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Fishing Kayak with Engine: Built-in motors vs. Adding a motor
June 27, 2025 Justin McClanahan

Fishing Kayak with Engine: Built-in motors vs. Adding a motor

More and more fishing kayaks are now coming with engines and motors built-in to the kayak's hull design. As kayak fishing continues to evolve and grow, so does the demand for covering more ground and increasing efficiency on the water. Boat anglers scoff at the notion of a motorized kayak and kayaking purists do as well.

The most common response we get when discussing motorized fishing kayaks is, "Just buy a boat!" This is, and always has been, a lazy response. The truth of the matter is, even if adding a motor to a fishing kayak blurs the lines of what is kayaking and what is boating, you can still reach locations boats and pure paddling cannot.

Fishing kayaks in general are less efficient to paddle than sit-in kayaks. There are certain water conditions where this matters. If you are covering large expanses of open water in a fishing kayak, having a motor can help you cover far more ground. If the weather and wind change, a motor offers some security in getting back to shore. And perhaps one of the most underrated aspects of a motor on your fishing kayak is the ability to move up river systems. By motoring up river you remove logistical barriers like shuttling vehicles or the risk of being swept downstream from your vehicle.

Fishing kayaks with engines and motors are not for everyone and that's OK. However, if you're an angler that wants the advantages a kayak offers with the securtiy of covering more ground or protection against wind changes, a fishing kayak with a motor might be for you. Let's look at the handful of fishing kayaks that come with integrated motors and then the plethora of motors that can be added to almost any fishing kayak on the market.

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Fishing Kayaks with Built-in Engines

Old Town Sportsman 106 Powered By Minn Kota Fishing Kayak - Eco Fishing Shop

Old Town Sportsman 106 Powered By Minn Kota Fishing Kayak

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$3,699.99
$3,699.99 - $3,699.99
$3,699.99
$2,959.99
$2,959.99 - $2,959.99
$2,959.99

Length: 10'6" | Width: 37" | Weight: 121lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 404lbs

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Old Town Sonata 106 Powered By Minn Kota Recreational Kayak

Old Town Sonata 106 MK Fishing Kayak

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$4,199.99
$4,199.99 - $4,199.99
$4,199.99
$3,359.99
$3,359.99 - $3,359.99
$3,359.99

Length: 10'6" | Width: 37" | Weight: 123lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 515lbs

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Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120 Motor Drive Kayak

Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120 Motor Drive Kayak

$4,018.99 - $4,018.99
$4,018.99
$4,018.99 - $4,018.99
$4,018.99

Length: 12'3" | Width: 35" | Weight: 101lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 400lbs

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Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 Fishing Kayak - Eco Fishing Shop

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 Fishing Kayak

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$4,499.99
$4,499.99 - $4,499.99
$4,499.99
$3,599.99
$3,599.99 - $3,599.99
$3,599.99

Length: 13'6" | Width: 37" | Weight: 124lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 512lbs

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Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136 Fishing Kayak

Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136 Fishing Kayak

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$4,999.99
$4,999.99 - $4,999.99
$4,999.99
$3,999.99
$3,999.99 - $3,999.99
$3,999.99

Length: 10'6" | Width: 37" | Weight: 121lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 404lbs

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Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+™ 132 Fishing Kayak

Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 Fishing Kayak

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$5,499.99
$5,499.99 - $5,499.99
$5,499.99
$4,399.99
$4,399.99 - $4,399.99
$4,399.99

Length: 13'2" | Width: 36" | Weight: 143lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 357lbs

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Old Town Malibu ePDL+ 120 Fishing Kayak

Old Town Malibu ePDL+ 120 Fishing Kayak

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$5,499.99
$5,499.99 - $5,499.99
$5,499.99
$4,399.99
$4,399.99 - $4,399.99
$4,399.99

Length: 12' | Width: 34.5" | Weight: 126lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 223lbs

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Old Town Sportsman ePDL+ 120 PRO Fishing Kayak

Old Town Sportsman ePDL+ 120 PRO Fishing Kayak

$5,999.99 - $5,999.99
$5,999.99
$5,999.99 - $5,999.99
$5,999.99

Length: 12' | Width: 36" | Weight: 153lbs (with drive) | Usable Capacity: 395lbs

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Fishing Kayak Motors (can be added to most fishing kayaks)

With motor brackets, transom mounts, and bow and stern adapters, there are motor options you can mount to almost any fishing kayak on the market. Some options require drilling and cutting, but with online tutorials and walkthroughs for even beginners, adding a motor to your kayak is becoming more and more accessible to anglers of all abilities.

