Can You Put A Trolling Motor On A Kayak

Over the past few years, kayaks have gained popularity. Once used strictly for going down rapids, they are now being widely used for fishing. In fact, you can use a kayak in a pond, stream or river.

In addition, people have started to successfully mount trolling motors to their kayaks. This combination of trolling motor and kayak will take your fishing to the next level. A kayak with a trolling motor will be much cheaper than a typical bass boat, and you still have the ability to paddle out to deeper water and not be stuck at the shoreline. This will also save your arms from paddling and let you go faster. So yes, you can put a trolling motor on your kayak.

Can You Put A Trolling Motor On A Kayak

Can You Put A Trolling Motor On A Kayak

Will a trolling motor fit on my kayak?

The first thing you will need to check if you are serious about mounting a trolling motor, is if your kayak you are has the mounts on it . Mounting a trolling motor can be easy, but you must make sure that the motor will have room to clear the kayak.  You can use 2 poles to mount the motor. As long as you have the right holes in your kayak, you can mount a motor with ease, and it will take only a few hours to do. You can easily test it because trolling motors are not water cooled. You will hook up the motor to the battery and turn it on. Do not drill any holes into your kayak just to make it fit. That is a job for a ship builder or someone with boat building experience.

Battery Usage

When deciding whether to mount a motor on your kayak, another consideration is what type of battery you might need, and how long you can actually run your trolling motor with it. Trolling motors use a 12-volt battery, with around 35 amps. It is crucial that you purchase a marine battery, and not a normal car battery. The reason for this is that car batteries are designed to turn the motor over and that’s it. A trolling motor is going to require a deep charge battery. Another essential will be a watertight battery box that will keep your battery dry in case water does get in; this is especially useful if you were to fall out of your kayak and it flipped upside down in the water. There are some battery boxes that include extra features like a place to plug in a charger for your phone. The longevity of a battery really depends on how fast you go and how long you are using it. Here is a breakdown of the

  • Full throttle, Speed 5: You can bet that you will get about 2 hours of run time for full throttle no breaks.
  • Speed 4: You should average about 4 hours of run time.
  • Speed 3: You should average about 8 hours of run time.
  • Speed 2: About 12 hours of run time.
  • Speed 1: About 16 hours of run time.

Can you legally add a trolling motor?

Yes, you can legally add a trolling motor to your kayak, just like you would to any other boat. Keep in mind that you must still follow all the normal boat safety laws. Just because it is a kayak, does not mean that you are not responsible for all boating laws because its smaller and a one person craft. Usually It is not necessary to show proof of ownership like DMV registration unless your boat is bigger than 12-14 feet, and has an outboard motor of 10HP or more. However, you should always check with your state agency with regards to laws since they can vary from state to state. This could mean that typically you do not have to pay registration, and do not need to have a sticker on the side of your kayak. Make sure to also check for regulations regarding using the kayak in freshwater versus the ocean.

Is It Safe To Use A Trolling Motor On A Kayak?

Even though some kayaks are all made differently, they are pretty safe to be on the water with a trolling motor attached. There is a big difference though between a flat bottom kayak and a rounded, V shaped kayak. If you are planning on using the kayak primarily for fishing, is a very good idea to get a flat bottom boat. This will help to keep you from rolling out of it while you are reeling in a big fish on the line If you are new to using a kayak, it is a good idea to take it to a pond and test it out first, before you go add a motor and head out fishing.

How Fast Can You Go?

The key to thinking about trolling motors, is that you should think about the thrust first, and not really the speed. There are a variety of motors with different models of thrust. One model is the 30-pound thrust motor, and the other is a 55-pound thrust motor. Both of these are very common for almost all trolling motors. The maximum speed of a trolling motor is designed to top-out at a speed of 5 mph. The reason for this is because of the thrust. Remember that he bigger your boat, the more thrust you will need to move it at 5 mph. It is very important to remember that even though you are in a kayak, you do not torque the throttle down, and just stay at a safe speed for fishing. Faster is not always better, so when looking to mount a trolling motor on to your kayak, a 30-pound thrust motor should be more than sufficient to meet your needs unless you have loaded your kayak down with heavy gear.

Conclusion

Kayaks are popular boating choices and can be used for fishing in freshwater as well as the ocean. If you are looking to get a little more power out of your kayak, it is possible to add a trolling motor . Make sure to follow local regulations and you will take your kayaking to the next level.

Tom Chandler
 

"When your hands hit the floor, they get cut up. When mine hit the floor, they slide with ease"

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