Trolling Motor for Kayak: Best Picks, Setup Tutorial & Hottest FAQs

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Having a trolling motor on kayak helps a lot! It makes the whole journey much more efficient, enjoyable, and flexible by offering an optional source of power other than paddling.

Thanks to the trolling motor for kayak, you can easily get to some hard-to-reach fishing spots, comfortably scoot upstream against wind or current, and effortlessly boat around bigger lakes without having to worry about getting wet especially in winter.

But you will never like the heavy battery and getting a trolling motor for kayak that’s overkill.

If you are considering adding a small trolling motor for kayak, read this guide to find the best kit.

Plus this post will cover other things you should know about trolling motors on kayak, including the setup (without drilling holes), legal issues, registration requirement, and more.

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Trolling Motor for Kayak

Best Trolling Motors for Kayak: Top 3 Options

The brands of trolling motor for kayak are numerous on the market today. Some are reputable with good quality, and others are not.

If you don’t know which one to purchase, check out the following top 3 trolling motor for kayak, tested and rated by thousands of users worldwide.

 Newport Vessels Kayak SeriesMinn Kota EnduraNewport Vessels NV-Series
Thrust36/55 lbs30/40/45/50/55 lbs36/46/55/62/86 lbs
Shaft length24’’36’’/42’’30’’
Saltwater & freshwaterDesigned for freshwater
Weight19 lbs17 lbs20 lbs
Max battery draw30 amps30 amps40 amps
Customer rating4.5/54.7/54.5/5
ReviewRead detailed reviewRead detailed reviewRead detailed review
PriceView on AmazonView on AmazonView on Amazon

You may have noticed that all recommended trolling motor for kayak are electric powered. That’s because the electric trolling motor for kayak are much more efficient in slow speed trolling than the gas counterparts. And they are pleasantly quiet without any smell.

If you are looking for a gas trolling motor, you may check out this well-rated small horsepower gas outboard on Amazon.

Still hesitate about getting the electric trolling motor for kayak or the gas engine? Check out this post to find the pros and cons of each.

How to Choose the Best Kayak Mount Trolling Motor

To find the best trolling motor for kayak among the hundreds of other options available, there are xx crucial things you should consider. And that’s also what users will care about.

#1. Thrust

The first thing to decide on the best trolling motor for kayak is the thrust. What size trolling motor do I need for my kayak? How fast will a kayak go with a trolling motor?

You’ll want to have enough power for a decent trolling speed and range but not overkill it.

Actually how big to go with the trolling motor for kayak depends on the boat/motor brand, amount of load, and riding conditions.

According to the test, a 30 lb thrust trolling motor can take a kayak go up to 5 mph, in perfect riding conditions with no wind and moderate load.

#2. Battery

The battery life is also a big concern if you are going with the electric trolling motor for kayak. You will want a lightweight battery with a decent output and budget.

And for that purposes, we recommend using the deep cycle, marine grade 12V battery, and the Lead Acid Wet-Cell and AGM battery would be the prefer battery types for trolling motor on kayak.

  • Deep cycle batteries are designed for more frequent recharging;
  • Lead Acid Wet-Cell batteries are more affordable but heavier and require occasional maintenance;
  • AGM batteries have a longer lifespan and are 100% maintenance-free but usually cost more.

Besides, you should always pay attention to the battery’s amperage hour rating (amp). The higher amp number, the longer the battery can last per charge. And for the trolling motor for kayak, we recommend getting at least 100 amp rating.

#3. Shaft Length

The shaft length of trolling motor on kayak has a huge impact on the boat’s performance.

If the trolling motor for kayak has a too long shaft, it might cause more drag and hit the bottom in shallow water, and too short shaft could create noise from hitting the surface.

So ideally, you’ll want the top of the motor section submerged at least 12″ under the water to ensure adequate power and to prevent noisy cavitation which will scare fish.

To get the perfect shaft length of trolling motor on kayak, take the three steps:

  • Measure down from the mounting surface of the transom or bow to the water.
  • Standard: Add 20’’ and select the closest measurement.
  • Adjustment: Add extra 5″ for fishing in rough water and add extra 12″ for steering a hand control motor while standing.

#4. Freshwater/Saltwater

The trolling motor designed for seawater is better protected against the corrosion and have stronger seals its mechanical components exposed to the seawater. So if you have a sea kayak, be sure to install the seawater trolling motor on kayak.

Newport Vessels Kayak Series trolling motor is the one that adopts enhanced anti-corrosion technology to prevent the possible damages from the seawater.

#5. Motor Weight

The best trolling motor for kayak should be lightweight so that you can bring more fishing accessories on board. And that’s especially important if your kayak can’t support much weight. So be sure to check out the weight limit of your kayak before purchasing one.

And the trolling motor batteries is another factor that can add up to the total weight. To make the power system as light as possible, some users will instead use a special solar power setup that works well with a kayak trolling motor.

Trolling Motor Kayak Setup: 2 Ways to Mount the Motor

How do you hook up a trolling motor to a kayak?

There are two ways to go: either using the off-the-shelf mount kit or making one yourself.

#1. Using Kayak Trolling Motor Mount Kit

Installing the trolling motor for kayak can be easy with the professional mount. Here we take the Brocraft kayak trolling motor mount as an example:

This trolling motor mount is designed to fit kayaks with built-in rod holders. You can just slide it into the rod holder mounts, attach support straps and replacement rod holders and that’s it.

The mount easily slides into your existing kayak rod holders without the need to modify your kayak. The mount can be installed within seconds and disconnects just as effortlessly.

If you want to install the trolling motor on kayak without adding any holes or giving up the rod holders in the back, or want it to be easily removable for transportation and storage, this is your best and easiest option.

#2. Using a Homemade Trolling Motor Mount

If you are a DIY enthusiast, making a trolling motor kayak mount that fits your own boat is also a feasible solution. And it’s cost-effective. You only have to purchase the materials.

While design the trolling motor mount for your kayak, make sure the mount is sturdy enough to hold the motor weight, and stable enough to absorb the vibrations from the motor.

Here is also a video showing you how to install the trolling motor for kayak in details:

If you don’t have adequate knowledge, it’s better to just purchase an off-the-shelf mount to avoid ruining your kayak and end up with a water-filled kayak.

Hottest FAQs About Trolling Motor for Kayak

Here we’ve collect some FAQs about trolling motor for inflatable kayak. Check the quick answers if you share the same confusion.

Q1. Is it legal to put a trolling motor on kayak?

A1. Yes, it is legal to mount a trolling motor to kayak, but you must register the boat and get a hull number no matter the kayak length and types.

Q2. How fast will a kayak go with a trolling motor?

A2. The speed of the kayak trolling motor depends on a lot of factors including the boat type, motor brand, the load, and the riding conditions. But the trolling motor for kayak can go 5 mph max. speed according to test.

Q3. How big of a trolling motor do I need for kayak?

A3. The weight and length of your boat are the key factor that determine the trolling motor thrust. Generally speaking, you will need 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of weight.

Q4. What is the best battery for a kayak trolling motor?

A4. It is the best to use the 12-volt, deep circle, marine grade batteries for kayak trolling motor. And the higher amp, the longer the battery will last per charge.

Q5. How long will a battery last with a trolling motor?

A5. As mentioned in the Q4, it depends on the amp rating of the battery and the motor power draw. The higher the amp rating of the battery, the more power the battery can hold, and the longer it will be able to power a motor at a given speed.

For example, a 100 amp hour battery should last for 5 hours at 20 amps drawn.