While motorized kayaks have already existed for years, most of them use an outboard motor attached to a traditional canoe, losing the form of a true kayak. However, the Czech-made eMogi, has an integrated and hidden electric motor under the canoe, making it look like an ordinary kayak.
The sit-inside eMogi measures 10.6 ft long by 2.3 ft wide (323 cm long by 70 cm wide). It features a telescopic steering wheel at the front of the cockpit, a removable lithium-ion battery pack in the bow, a control panel, and a 1-kilowatt electric motor in the stern. This motor spins a propeller attached more or less from the keel.
Users engage the motor by using a pushbutton on the shaft of the included wirelessly linked paddle or pushing a button on the steering wheel. The eMogi’s steerable rudder is controlled by turning the steering wheel or pressing on foot braces inside the kayak.
eMogi offers three forward speed levels plus reverse – with a top speed of 10.7 knots (12 mph or 20 km/h). In addition, customers can choose between four battery capacities, with the highest (22.2 volts/1,340 Wh) providing a runtime of up to seven hours per 4 to a 5-hour charge. However, that figure is only possible using the most powerful battery and in the lowest speed setting. For user’s who want to go on long adventures, the stern compartment can store an extra battery, and of course, the kayak can still be paddled without the motor running at all.
The eMogi was initially designed to help paddlers move upstream. However, the electric kayak has many other applications, including marine research, rhythm training, emergency response, getting anglers to fishing spots quickly, and opening kayaking up to people with limited physical abilities.
According to its designers, the price of the kayaks depends on the method of manufacture, materials used, and configuration. The batteries, drive, controls, and colors can be configured according to the customer’s preferences.
If you’re interested in possessing an eMogi, a basic model with a 600-Wh battery, a paddle with remote control, and primary composite material will cost you about US$7,219 (€6,150). That particular setup weighs 30 kg (66.2 lb).
Earlier this year, we saw an exciting catamaran kayak that fits into a bag for easy fun on the go. The Super Kayak, created by London-based product designer Kirk Kirchev, is portable, modular, and inflatable. The Super Kayak comes with a four-piece paddle, a carrying bag, and a portable electric pump. The company claims the pump is suitable for 15 hull inflations per USB charge.
