Most anglers like to venture into the water using boats. Now, whether your boat is a hard hull or inflatable one, it is important to fit it with the best trolling motors available.
What is a trolling motor you ask? Well, it is device that provides you with an inexpensive way to power your kayak for effortless maneuvering in the water.
Moreover, if you will be fishing, you will be pleased to know that the motor does not generate noises or turbulence in water that will scare fish away.
Without any further ado, let us look at what you need to do to get your hands on the perfect motor.
Top-Rated 10 Trolling Motor in 2023: Comparison Table
If you’re looking for the best bang for your bucks, here’s the only comparison list you’ll ever need. We’ve kept it short and simple.
| Ranking | Name | Dimension | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport Vessels Saltwater Electric Trolling Motor | 47 x 21 x 7 inches | 26.7 pounds |
| 2 | Newport Vessels Saltwater Electric Trolling Motor | 17.99 x 5 x 42.0 inches | 26.5 pounds |
| 3 | Minn Kota Endura Transom Mounted Trolling Motor | 42.4 x 5.4 x 16.2 inches | 16.6 pounds |
| 4 | Minn Kota Endura Max 40 in Shaft Thrust Trans MNT | 17.5 x 7 x 49.1 inches | 23.5 pounds |
| 5 | Goplus 46 LBS Thrust Electric Trolling Motor | – | 22.9 pounds |
| 6 | Minn Kota Traxxis Mount Trolling Motor | 51 x 17.5 x 7 inches | 29 pounds |
| 7 | Newport Vessels Kayak Electric Trolling Motor | – | 20.9 pounds |
| 8 | Minn Kota Edge 45/Hand | 63 x 20 x 9 inches | 40.8 pounds |
| 9 | Watersnake Thrust Electric Trolling Motor | – | 7.8 pounds |
| 10 | Cloud Mountain Electric Trolling Motor | – | 23.5 pounds |
1. Newport Vessels NV-Series 55lb Thrust Saltwater Electric Trolling Motor
It’s a robust and durably constructed motor that can allow you to fish all day long without making noise, spooking fish, or overheating.
In addition to that, it features a high strength composite fiberglass shaft that is 30-inch. The rod is highly adjustable to allow proper depth placement in all types of water conditions.
Also, this machine is highly efficient with five forward gears and three reverse gears that help to manage speed for the excellent fishing experience.
As if that’s not enough, this powerful motor provides a thrust of 55lb that makes it cruise stealthily while taking advantage of its noiseless systems.
Key Features
One of the critical features of this incredible motor is the stainless steel hardware that is challenging to corrosion by salty water.
Besides that, it has a telescoping 6-inch handle that puts the ultimate control function right at your fingertips.
Not to mention, it features a 5-Point battery meter that indicates immediate charge levels, thereby allowing you to know when to get out of the water.
With its salt-compatible hardware made up of stainless steel, zinc, and aluminum, it’s highly versatile in use for both fresh and saltwater.
Pros
- Made up of corrosion-resistant material
- Designed with 8-gear systems
- Lightweight construction
- Easy to control and set
- Backed with a 2-year warranty
Cons
- Can’t provide enough thrust to move large boats.
2. Newport Vessels L-Series 86lb Thrust Transom Mounted Electric Trolling Motor
It’s yet another high-performance motor from the hands of Newport Vessels experts that can significantly improve your trolling experience.
Due to its robust construction, this powerful motor is calm and quiet while enabling you to fish in winds, currents, and other challenging water conditions.
Besides that, it’s highly adjustable due to its 40-inch shaft made up of fiberglass that allows for proper depth adjustments in any water.
When it comes to adjustment of the trolling speed, this motor has a design featuring eight adjustable gears system for maximum performance. The eight gears comprise of 5 forward gears and three reverse gears for increased efficiency and convenience.
Key Features
One of the distinctive features of this high-performance machine is its ability to produce 86lb thrust high for fishing even during the bad weather.
Due to its high power, you can use it during strong wind and stubborn waves.
Better yet, it has a stainless steel construction that makes it highly anti-rust even when used extensively in salt water for an extended period.
As if that’s not enough, it features a high-strength adjustable shaft that adds a great sense of convenience. It also has an 8-gear system for forward and reverses gear.
And on top of that, it’s fitted with a 10-point super bright battery meter that provides real-time charge levels.
Pros
- Highly durable stainless steel construction
- Highly powerful with efficient gear systems
- Longer battery life
- Suitable for both fresh and saltwater
- Two years warranty
Cons
- The extra cost for batteries purchase
3. Minn Kota Endura C2 30 Transom Mount Trolling Motor
This trolling motor from Minn Kota is one of the most efficient trolling motors that you can find in the market.
