Last Updated on February 21, 2023 by Afsar

Are you on the lookout for the best trolling motors on the market? Kayak trolling motors come in handy in a variety of circumstances. A trolling motor would be quite useful if you own a kayak and don’t want to paddle back. Seniors may like kayaking, but they may have health issues or injuries that restrict them from paddling, which is where trolling motors come in handy. When you’re weary and don’t want to paddle any longer, or if you’re wounded or traveling for a long distance, trolling motors come in handy. We’ve put together a list of the top five trolling motors for kayaks, canoes, and small boats.

Best Trolling Motors For Kayak 2023 – Works for Canoe, and Small Boats too

Minn Kota Endura C2 30 Freshwater Transom Mounted Trolling Motor

Minn Kota C2 30 is a low-cost trolling motor designed for kayaks, canoes, and small boats. This 30-inch shaft 12-volt freshwater transom-mounted trolling motor is designed for freshwater usage only and should not be used in salt water as it will cause damage to the motor within a year. The engine on this Minn Kota trademark cool is strong, and the battery life is superb. The grip on this trolling motor is excellent, making it extremely simple to use. It comes with a good shaft that will not break, twist, or kink over time. This trolling motor has been loved by thousands of kayakers and most people said that it lasted for a long time.

Undoubtedly the best freshwater trolling motor for kayak

Notable Features:

Lever lock bracket: Lever lock brackets offer a rock-solid mount.

Telescoping handle: 6-inches telescoping handle and the twist tiller offer ergonomic speed control & steeringLightweight.

Tilt Twist Tiller: The Endura Tilt Twist Tiller has a natural ergonomic grip that provides the best speed and steering control.

Indestructible Composite Shaft: Many people complain about breaking the shaft. However, Minn Kota C2 30 comes with an indestructible composite shaft. It is claimed that this is stronger than steel. The chances of breaking or corrosion are close to zero. Minn Kota’s warranty policy provides a guarantee for a lifetime. Check their Guarantee policy for more.

Power management: The Minn Kota Endura C2 30 runs cool and quiet. As a result, battery life is extended as well as motor life. On top of that, its bearing system reduces friction to prevent fish-spooking noises.

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MinnKota Traxxis 55 Transom Mount Trolling Motor

Like other Minn Kota trolling motors, this trolling motor is made of high-quality materials and has a plethora of functions. There are two shaft lengths available for this trolling motor: 36 inches and 42 inches. If you prefer tiny shaft trolling motors, the 36-inch shaft type is a good option. With the aid of a 12-volt system, this freshwater compatible transom mount trolling engine produces 55 pounds of torque. Even though it appears to be simple, it is reliable for freshwater use. Thanks to the one-hand stow mechanism, the motor can be move in and out of the water in seconds. This trolling motor is ideal for kayak fishing because it was developed specifically for fishing. Other features include a tiller that can be tilted up to 45 degrees and extended up to 6 inches. For easy reading, there is a handy digital battery indicator on the right side of the motorhead.

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Powerful Trolling Motor: Newport Vessels NV-Series 46 lb: Saltwater

Best Trolling motor for kayak and small boats for both saltwater and freshwater usage. This is a powerful trolling motor that works awesome on both saltwater and freshwater. With the 46lb thrust, it is perfect for versatile usage. It is perfectly designed to face almost all situations, and it is made of very high-quality raw materials. It has a shaft of 30-inch, and the coolest part is that it has 5 point LED battery meter. With its versatile usage, it is being loved by many kayakers and small boat owners. It has an 8-speed control system that consists of 5 forward speed & 3 reverse speeds. The shaft is made of composite fiberglass and offers excellent durability.

Suitable for: inflatable kayaks, boats, fishing boats, dinghies

Best Powerful Saltwater trolling motor for fishing boats and kayaks

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Watersnake ASP 18 and 24 Pound Thrust 12V

If you are looking for a small trolling motor that has already proven its success in the market, choose watersnake ASP. This great trolling motor comes in two different styles: transom mount or kayak bracket mount. It is one of the finest portable trolling motors available on the market, weighing only 4.85lbs. Watersnake uses a simple design that keeps the weight down on this trolling motor while offering astounding quality and performance.

As mentioned above, this small trolling motor is an excellent option for small kayaks, canoes, inflatable boats, etc. You will see a 24″ shaft, adjustable mount fitting, and anti-impact clip system on this motor. It comes with a hand tiller with an extendable handle, high and low-speed control system, forward and reverse switch, and two blades weedless propeller design.