One big advantage to an aftermarket motor on your fishing kayak is your ability to quickly and easily remove it. Not all situations call for a motor, so having the choice to take your fishing kayak out as it was when you bought it is as easy as removing your electric motor.

Keep in mind, that each and every fishing kayak is a bit different so you'll need to purchase the correct mounts and adapters. Many, but not all, fishing kayaks today come with pre-drilled rivets on both the bow and stern for easy mounting. This is where reaching out to our customer service team (1-844-987-5777, sales@ecofishingshop.com) can help eliminate the headache of trying to peice together the right equipment. Reach out and we'll help get you the right pieces for a motor setup based on your fishing kayak.

Many of the following motors do not come with a battery which is another layer of complexity. We broke down everything about batteries (voltage, amp hours, lithium vs. lead, etc.) in our How to Choose the Right Motor for your Fishing Kayak Motor blog.

PacMotor Trolling Motor

PacMotor Trolling Motor

$799.00 - $799.00
$799.00
$799.00 - $799.00
$799.00
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PacMotor + 16V Battery Trolling Motor Combo

PacMotor + 16V Battery Trolling Motor Combo

$1,198.00 - $1,198.00
$1,198.00
$1,198.00 - $1,198.00
$1,198.00
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Epropulsion eLite 1.5HP Trolling Motor

Epropulsion eLite 1.5HP Trolling Motor

$0.00 - $0.00
$0.00
$1,325.00
$1,325.00 - $1,325.00
$1,325.00
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Newport NK180PRO Electric Kayak Motor

Newport NK180 PRO Electric Kayak Motor

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$1,299.99
$1,299.99 - $1,299.99
$1,299.99
$1,039.99
$1,039.99 - $1,039.99
$1,039.99
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Bixpy K-1 Outboard Kit

Bixpy K-1 Outboard Kit

$1,399.00 - $1,399.00
$1,399.00
$1,399.00 - $1,399.00
$1,399.00
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Newport NK300 Electric Kayak Motor

Newport NK300 Electric Kayak Motor

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$1,499.99
$1,499.99 - $1,499.99
$1,499.99
$1,199.99
$1,199.99 - $1,199.99
$1,199.99
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Feelfree Overdrive Motor

Feelfree Motordrive

$1,149.00 - $1,149.00
$1,149.00
$1,149.00 - $1,149.00
$1,149.00

*Must be paired with a Feelfree Overdrive Pedal System*

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Minn Kota Kayak Terrova Trolling Motor

Minn Kota Kayak Terrova Trolling Motor 55lb 36in

$1,599.99 - $1,899.99
$1,599.99
$1,599.99 - $1,899.99
$1,599.99
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Bixpy K-1 Angler Pro Outboard Kit

Bixpy K-1 Angler Pro Outboard Kit

$1,699.00 - $1,699.00
$1,699.00
$1,699.00 - $1,699.00
$1,699.00
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Torqeedo Travel Ultralight Trolling Motor

Torqeedo Travel Ultralight Trolling Motor

$1,749.00 - $3,098.00
$1,749.00
$1,749.00 - $3,098.00
$1,749.00
View full details

Additional Resources: Blogs, Podcast & Community

Adding a motor can feel complex and out-of-reach for many kayak anglers. Whether you are a newcomer or seasoned vet, the prospect of adding an engine to your fishing kayak can be both exciting and overwhelming. Beyond the setup, knowing which motors to pair with which batteries and motor mounts can all start to feel like too much. Don't take our word for it, ask other kayak anglers what things they wish they would have known along the way. Learn which motors seasoned kayak anglers have chosen and how they mounted them to their fishing kayaks.

Kayak Anglers Resource Community

A community for kayak anglers. The discussions are generated by kayak anglers and the kayaking community shares tips, mistakes and suggestions for kayak fishing. Check out a few examples of anglers helping anglers:

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