Best Saltwater Trolling Motors in 2023: A Comprehensive Buying Guide

That’s why saltwater trolling motors are born and have gained great popularity ever since.

Saltwater is ultimately corrosive and can eat things that aren’t made for it really quickly.

With extra layers of protection against corrosion, the saltwater trolling motor is a day savor for sea and brackish water fishermen.

More than that, saltwater trolling motors today are evolved with a bunch of advanced features that make your fishing not only silent, but also more efficient and productive.

As many experienced angers put it, it’s a game changer!

What if I use freshwater trolling motors in saltwater?

In this post, we will discuss saltwater trolling motors thoroughly. Whether you intend to use a freshwater trolling motor in saltwater or look for a saltwater trolling motor that will last, you will find answers here.

Now let’s dive in for your next great day of fishing!

Table of content:

• Using Freshwater Trolling Motor in Saltwater
• Saltwater Trolling Motor vs Freshwater
• Best Saltwater Trolling Motor (with Reviews)
• Top 5 Things to Consider for the Best Pick

Using Freshwater Trolling Motor in Saltwater

Using a regular (freshwater) trolling motor in saltwater is a handy solution if you’ve already got a freshwater model, and you just want to use it every now and then in saltwater.

Or maybe you just want to save money on the high-dollar saltwater trolling motors.

So can you use a saltwater trolling motor in freshwater?

The short answer is YES, but only for occasional use and with great precautions and preventive maintenance:

• Wash the trolling motor down immediately and thoroughly after saltwater use (This is also required for saltwater trolling motors to prolong their life span)
• Put a coat of oil or grease on the metal housing to eliminate the possibility of a leak
• Or you can use corrosion block sprays to cover all the metal
• Don’t hit anything hard that would get water in the motor during use

Also, be aware of the potential warranty issues it may cause:

Using freshwater trolling motors in saltwater may dramatically reduce the life of the motor.

And any evidence of saltwater corrosion will void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Since the practice is acceptable, you might have a further question:

How long can a freshwater trolling motor last in saltwater?

It varies among different models, but a lot of users report seeing rusted metal components after one season or one year of use.

Remember that freshwater trolling motor is not intended for saltwater use. Rare uses are still more than zero, which can make a difference over time.

All the maintenance work will be a burden in the long term, which is still hard to prevent the motor from damage.

If you plan to fish salt exclusively or most of the time (whether seawater or brackish water), then you should definitely get a saltwater trolling motor although it comes at a higher price tag.

Some of you might be considering buying a new trolling motor every time the old one turns into a pile of rust.

It’s a workable solution but I doubt whether it’s still cost effective compared with buying a durable saltwater trolling motor in the long run, especially with the extra maintenance work taken into consideration.

Quite the opposite, some would buy saltwater gear even for freshwater use, as it will stand the test of time.

Saltwater Trolling Motor vs Freshwater

As you may have already noticed, saltwater trolling motors are expensive.

What’s so special about saltwater trolling motors? What makes these trolling motors?

The major difference is their corrosion protection in designs, paint, and materials:

• Saltwater trolling motor is designed with sacrificial anode on the bottom of the motor. This is useful since the anode will always corrode first, so that the saltwater trolling motor will be spared.
• They are protected with corrosive-resistant paint and surface coating in all metal parts.
• Saltwater trolling motor uses pricy and corrosion-resistant stainless steel hardware whereas freshwater trolling motors use simple inexpensive alloys.
• Saltwater trolling motors have more intensive insulation of electrical parts, so the corrosive water won’t touch the motor’s essential electrical system.

All the special designs above ensure the motor to be reliable for years to come, although they come at a cost.

Other than that, the saltwater trolling motors and the freshwater versions are basically the same, except for the minor difference that some brands make saltwater trolling motors white while the freshwater counterparts black.

Basically, all features you find or favor in a freshwater outboard motor, you can find the same with saltwater models, but at a higher price for more comprehensive protection.

Best Saltwater Trolling Motor in 2023

Saltwater trolling motors are now available in a wide range of thrusts and features to meet your needs for either a versatile full-functioning one or a smaller inexpensive motor for saltwater use.