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Newport Vessels L-Series 86 lb Saltwater Electric Trolling Motor

This is the most powerful motor coming from Newport Vessels. If you are looking for high performance, this 86lb thrust transom trolling motor got what you covered. Despite the high performance, it is very quiet and allows you to fish in currents, wind, and other water environments. It uses high strength and adjustable fiberglass 40-inch composite shaft, which allows proper depth placement in almost any water condition.

There are eight speeds (5 forward and 3 reverse) available in the motor which puts total control at your fingertips for a smooth ride. Also, the ergonomic extendable handle makes it even better. As mentioned earlier, this is a saltwater trolling motor, and the corrosion-resistant stainless steel hardware ensures that it is ready for any environment. The 10-point super bright LED battery indicator shows the immediate charge level for easy understanding.

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Newport Vessels X-Series 55lb Thrust

Powerful Trolling Motor for Big Kayak or Boat: This is one of the most powerful trolling motors which is suitable for both saltwater and freshwater. This heavy-duty trolling motor has a thrust of 55lb. It is made of stainless steel hardware which makes it very durable. It is 30 Degree adjustable with a 6-inch telescoping handle. It has 8 speeds where 5 is for forward and 3 is for reverse. This trolling motor has the biggest shaft on this list: 36 inches. It fits on all inflatable boats, kayaks, canoes. If you love fishing, then you should get it as it is the best trolling motor for fishing boats. This is very powerful, and you can roam easily to make good fishing.

Powerful Trolling motor for big kayak

Suitable for: Inflatable boat, inflatable kayak, fishing boats, dinghies

Pros:

• Very powerful
• Composite Fiberglass high-strength 36-inch shaft
• 6-inch telescoping handle
• Stainless steel hardware for both saltwater and freshwater usage
• Suitable for big kayak and boats
• 8 Speeds
• thrust 55lb
• High-quality material used

Cons:

• Slightly expensive for small kayak owners

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Saturn 55 Lbs Short-Shaft Electric Tolling Motor For kayak

Best Short shaft trolling motor for small boats and kayaks: This is a top-notch electric trolling motor for kayaks, inflatable boats, canoes, etc. This electric trolling motor is specially designed for kayaks, and canoes. It’s very powerful and comes with many features.

This trolling motor has a 55 lbs power thrust, 17 lbs of weight, 12v power. You can get your desired angle via its adjustable handle. In order to change the motor depth, you will see an adjustable depth collar too.

Like a good trolling motor, this one comes with a 5-speed level for forward & 3 level for reverse. There is a battery reader which displays battery level. Special Composite Shaft is very flexible and strong. Extendable Handle even provides great control.

Pros:

• 8-speed level: 5 speeds level + 3 level reverse
• Adjustable shaft
• Adjustable handle
• Special composite: durable, flexible & strong
• 55lbs power thrust
• Excellent speed
• Great compact design
• 26″ custom cut the short shaft

Cons:

• not good for John boats

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Coleman 12V Electric Trolling Motor

Another cheap trolling motor for kayak, canoe, or boat. It fits with the vehicle if there are transom or motor mount fittings on it. With the thrust level of up to 18 lb, this one is pretty good for any kayak. There is a plastic bracket for the transom mount. It may not have 8 speeds, but its 2 forward & 2 reverse speed is enough for a kayak. The installation process is easy. 18.5-inch aluminum gives a wide range of height adjustments which is very handy for the users.
Pros:

• Cheap
• Lightweight to carry
• Decent speed for kayaks and good for inflatable boats
• Compact design

Cons:

• Doesn’t work well for hardshell heavy/long kayaks
• Replacements props are tough to find

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Watersnake ASP Salt Water Transom Mount Trolling Motor

This is undoubtedly one of the best trolling motors for kayak & canoe. This trolling motor is suitable for saltwater. This small trolling motor is a very good fit for the kayaks and canoe. With 24 inch shaft and 24-pound thrust, this trolling motor looks very cool on kayaks. This trolling motor is specifically designed for kayaks and inflatable boats. There is a high and low-speed control which makes it super easy to control it. The price of this lightweight trolling motor for kayak is really cheap (check the lowest price here). No matter whether you love to fish on a kayak or looking for a tour you can do with this trolling motor. This Watersnake trolling motor is made of very good raw materials and it keeps very quiet on the water.

Pros:

• Specifically designed for kayak and inflatable boats
• Lightweight
• Easy to control
• Very quiet on the water

Cons:

• None

Final Verdict

I hope this article helps you to find the best electrical trolling motor for your kayak, canoe or small boats.  If you are kayaking in saltwater, I will highly suggest you get one that is compatible with saltwater. Otherwise, it will corrode and stop working soon. Since most kayaks are lightweight, most trolling motors will suffice your need. However, I have also mentioned trolling motors for big kayak and canoes. Choose wisely to make kayaking easier and enjoyable.

Good Read:

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