How To Keep Cool Kayaking With A Fan
If you’re feeling the heat while out fishing in your kayak, here’s an innovative idea to help you stay cool and fish more comfortably.
In South Texas, it gets pretty hot in the summer months, so it’s essential to get creative about staying cool if you want to spend any time on the water. I recently found a battery-powered lithium fan and had an idea – what if I strapped it to my kayak?
Portable fans can be a great way to keep cool while fishing, and they can easily be attached to the front hatch or rear tank well of a standard sit-on-top kayak.
I was curious about how long the product would work. Most importantly, would it keep me comfortable? I worried that the device would be damaged if water was sprayed on it while I was kayaking.
What started as an experiment has now become a must-have kayaking accessory. A fan on my kayak helps me beat the heat and enjoy my time out on the water.
This was an excellent solution for hot summer days spent on the water! This article provides an excellent method to cope with the heat.
This article provides an excellent method to cope with the heat.
What Fan Did I Choose?
When choosing a fan, look for one that is lightweight and with a long battery life.
After researching, I found the Treva Smart Power 10″ portable fan to be the best choice. It has enough power to keep a constant breeze for about 3 – 4 hours at high speed. And it has enough output to be felt from my kayak seat.
Here are the features for this fan:
- 2 Speed Fan
- USB Charging Port to power-up cell phones, tablets, and music devices
- AC adaptor and port for charging and general use
- Car charger included
- Built-in carry handle that can also be used for hanging
- Has a total of 3 power sources: AC adaptor, rechargeable lithium batteries, and optional 8-D batteries
- Dimensions: 3″ wide x 12″ long x 10″ tall
- Price is right at $49.99
Here is a review of the features on QVC.
How Do You Fasten It To Your Kayak?
I wanted to keep my fan secure, so I tied it down using the front hatch straps and a bungee cord. This method allowed me to keep the fan in place even during sharp turns or when hit by a large gust of wind.
I attached an 18″ bungee cord to the Outback using two of the provided elastic hatch straps.
Will This Work On Any Kayak?
There are a few different placements you could use for your fan. It works best on the front hatch on my Hobie Outback.
This fan is compact and fits nicely on kayaks with larger hatches like mine. If your kayak doesn’t have a front hatch or rear tank well, you can attach the fan in other ways.
There are lots of ways to do this, so be creative!
How Long Does The Battery Last?
The fan has a “Smart Power” power source that automatically uses D-cell batteries when the lithium battery is low. You can also recharge the fan by plugging it in while it’s running.
- The lithium-ion battery has a 5-hour life
- The 8 “D” cell batteries have a 56-hour life
- 6-hour charging time
Does It Get In The Way?
The fan’s placement on the front hatch or rear tank well of a sit-on-top kayak was convenient and accessible, never getting in the way while pedaling or paddling. I had no issues casting my rod or sight fishing, either.
The Sneaky Best Feature Is The USB Charger
How many times has your phone or camera battery died? It was guaranteed that my camera phone would be dead when I caught that big fish of the day.
This fan has a handy USB charger that will run while the fan is in several settings. Note: your battery life will be affected by USB port use, so account for this and ensure your “D” cell batteries are fresh and the lithium battery is charged.
To charge your USB devices, plug them into the charger when the fan power switch is set to high, stop, or low.
Summary
If it’s hot outside and you still want to fish from your kayak, using a portable fan can help. Just attach it to your kayak’s front hatch or rear tank well, and you’ll stay cool for hours.
I’m curious about what others think about this idea, so please let me know in the comments below!