Want a quick decision on the best saltwater trolling motor?

We’ve done the research for you and selected the top 5 saltwater trolling motors based on their quality, durability, functionality, performances in real life and customer reviews.

Whether you are looking for a trolling motor for your saltwater kayak, inshore boats, or offshore vessels, you will find the best pick here.

• Best Overall: Newport NV-Series Saltwater Trolling Motor
• Best with GPS: MotorGuide Xi5 Saltwater Trolling Motor
• Best with Spot Lock: Minn Kota Riptide Terrova Trolling Motor
• Best for Budget: Watersnake Venom Electric Trolling Motor
• Best for Kayak: Newport Kayak Series Saltwater Trolling Motor
• Best with Foot Control: AQUOS Haswing Electric Trolling Motor

Best Overall: Newport NV-Series Saltwater Trolling Motor

If you want a quick decision on a high quality saltwater trolling motor for a quiet and efficient ride and don’t want to spend a ton of money on it, be sure to check out the Newport NV-Series saltwater trolling motor first.

We rank Newport NV Series first on the recommendation list because of its impressive performance overall, ease of use, and reasonable price. With a wide range of thrust options, it’s good for all boat types, especially small boats with a transom.

It features an ergonomic extendable handle and adjustable composite shaft to suit your boating style and water conditions. The bright LED battery meter keeps you informed of the battery status all the time, so you can adjust the saltwater trolling motor speed (5 forward & 3 reverse) accordingly to save battery life and extend its runtime.

If you favor the cool black color and aesthetics is a concern for you, you will definitely love the Newport NV Series saltwater trolling motor.

Performance:

This saltwater trolling motor is durable, efficient and quiet in our test ride. You can safely run it for an entire day without overheating. We tested the 55 lb model on a 14ft John boat at 200lbs total weight in calm water, and the top speed was about 4 mph (and 3 mph at slow speed).

Customer Review (4.7/5 rated based on 2675 customer reviews on Amazon):

“This is the best trolling motor I have ever owned. Very powerful and saltwater does not have any effect on it. The reverse is just as powerful. This motor performs just as well as the high dollar motors.”

Best with GPS: MotorGuide Xi5 Saltwater Trolling Motor

The saltwater trolling motor with GPS is the single best thing you can put on your boat to increase the number of fish you can catch. If GPS is a must-have feature for you, you may want to take a look at the Motorguide Xi5 saltwater wireless remote trolling motor with GPS first, which will provide incredible fishing advantages.

The most popular feature of this saltwater trolling motor is virtual anchoring, powered by the accurate PinPoint GPS. With just a press of the button, you can hold position firmly to stay over wreck or your desired fishing spot. It’s a real advantage when you’re trying to set on a spot where the wind and current are in conflict and you keep drifting over your anchor.

Besides that, you can track specific courses and lock in a heading and speed with this GPS saltwater trolling motor. Specifically, you can record and store up to eight routes (each up to 4 miles in length) and then replay that route any time in the future.

Other worth-to-mention features you would love to see include the integrated sonar, onscreen control displays and LED dashboard, wireless foot pedal and remote, high impact resistant composite shaft, and fully encapsulated electronics with sealed corrosion protection.

With 55, 80, and 105lb power options available, this saltwater trolling motor is recommended for nearly all sizes of most boats with a bow mount.

Performance:

The Motorguide Xi5 saltwater trolling motor adopts a variable speed system so you can have precise control over the motor speed, which greatly saves battery life. As a reference, you can get around 3 mph with this trolling motor on a 21” ZV21.

Customer Review:

“I have a Motorguide 60″, 80 lbs, 24 volt on an 18′ Nautic Bay with 2 deep cycle marine batteries. It works excellent. Haven’t used my anchor since I bought it.”

Best with i-Pilot: Minn Kota Riptide Terrova Trolling Motor

Minn Kota is the go-to brand if you prefer a saltwater trolling motor with i-Pilot specifically. In fact, the i-Pilot saltwater trolling motor is a GPS enabled trolling motor powered by the Minn Kota i-Pilot system.

