The Ultimate Guide for Choosing the Best Kayak Trolling Motors

A kayak is an excellent narrow and small watercraft generally propelled by double handed paddle. It is the best way to pass some time alone while boating on a calm river or lake. There are also a lot of varieties in a kayak for more precious type of kayaking. For example, a fishing kayak can provide you with fishing equipment so that you can fish more efficiently. A tandem kayak is for those who want to have fun with a friend or a partner.

However, paddling a kayak is sometimes tiresome and can ruin your fun times. It is also inefficient while fishing. You want to have a paddle free kayaking experience, a kayak trolling motor is there for you. It will provide hustle free usage which can be very useful for fishing and speedy movement.

Kayak Trolling Motor

A trolling motor is important equipment if you want to use a kayak without a paddle. It provides speed, higher maneuvering capability, and hands-free kayaking experience. It is a self-contained mechanical unit which consists of a propeller, electric motor, and controls. Generally, a kayak trolling motor is fixed to a kayaks stern or bow. Trolling motor is generally used as secondary means of propulsion if there is a primary engine. There are different types of trolling motor, which can be categorized by its power, voltage, mounting capability, etc. So, why do you use a trolling motor when you already have a gasoline-powered main engine. The reasons are here:

Trolling motors are extremely quiet compared to fuel powered motor

Trolling motors are extremely quiet compared to fuel powered motor It offers precise maneuvering

It offers precise maneuvering Can perform as a backup motor in case of primary motor failure

Can perform as a backup motor in case of primary motor failure Offer easy moving and holding feature

Offer easy moving and holding feature Ideal for silent and steady game fishing

For above reasons, a lot of anglers are using kayak with trolling motor to have more control over the boat while silently fishing.

Choosing the Best Trolling Motor for Kayak

When choosing the best trolling motor for kayak, you might face difficulties to choose the right one. There are different factors available to consider before buying your desired trolling motor. Read more to know the details of these parameters.

Kayak Size and Type

The most important factor while choosing a kayak trolling motor is to consider the type and size of the kayak. Although, most of the anglers are defined with the fact that, the bigger the trolling motor, the better it is. This is not the truth. A good quality oversized trolling motor can be way pricey for a small boat. A trolling motor should be chosen based on the size and type of the kayak. For example, a fifteen inches kayak will be properly fitted with 52 lbs. of thrust and 12 Volt motor.

Larger size kayak with trolling motor may have 24 Volt trolling motor. But, here is the fact, a 24-volt trolling motor is inefficient for a long run as it will consume more power, and if your trolling motor is battery operated, it will loss the power way sooner than a 12 Volt one.

YUEWO Trolling Motor 34/50/60/65LBS Thrust Transom Mounted Saltwater Kayak Electric Boat Motor with 9 Levels of Colorful Power Display and 8 Variable Speed for Inflatable Fishing Boats 【Professional Trolling Motor】This electric boat motor is built to explore, built to last and trusted to reliably, consistently drive you to the fish. Five forward, three reverse speeds and 6-inch telescoping handle give you plenty of flexibility. Let you enjoy a nice day at the water.

【Humanized Design】Our trolling motor constructed with ergonomic extendable handle, 5 forward speeds, and 3 reverse speeds puts total control at your fingertips for a smooth and easily controlled ride. Durable all aluminum motor head with corrosion resistant magnesium, zinc, and stainless-steel hardware for saltwater use.

【Easy to Use】The folding and unfolding pedals can be stepped on with one hand or one foot, and can be quickly switched between the water and the boat, so you can save more power to roll up a large boat.

【Battery Consumption Saving System】Thanks to energy-saving design, our boat motor work very efficiently. NOTE: 12V 120A safe storage battery is recommended, maximum power sustainable is around 3-4 hours (battery not included)

【Wide Application】With super-low power consumption, the Genuine gets the most out of your 12V battery. Suitable for small water crafts such as inflatable boats, canoes and aluminum fishing boats, widely used in in fishing, aquaculture, outdoor adventure, etc.

Shaft Length

The shaft or tube length is very important for a trolling motor. Kayak trolling motor mount can be in two different places, either in the bow or in the strain. Wherever, you install the trolling motor for kayak, the length of the shaft should be enough to submerge the propeller around one foot under water. However, this does not have the intention to express you have to buy a longer shaft than the required size. A too much longer sized shaft can easily interfere with the underwater obstacles, fishing lines and might interfere with your sitting arrangements when you stow it on the boat.

Water Condition: Freshwater vs. Saltwater

According to a lot of anglers, water condition is not a considerable factor while buying trolling motor for a kayak. A lot of manufacturers also do not differentiate their trolling motors based on the water condition. However, it is wiser to consider this factor as important, whatever some people say about it. For example, if you are for saltwater then try to buy a trolling motor that is well covered to protect from saltwater corrosion. A kayak trolling motor will be easily damaged in salt water if it is not made with a whole lot of steel or some sort of corrosion resistant material. Fresh water kayak trolling motor does not require this kind of protection as there very less likely to be damaged by corrosion.

There are both freshwater and saltwater trolling motor available to buy from. You will also find some trolling motor designed for both water types. These kayak trolling motors are excellent for those who have the preference to the boat in both fresh and salt water.

The Thrust: The More Power the Better

Every kayak user should keep in mind that, the more powerful your kayak trolling motor, the better. It is always better to have extra power even if you do not need it for the moment than not having the power at all. Having more power might come useful in case of emergency times. The minimum requirement is to have 5 lbs. of thrust for every 400 lbs. of the boat to move it. However, this is the minimum requirement, and you require a lot more thrust to move smoothly. For this reason, small to medium size kayaks need around 40 lbs. of thrust.

If your kayak is medium one and your boat in lake or river water, 30 to 46 pounds of thrust is required. If you are going for the swift current, you might consider having a kayak trolling motor with 55 pounds of thrust. However, beware of having a powerful battery as more the thrust, more power your motor will drain.

Battery Power vs. Motor Voltage

The more powerful the motor, the more powerful battery it requires to run. So, considering the battery power while buying a trolling motor is very important. Plan to have a deep cycle battery for your trolling motor if you require more power. Initially, there are three categories of motor voltage can be found for kayak trolling motors, 12 volts, 24 volts and 36 volts. However, 12 volts and 24 volts electric trolling motors are more common among kayak users.

If you use a higher voltage trolling motor, your battery will drain faster than your expectation. In these cases, try to have multiple deep cycle batteries to feed the voracious appetite of your trolling motor. If you do not require that much power, go for 12 volts one. It is efficient and less power consuming.

Trolling Motor Mount Position

Trolling motors can be found with different mounting positions. For small boats like kayak, there two mounting options; bow mounting and transom mounting. Kayak trolling motors with bow mounting are generally installed on the front section of the boat while the motors with transom mounting are installed on the stern.

Some anglers prefer to use bow mount as it provides more maneuverability for larger boats. However, small boats like kayak are well suited with transom mounts, and it is the most common mount for most of the kayak users. However, kayak fishermen prefer bow mounting as it provides easier control over transom mounting.

Final Words

Buying a kayak trolling motor is not that heard. However, choosing the right one for the right purpose is really hard as the collection is too big. There are various types and various manufacturers to choose from. Our goal was to provide you with enough insights of kayak trolling motors so that you can choose the best kayak trolling motor for your need. By reading this article, we believe you have got insight to pick a kayak trolling motor confidently. If you still have any inquiry that asks for a reply, please write us back. Happy Kayaking!