It’s small in size but designed to offer exceptional functionality due to its robust design. It’s quiet, thereby making it the choice for stealth fishing when you need it the most. And it’s mostly common for freshwater anglers.
In addition to that, it offers 30lb thrust and designed with eight gear system, consisting of 5 forward gears and three reverse gears for high levels of efficiency. As such, you can select a suitable speed for forward and backwards cruising effortlessly.
When it comes to controlling, this fantastic machine has a stronger shaft made up of composite material stronger than steel and doesn’t kink, break or corrode.
Key Features
One of the qualities of this incredible machine is its indestructible shaft that flexes on impact and prevents breaking or kinking.
Also, it features five forward gears and three reverse gears from which you can choose your speed at the comfort of a button press.
And on top of that, it features a lever lock socket that on which the motor is mounted to provide tiller steering with the 6-inch long telescoping handle.
Pros
- Constructed with highly durable material
- Has a lever-lock socket
- Has eight adjustable gears
- Indestructible shaft
- Energy efficient
Cons
- The thrust is low to move larger boats
Also read: The Best Fly Tying Kit [Reviews & Buying Guide]
4. Minn Kota Endura Max 40 in Shaft Thrust Trans MNT
This Endura Max 40 model is another advanced fishing motor that is worth checking out. It boasts of many digitalized features that provide exceptional fishing experience.
Just like other Minn Kota-made models, this highly sophisticated motor boasts its smooth and quieter run that catches fish without them detecting.
Also, it has durable shaft construction featuring ultra-durable composite material tougher than steel. The shaft flexes on impact to resist breaking, corroding, or kinking.
As such, it can serve you for some years with no need for replacement, thereby giving you peace of mind when on waters.
If you’re looking for the best trolling motors that offer high efficiency, then this might be the best pick for you.
Key Features
It has a design featuring eight gears that provide variable speeds with a wide range of digital maximizers that saves energy of up to 5 times longer runs per charge.
In addition to that, it’s durably constructed with a highly durable composite material that proves to be a bit tougher than steel. And most interestingly, the shaft flexes upon impact to prevent kinking, corroding or breaking.
As if that’s not enough, this motor is designed with lever-lock that increases the efficiency of the system.
Pros
- Highly efficient in energy use
- Highly adjustable
- Highly durable composite construction
- Designed with digital maximizers
- Longer battery life
Cons
- Not suitable for driving large boats
5. Goplus 46 LBS Thrust Electric Trolling Motor
This Goplus-made motor for trolling is one of the highly cherished fishing machines that can make your work pretty simple when out in the waters.
It has a design that is more suitable for freshwater fishing than salty water. It offers a great sense of efficiency with the 8speed gear system featuring five adjustable forward speeds and 3 for reverse speed.
In addition to that, it features a comfortable and adjustable telescoping handle that extends to 6 inches long. As such, you can easily control the motor during fishing expeditions.
Another plus with this particular motor is the 10-points light (LED) battery indicator that is handy when it comes to tracking the amount of charge available.
Key Features
This premium quality trolling motor has a sturdy and durable construction made up of reinforced nylon brackets to ensure high tensile strength, abrasion-resistant, and excellent dimension stability.
It also features a sturdy and high strength shaft made up of fiberglass. The shaft is highly stable and impact resistant.
Not to mention, it has a unique design featuring a propeller made up of 2 blades that ensures smooth navigation through grass and marsh.
As if that’s not enough, it is highly energy-efficient, and a single charged battery can serve a day long.
Pros
- Sturdy and highly durable
- Energy efficient
- Corrosion and abrasion-resistant
- Has a durable head made of aluminum
- Easy to operate
Cons
- Not easy to flip in and out of water
6. Minn Kota Traxxis 45 Transom Mount Trolling Motor
It’s yet another fantastic fishing motor designed with innovative tiller handle uniquely designed to provide comfort and a great sense of convenience.
Also, it has vantage that allows a swift switch to a back-trolling mode easily. Also, the vantage provides for responsive steering, stowing, while deploying the motor with a single click. As such, it’s excellent for more fishing with less waiting time.
Besides that, the vantage’s mounting system will always break upon impact to protect your boat’s transom and motor from emergencies of any sort.
On top of that, it has digital maximizers that help to save on energy. As such, they offer up to 5 times longer run time per charge.
Key Features
One of the unique features with this impressive motor is the super-fast back trolling that increases fishing and reduces waiting time.