And among all the iPilot saltwater trolling motors, Riptide Terrrova is the hottest and most recommended by both real users worldwide and professionals.

This saltwater trolling motor is known for its legendary i-Pilot GPS system in fishing community. The spot-lock allows you to keep your boat in the most productive location without anchoring. It can be easily activated by the remote or through the connected Humminbird fish finder. It’s a game changer for anglers.

Making it even more useful, you can jog (or move) 5 feet in any direction to adjust the fishing spot, thanks to the included heading sensor. Besides that, the AutoPilot™ function allows you to automatically navigate your boat in any direction you choose and keep you in that direction, correcting wind, waves and current.

Compared with the MotorGuide saltwater trolling motor with GPS, the Terrova also allows for track recording (known as iTracks) with increased path storage to 16 different routes and positions (each up to 2 miles in length).

The extra long shaft and its ultimate protection against corrosion make this saltwater trolling motor unique and ideal for offshore and bay boats to use without cavitation.

If you are looking for a saltwater trolling motor with easy operation, reliability, and advanced features, the Minn Kota Terrova won’t let you down.

Performance:

As we mentioned, a higher level of thrust won’t necessarily give you higher speed. The speed of this saltwater trolling motor prop (whether it’s the 55 lb, 80 lb, or 112 lb model) will give you roughly 3.5 to 4.0 mph depending on your batteries.

Customer Review (4.6/5 rated based on 62 customer reviews on Amazon):

Absolutely everything I wanted for my boat. The spot lock is so beneficial to fishing and the auto pilot just allows me to concentrate on fishing and less about what the boat is doing. Wish I had bought it sooner. I live on the gulf coast of Florida. The spot lock saltwater trolling motor is a must for me to fish inshore or offshore.

Best for Budget: Watersnake Venom Electric Trolling Motor

If you primarily want to use the saltwater motor to scoot around the brackish waters and don’t want to pay for all the fancy features such as spot lock, you may consider Watersnake Venom trolling motor.

The Watersnake saltwater trolling motor provides great quality and versatile features at a reasonable price. It’s a great inexpensive alternative if you prefer a tiller steering transom-mount trolling motor.

All models run on 12V power, so it’s easy to install even for beginners with no complex wiring. The tiller handle throttle incorporates an ergonomic grip for easy and comfortable control: You have five forward and three reverse speed options just like the Newport Vessels NV-Series offers.

A digital voltage meter display is included in the head, so you can be informed of the battery status all the time (including the remaining power and runtime). To be safe, it’s advised to always stay above 11.8 volts.

Specially made for saltwater uses, this trolling motor features anti-corrosive paint and stainless steel parts, which allows you to take it into fresh, brackish, and salt water without worry.

Overall, the Watersnake trolling motor is suitable for boats ranging from small tenders, dinghies, inshore and inshore sportfishing boats.

Performance:

The Watersnake electric trolling motor is quiet and easy to use, offering a top speed of about 4 mph for a tandem kayak (with 2 people onboard).

Customer Reviews (4.6/5 rated based on 62 customer reviews on Amazon):

“I used it for 3 hours the first day and flawless. The second time I took my friend and his daughter with me and my daughter and it never once slowed down. I love this trolling motor and it gets you wherever you need to go.”

Best for Kayak: Newport Kayak Series Saltwater Trolling Motor

Offered in 36 pound thrust with a 24” short shaft, this trolling motor is designed specifically for kayak anglers. If you are looking for a kayak or canoe trolling motor for saltwater use, don’t miss the Newport Kayak Series.

This trolling motor is designed to cater to kayak anglers’ needs in both freshwater and saltwater. The adjustable 24” shaft length ensures proper depth replacement for every kayak and canoe. The extended 5’6” battery cabling allows you to place your batteries with much more flexibility.

As a small simple saltwater trolling motor, the Kayak Series is lightweight and easy to use. You can easily lift it with one arm. Add a marine deep cycle battery, and it’s ready to go. No worries about maintenance, oil, or gas.

