Leading the way for rigability, NuCanoe kayaks are built ready for motors, accessories, multiple anglers and just about any water conditions you can throw at them. We've already broken down NuCanoe's incredible stability and tandem capabilities. Building on the Unlimited possiblities, NuCanoe makes the growing trend of adding an electric motor to your fishing kayak as easy as any kayak on the market.
There are primarily three types of electric motors anglers are adding to their fishing kayaks: bow mount, stern mount, and transom mount.
You may be asking yourself many questions. What size of trolling motor for a kayak do you need? What type of battery do I need for a kayak trolling motor? How do you mount a motor to a kayak? What is the fastest motor for a kayak? Check out our NuCanoe motor video for some on-the-water examples and keep scrolling as we answer each question in a bit more detail.
NuCanoe Kayaks: Any motor, any water, any time
Kayak Motor FAQs
What size of trolling motor for a kayak do you need?
Electric trolling motors are usually measured in thrust (power). For most fishing kayaks, 30lbs of thrust will be sufficient. However, there are some factors to consider. For calm water, less thrust is needed. For faster moving current you will need far more thrust (45lb and above). Obviously, the more weight you add the more thrust you will also need. Consider the water conditions you are going to primarily take on. If you are a river angler, you will need a higher powered motor as well as battery to move against a river's current.
What type of battery do I need for a kayak trolling motor?
This can be a stressful and difficult question to answer. Most motors will give recommendations on which battery to pair your motor with. There is no "one size fits all" for kayak motor batteries. We did an extensive breakdown of lithium vs lead batteries that helps break down batteries in great detail.
Some batteries require higher voltage systems like 36V. Smaller batteries like 30lb thrust batteries can efficiently run on 12V. One big thing to consider is making sure your motor can run on lithium batteries. For example, the Minn Kota Endura transom mount motors can use lithium batteries, but are recommended to only run at 80% of their total speed because they are not made to maintain the 100% voltage discharge rate that lithium batteries provide.
One of the best things to do when trying to search for the right battery is to consult with the shop you are purchasing your battery from. With such a large purchase, talk with a professional to better understand battery pairing.
How do you mount a motor to a kayak?
Again, there are three primary ways to add an electric motor to your kayak: Bow, stern and transom. Each type requires different adapter kits to properly mount your motor to you NuCanoe kayak. The most simple is the transom adapter for a hand-tiller motor. More powerful motors that utilize foot steering or remote-control steering require a bit more of an install but typically offer the best overall performance.
What is the fastest motor for a kayak?
One thing to understand with fishing kayaks is that no matter the power of the motor, most fishing kayaks will not 'get on plane.' What we mean by this is that unless you are mounting an outboard motor with enough horsepower to get your kayak on plane (a motor this size will undoubtedly weigh far too much to mount safely) all fishing kayaks will max out around 5-6mph.
In short, it means when looking at a motor you should focus more on the power you think you'll need to push through the water conditions you think you'll fish the most. It is less about speed and more about efficiency. If you are going to fish big, open water with bigger waves, you'll need a more powerful motor. Rivers with fast moving current will require more thrust and power to safely move against the current. Calm water with little current will not require near as much thrust to move around efficiently.
NuCanoe fishing kayaks are one of the best brands on the market for adaptability and rigability. If you plan on fishing your NuCanoe as a tandem, you'll need to consider a larger motor to help push the extra weight.
NuCanoe Kayaks & Motor Packages
