some were swimming before it was secured to the dock. They brought their sleeping bags and were ready to party the whole 3 day weekend.

At the other end of the scale was a 100 + foot yacht made for the commodore of the San Francisco Yacht club in the 1920s. It looked a lot like the presidential yacht during Nixons term. Also in the fleet were many sailboats, from El Torros to round the world cruisers. All were open to the public and we were eager to get around to all of them for a tour.

There were a number of workshops where wannabe to expert builders could sharpen their skills. The best attended was a shop for kids who diligently built their own model boats of every sort, and with a line attached, launch and retrieve them along the docks and rock banks of the harbor. A creative group of kids caught a jar full of small crabs and had them 'walking the plank' off their boats. Some had sails others were 'motor boats'. Lots of wet kids exercising their imaginations that weekend. Half dozen of them were my great grand kids.

We had the kayaks set up by thursday night and took advantage of my brothers hospitality in the town of Sequim about 25 miles away, sharing pizza and beer, swapping stories. Friday we were at the show at 8am and Lynnette ( my daughter ) listened for a couple of hours while I answered the questions of the many folks that stopped at the static display. She was soon able to handle the questions easily and I could get down to the dock and take the other kayak out for a ride.

Motoring around the harbor had many folks hailing me over to share with them how the boat worked. I seemed to be exactly where I wanted but never used the paddle. The boat is electric powered, and can be completely controlled using only ones feet. This leaves my hands free to accept the beer offered and demonstrate the handling qualities of the boat. I met a lot of very generous folks and enjoyed every visit.

I could also head out of the harbor and paddle/run through the anchorage. The boat moves along easily at 3 1/2 mph and I quickly covered the mile or two over to the Lady Washington tied up at a dock. She is a 3 masted square rigger that travels up and down the west coast, stopping at various ports to be displayed to the public. I have been aboard her in the past, but paddling around her in the kayak offered a very different perspective. From a 10 foot kayak she looks very big, and the top of the main mast is a long way up.

Paddling back I came across a pedal powered boat that was about 17 ft long, and had a chain drive from a bicycle type crank to a gearcase which drove the prop. The rudder was connected to a small handle for steerage and the pilot was in a semi-reclining position. The pilot was an athletic looking fellow wearing shorts and a light shirt, ready to sweat when speed was called for. I had a video camera so asked him for a demo of the craft, and he was glad to show me his stuff. I found it difficult to estimate his speed as we were in open water and there were no nearby fixed objects for a reference. However it went like hell, quickly getting up on a plane and leaving only a little foam in its wake. He ran for only a short distance before the chain came off the sprocket and the boat came to an unplanned stop. He assured me he could remount the chain and he would be OK, so I headed back to the port.

Sunday was more relaxing and Lynnette could take her g-kids for a ride in the KF10. They used all of the 300 lb rating of the boat when she and her daughter jumped in. They felt comfortable enough to paddle/run out of the harbor and head out into the sound to view the sailboat races. On their return they executed a few hard over turns and get the feel for the limits of the boat. Lynnette reported it 'was a ton of fun'.

At the end of 3 days we took stock of the event. We had put a lot of literature in the hands of interested folks, and had no time to leave the display to eat or get to the workshops as we had planned. Lynnette got to page 2 of her novel. The response was very positive. I was especially pleased at the number of builders that came by to look at the craft. Their comments were encouraging and helpful. I am impressed with this community of people. They love what they do and seem to view problems as a just something to be dealt with and an opportunity to find solutions and grow their skills. I heard no complaints and no one cast dispersions on anothers' efforts. The kind of folks that you like to be around. We will be there next year.

We have a Kayaking Forum

We have been working on our website for the Kingfisher Electric Kayak. Recently we added a forum so that kayak fishermen, kayak builders and kayak dreamers can post to ask questions and to give tips and information to share with others with the same interest: Kingfisher Forum

We have had an incredibly busy summer with getting the kayak business off the ground, creating a website and showing the kayak most weekends at our local port market place. Some of the buyers have actually seen the kayak at the port, gone home and ordered plans. Karen has spent most of the time working at the booth. It takes her until Wednesday to feel rested enough to cook us a good meal! The sun and wind take a toll on her good humor!

We are getting ready to go to Port Townsend, WA for the Wooden Boat Festival taking two kayaks, wearing our newly designed T-shirts with boxes of business cards to pass out. My daughter , Lynnette who you can see on the video is going up with me along with her husband, Jim. We should have a great time meeting new people seeing some incredible boats and enjoying a festive wooden boat show! Karen gets to stay home to watch out for the four dogs and her mom. At least, she doesn't have to work at the port that weekend! LOL

It is sad that since summer, the Kingfisher hasn't been in the water. Port Townsend will be our first summer splash! It is fun to be busy, but the kayak is happier in the water.

Karen has been busy posting questions and answers of questions being sent to us via email to the website so you can learn more about our Kingfisher Kayak. She is teaching eBay at the local college....next will be web design or maybe a class on how to be a webmistress. I'm just happy that I don't have to figure websites out. I can spend productive time building controllers, electrical kits and whatever else is being ordered.

We retired to the Oregon Coast, but have managed to be way busier than ever before. Karen believes that doing website business may be as beneficial as cross-word puzzels to keep our mind intact. I certainly hope so! She often complains of having blisters on her brain from figuring this all out. I wonder if this could be true? LOL