You have variable speed options (5 forward and 3 reverse) and can easily control with the telescoping ergonomic handle. The 5 LED battery indicator tells you the remaining battery in real time to reduce your battery anxiety. It works perfectly in saltwater and can last for years (backed by 2 years warranty & professional customer service from California team).

At an affordable price, you can turn your kayak and canoe into a motorized vehicle, so you can get to your favorite fishing spot quickly and effortlessly, and spend more time fishing than paddling.

It’s worth mentioning that this kayak saltwater trolling motor is designed to work with Lead-Acid style Deep Cycle or Marine batteries (Flooded, SLA, AGM or Gel). Lithium batteries are not recommended to make sure all features can be used properly.

Performance:

This small saltwater trolling motor is perfect for kayaks, dinghies and canoes. Although it can’t get your kayaks and dinghies plane, you can expect to have it move a 10′ RIB dinghy up to 4 mph.

Customer Reviews (4.7/5 rated based on 978 customer reviews on Amazon):

“This trolling motor is awesome. I mounted it to my 10 ft kayak and it works great. I only use speeds 1 thru 3, as 4 and 5 speeds are quite powerful. I run it using a 55 amp/hr battery and I can cruise for 3-4 hours easily on speed 1-3. High quality, built well.”

Best with Foot Control: AQUOS White Haswing Electric Trolling Motor

Want a saltwater trolling motor with foot control? The Haswing Cayman trolling motor is an excellent solution.

This saltwater trolling motor is easy to use and maintain. The corrosion resistant aluminum head, durable composite shaft, and efficient brushless DC motor mean significantly less maintenance compared with regular trolling motors and their gas counterparts.

It features a lot of smart designs to make your fishing and boating activity easier. For example, the quick release bracket that helps quickly install or remove the motor; the depth collar lets you change the motor depth easily; the ergonomic lifting handle allows you to transport the motor effortlessly; the stow and deploy pedal makes the transition between in the water and on the boat quickly.

The 55-thrust power makes it suitable for most boats with a weight of up to 2750 lbs and a length of up to 18 ft.

The highlight of this saltwater trolling motor is that it comes with both a remote and a foot pedal. The wireless remote allows you to control the motor anywhere on the boat or even on the shore side (within 164 ft). The foot control gives you the convenience of navigating your boat using your heel and toe with quick responses.

With this saltwater trolling motor, you can also enjoy some advanced features including Cruise Control and Viable Speed. By cruise control, it means you can always keep your boat at the desired and constant speed with a simple press at the remote, so you will not be distracted while fishing.

You can choose either a black or white version model, which is good news if the color matters to you.

Performance:

According to the collected feedback, this saltwater trolling motor can move a 20′ pontoon boat at about 3 mph top speed. You can take it as a reference and the actual speed and runtime will largely depend on your boat type, load, water, weather, and battery setup.

Customer Review (4.4/5 rated based on 191 customer reviews on Amazon):

“I love this trolling motor!!!! Very powerful, more reliable and stable than my old motorguide foot pedal driven trolling motor. Battery last on full power a whole 10 hr tournament and still have 50% remaining.”

How to Select the Best Saltwater Trolling Motor

To select a saltwater trolling motor that fits your boat, you need to consider the following aspects:

#1. Select Thrust & Voltage

Thrust is the top consideration when choosing the right saltwater trolling motor. Normally you will see a list of thrust options for each model, measured in lbs.

The number indicates how much power you will get at the saltwater trolling motor’s top speed, and generally ranges from 35 lbs to 112 lbs.

The thing is, you need to make sure to get enough power but not overkill it to be budget wise.

It’s important to note that extra power (than needed) won’t get you to move faster.

As a rule of thumb for beginners, you should get at least 2 lbs of thrust for every 100 lbs of your boat weight (fully loaded with gear, fuel and people).

Similarly, you will see different voltage options. For example, the 12v/24 volt/36 volt saltwater trolling motors.

Bear in mind that higher voltage means more thrust or power.

The saltwater trolling motor voltage also indicates the number of batteries required:

A 12 volt saltwater trolling motor requires only one battery (with easy installation), while 24v requires two batteries and 36v requires three (Check out pro tips for easy wiring).

