When you think of kayaking the rhythmic two-bladed paddling style quickly comes to mind. But that is not the only option. There are alternatives to paddling including pedal drives and attachable trolling motors. There are also a few kayaks that have more or less built-in motors.
A motorized kayak frees up the hands and saves energy which can be of great benefit for fishing. Some motorized kayaks are designed more for recreation and speed along the lines of a speedboat or jet ski.
Below several motorized kayaks have been selected for an introduction. Two of them are designed for fishing with center-mounted motors, two are jet-propelled, and one is a tandem model for recreational cruising or fishing. They are compared in a table, followed by descriptions with key features, photos, and videos, where available, ending with a basic buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of kayaks, boats, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
The Old Town Predator MK Fishing Kayak is completely decked out for fishing and even includes a Minn Kota center-mounted trolling motor that makes distance paddling a breeze. It has a foot-controlled rudder, comfortable adjustable seating, a non-slip deck, and heaps of fishing-oriented storage options from bow to stern.
The 600-pound capacity allows for plenty of gear and accessories, and a large cooler for the rear tank well. You’ll have to provide your own paddle but it comes with a limited lifetime warranty and the excellent reputation of Old Town.
Best For: fishing
1 rider
Length: 13 feet 2 inches
Width: 36 inches
Weight: 117.5 pounds including the motor
Weight Capacity: 600 pounds
Material: polyethylene
Motor: removable Minn Kota electric motor with 45 pounds of thrust, and a foot-controlled rudder
Slip-resistant deck
High-low adjustable seating
Deck and tank wells
Molded paddle rest, side-mount paddle storage
Rail mounting options
Large bow hatch, under-seat hatch
Limited lifetime warranty
Note – formerly called the Predator XL Fishing Kayak
With a maximum speed of nearly 25 mph and a fighter pilot-style control system, this is kayaking at its speediest and most exciting. The 10L fuel tank and 3L per hour consumption will keep the fun going for a long time and the 220-pound capacity can handle a pretty large person.
This type of power and performance is for serious riders and comes at a hefty price tag.
This one is set up with a power plant and jet propulsion system the same size as on the MACraft kayak reviewed just above but is a little bit shorter and narrower with a more streamlined hull configuration and sit-in style. It has the same 220-pound capacity and 3L/hour fuel consumption for a full day’s excitement.
The ClearYup Electric Kayak is a lightweight easy-to-carry tandem model at 62 pounds, with a remote control speedy trolling motor. The transparent polycarbonate hull is durable and UV-resistant and allows the unique opportunity to get a great view of all below.
Suitable for recreational and fishing applications, two kayak paddles are included and it comes with a generous 3-year warranty.
The Wilderness Systems ATAK 120 is a stable, speedy platform that uses the Helix MD motor drive for convenient hands-free fishing. The Helix drive is quiet and uses remote control that displays your GPS-calculated speed, remaining range, and battery runtime. For times when you don’t want to use the motor, it is replaceable with a center pod with storage and transducer options.
The comfortable sliding seat is also adjustable for height and is paired with sliding footrests to suit your size. There are numerous hatches and storage areas geared for fishermen and it is available in several color combinations with natural themes.
Best For: fishing
1 paddler
Length: 12 feet 3 inches
Width: 35 inches
Weight: 86 pounds
Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
Material: roto-molded polyethylene
Motor: removable Helix MD motor drive with a remote throttle, a maximum speed of 6 mph, and a range of 20 miles (also fits several other Wilderness Systems kayaks)
Removable, adjustable 3-position mesh seat
Adjustable padded footrests
Front paddle hold
Large center front hatch
Large rear tank well and bungee webbing
Circular stern hatch
Slide Trax in the front, middle, and rear for accessories
Rear side storage pockets with bungees
Front and rear carry handles
Available in atomic, mesa camo, midnight, and sonar color designs
When you have a kayak you would like to motorize you have to be extra careful that the two components work well together. One of the most convenient aspects of purchasing a kayak and motor already matched up by the manufacturer is that a lot of thinking and guesswork has been taken out of it.
Some concerns that you can largely forget about are:
Size and Weight – Is there enough power in the motor to propel your kayak?
Battery or Fuel Tank Space – A pre-coordinated system has already considered this. Weight and mounting locations have also been coordinated.
Shaft Length – You want the propeller at the most effective depth for efficiency.
Mount Type – Normally for small vessels like kayaks, motors are mounted on a transom or the bow. These models have already mounted the motor or have mounting locations and accessories built-in.
Speed Controls – These models all have the means to control the speed very conveniently with remote control or other hand controllers that do not require turning around or reaching behind you as is the case for many transom-mounted motors.
Maintenance – Make sure to properly clean and lubricate your kayak and motor by following carefully the instructions from the manufacturer. Saltwater is especially corrosive.
I hope you found this post on the best motorized kayaks interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Leave a Reply