Designed and assembled in France
Developed and assembled in France, the Kahe Pod M was imagined by the team at Kahe Surf, a Lacanau-based company specializing in electric assistance systems for the nautical world.
The Kahe Pod M is a nose cone that attaches to the fin box of a paddle, kayak or dinghy. It can be fitted to either a US fin box or a slimline slider, and connection interfaces are supplied as standard. It can therefore be easily fitted to virtually all paddles and kayaks on the market. For mounting on a tender, a simple bracket adapted to the bottom of the boat is available.
A quality blend
The whole unit weighs 1.7 kg including the battery, which is protected by an ABS shell. The two-blade propeller is fully integrated in a cage, and cannot be damaged by contact with rocks or sand. What's more, a safety device prevents the Pod M from operating when not in the water
The battery is connected to the front of the ogive, and a clever marking ensures that the case is watertight. It's impossible to set off if the watertightness mark is not in the right place.
The standard 99.6 Wh lithium-ion battery provides two hours' autonomy. This may seem a little short for the more adventurous, but it is possible to increase autonomy by opting for a larger battery at only 89euros.
IPX8-approved, it floats and can be easily recovered if submerged.
A paddle test
The waterproof Bluetooth remote control attaches to the wrist or paddle. Three speeds are available, to be chosen according to the weight of the rower or the conditions encountered.
Once the speed has been set, simply press the central button and the propeller starts turning.
Acceleration is very gentle and won't destabilize rowers, even beginners. Maximum advertised speed is 7 km/h. In the event of a fall, the Kahe Pod M stops after a few seconds, and the user will have no difficulty in returning to his or her support.
Our testers weighed between 45 and 85 kilos, with different levels of experience, but all were able to appreciate the ease of use and discretion of the electric motor.
A free app is available to keep you informed of remaining autonomy, in addition to the charging sticks indicated on the remote control, and also to adjust the presettings of the three evolution speeds.
Finally, a more powerful version is currently being developed for larger boats.
Adjusted pricing
The Kahe Pod M is available for 395 euros incl. VAT, with remote control, 99.6 Wh battery and various mounting interfaces to choose from depending on the bracket to be fitted. With this attractive pricing, it is very well placed against the competition of removable electric motors.
Like its counterpart for cyclists, this electric assist allows you to cover longer distances, or row more easily against wind and current. And there's nothing to stop you using it only occasionally if you want to keep up a steady physical activity.