Note: Whichever saltwater trolling motor you get, you can not go beyond its limit and expect it to work in all wild conditions. Generally speaking, you can safely use it in a still bay or inshore under little to no wind conditions. In the open ocean that’s pretty much helpless, as you will be at the whim of the ocean currents and wind.

Another hint to note is that a saltwater trolling motor can go at 5mph the fastest. So if your current is over 5 mph, it’s not going to work.

#2. Shaft Length

Saltwater trolling motors are available in a wide range of shaft lengths, usually from 24” to 87”.

A proper shaft length is important for saltwater trolling motors. If the shaft length is too long, it will cause extra drag, easily catch on the bottom, and it will be difficult to stow. If the shaft length is too short, the motor is likely to cavitate and create fish-spooking noise.

It’s advised to have the top of the lower unit or propeller submerged by at least 12″ of water.

Here is some easy math to calculate the shaft length required:

• Minimum Shaft Length = Transom/Bow to Water Line Measurement + 20”
• Minimum Shaft Length = Transom/Bow to Water Line Measurement + 25” (For Rough Waters or Offshore)

If you are using a hand controlled saltwater trolling motor, add an extra 12” to the above measurements.

If you are indecisive about two different shaft lengths, always go for the longer one since you can still have it shortened (but not extended in any easy effort).

#3. Bow or Transom Mount

To narrow down your saltwater trolling motor options, an important decision you need to make is where you want to mount the trolling motor.

You have two choices: Whether you want it on the transom or on the bow.

A transom mount saltwater trolling motor is affixed at the back of the boat to push your boat forward. It’s usually used as general propulsion with simple tiller operation (without many fancy functions or add-ons).

In contrast, a bow mount saltwater trolling motor is mounted at the side or near the front of the boat to pull your boat through the water. It’s usually popular among anglers who pursue versatile features and controls to make fishing easier and catch more fish.

#4. Remote or Foot Pedal

Next, you need to decide the steering mechanism you want for your saltwater trolling motor.

There are three major types of controls and each comes with their own advantages. What you need to do is to distinguish them while searching and choose the one that suits you best.

• Foot Control: Foot control is realized through a foot pedal. With a foot control saltwater trolling motor, you can do hands-free operation and focus on fishing more intensively.
• Tiller Control: With hand control saltwater trolling motor, the direction and speed are adjusted through a telescoping handle that’s built into the motor. This type of control is usually seen on transom mount saltwater trolling motors.
• Remote Control: Some of the more recent saltwater trolling motors come with a wireless remote. It can be easily worn on your wrist or belt, so you can simply control the trolling motor from anywhere on the boat (or even on the shore). It’s easy to use and makes the whole setup more concise without the hassle of dealing with cords and wires.

Note: There is further electric steering and cable steering of your choice depending on whether there is a direct link between the foot pedal and the motor. While the cable steer is more responsive and quiet (and mostly favored by the bass fisherman), the electric gives you more flexibility in feature choices and controls.

#5. Features:

The last important thing you will need to think about is the features you want.

Nowadays, modern saltwater trolling motors are equipped with a lot of high-tech features.

It’s worth your effort to do some research and learn what’s available to make an informed choice.

You may start by looking at the big saltwater trolling motor brands, such as Minn Kota and Motorguide.

Some popular features you may want to add to your boat motors include:

• Spot Lock: It enables the saltwater trolling motors to virtually anchor in position regardless of winds and currents.
• Auto Deploy: You can stow, deploy or trim the motor up and down at a single press on the remote or step on the foot pedal
• GPS Capability: It allows you to record and retrace your favorite fishing routes
• Built-in Imaging Transducer: It allows you to see what’s below and helps identify the fish

Another thing worth thinking about is electronic compatibility. If you are using a fishfinder with GPS or plan to in the future, you should get a motor that will be compatible.

For example, the Minn Kota i-Pilot system works with Hummingbird, while the Motorguide Pinpoint GPS is compatible with the Lowrance fish finder.

If you don’t want these additional features, a basic saltwater trolling motor is perfectly fine and can help you save money on other important extras.