Rudder advice for cobra fish'n'dive

Advice
#1

Hi everyone. I’m new to the forum. I’m in Australia and I have been setting up a cobra fish’n’dive with a 30lb Minn Kota Endura C2 trolling motor. I have put a hardwood cross bar behind the seat to mount it off the right hand side. I’ve realised that these kayaks seem to have very poor tracking. I previously had a similar setup on a no-name 4.3m plastic kayak and it tracked very well. On the Cobra, it’s like i’m going diagonally, particularly at low speed. Also the steering is quite unresponsive and difficult to turn the motor sideways because the tiller arm hits me. On this kayak there isn’t really a better position for the mount unfortunately. I’m wondering if fitting a rudder would help with this. I’ve never used a kayak with a rudder before. I’m thinking that maybe leaving the motor straight and using the rudder for steering might be the answer.

Any advice?

I don’t suppose there happens to be anyone on here that has fitted a rudder on this particular yak?

I’m struggling to come up with an idea on how to attach a mount to the rear for the store bought drop in variety. I was thinking of a piece of C channel but the rear of the kayak has only a small area about 30mm high and its sloped inwards and curved - see photo. Seems like it would be challenging to get 10mm holes aligned vertically off this.

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#2

The Fish and Dive had a small cult following in California several years ago among kayak fishermen. Unfortunately a few of guys I have known that owned them have made the passage to the great Catalina Island in the sky. I have never seen a motor mounted on one. I think the hull is similar to the hull of a tandem they sold many years ago, that I paddled quite a bit in Baja. I don’t think the hull will work with a motor, but I don’t do motors on kayaks. Why not stick to a good paddle?

Oh and I am a big fan of some Cobra models, have surfed a Strike for many years, and now that I am land-locked Iuse it on large lakes, and tributary streams.

#3

Thanks. I do paddle it too but where I live there is some good trolling fishing and also casting into snags in high current areas which relies on constant correction of position. I picked the kayak up for free and got the motor for $50 from a friend so just trying to make the most of what I have.

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