In addition to that, it is designed with articulating steering that allows you to rotate the lower to 180 degrees just by turning the tiller for only 450.
When it comes to construction, it features a durable shaft with a flexing mechanism upon impact to prevent breaking.
And on top of that, it has a smooth and noiseless run that makes it great for catching tricky fishes without detecting.
Pros
- Robust and sturdy construction
- Articulating steering
- Provide instant back-trolling
- Indestructible shaft
- Energy-saving for all-day fishing
Cons
- Not suitable for large boats
7. Newport Vessels 36lb Thrust Kayak Series Electric Trolling Motor
It’s a highly adjustable motor designed for kayaks. According to its design, this top-rated motor features a 24-inch shaft made of fiberglass for placement at variable depth.
In addition to that, it provides 36lb thrust and eight variable speed gears comprising of 5 powerful forward gears and three reverse gears for high performance.
Moreover, it has a 6-inch telescoping handle that gives you total control over your trolling moves and the entire ride. Besides that, it’s made up of corrosion-resistant aluminum that can stand frequent use in salty waters.
Not to mention, it has significantly long battery cables that can go up to 5ft 6inches for unrestricted battery placement to enhance optimal balance.
Key Features
It’s a lightweight motor made up of corrosion-free aluminum that makes it suitable for saltwater use. It features five variable forward speed gears and three variable speed gears for reverse trolling.
In addition to that, it features a robust shaft made up of fiberglass and 24inches in length to allow for versatile positioning at different depths.
Better yet, it is energy efficient, therefore, provides for a whole day trolling using a 12Voltage battery.
Pros
- Highly adjustable
- Made up of corrosion-resistant aluminum
- Features 8 variable speed gears
- 2-years warranty
- Easy to install and operate
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a battery
8. Minn Kota Edge 45/hand Bowmount Foot Control Trolling Motor
It’s one of the highly cherished motors designed for small and medium boats. Based on its design, this impeccable motor features an indestructible shaft measuring 52 inches.
In addition to that, it features a robust and highly sturdy door and latches brackets that hold firmly during trolling activities, and you can easily remove them as well.
Not to mention, this motor is designed with a foot pedal made up of composite material and its highly responsive.
More interestingly, the on/off system is incorporated in the foot pedal to ensure the appropriate use of this motor.
As if that’s not enough, this highly versatile motor for trolling comes with different shaft sizes and thrust.
Key features
Its highly versatile motor with an extended and indestructible shaft that measures 52 inches long. In addition to that, it has a lightweight construction with a highly durable composite material that is rust free.
Also, it features sturdy latch and door brackets. More interestingly, it is designed with eight levels variable speeds with five forward controls and 3 for reverse control.
Besides that, it has a design with a durable shaft with a high impact resistant, thereby making it suitable for trolling in marshes and weeds.
Pros
- Has eight levels variable speeds
- Highly versatile and convenient
- Easily adjustable
- Indestructible shaft
- Impact-resistant
Cons
- Not warranted
9. Watersnake T18 ASP 18 lb. Thrust Electric Trolling Motor
It’s a highly versatile transom mount motor specially designed for small dinghies, inflatable boats and Kayaks.
This motor comes fully equipped with variable speed control ranging from low to high for forward and reverse rides.
More interestingly, you can control the speeds effortlessly by simply clicking on a switch. It is also designed with a coating that protects it from the corrosive effect of salty water.
In addition to that, this motor features a propeller with two blades that works effectively through the weeds and grasses and marshes under the water.
Key Features
It is constructed with an alloy shaft measuring 24 inches to work effectively, even in the harshest condition. It’s lightweight and designed for small and medium watercraft, such as Kayaks and small inflatable boats.
Also, it’s designed with high and low speed as well as forward and reverse all which are controlled at the clip of a switch.
And on top of that, it’s coated to protect it from corrosion by the salty water. If you are looking for a high-quality trolling motor that can work well even though broad underwater weeds, grasses, and marsh, this might be what you are looking for.
Pros
- Works best even in severe conditions
- Has a highly durable and sturdy alloy shaft
- Lightweight construction
- Easily adjustable speeds
- One-year warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t work well with large boats
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10. Cloud Mountain Electric Trolling Motor for Fishing Boats
It’s a powerful and highly durable motor for fishing boats that can be great for trolling. It features a durable aluminum head that increases its overall longevity.
Also, it has reinforced bracket made of nylon, which guarantees high performance. Besides that, this durable motor has an extendable, ergonomic handle and eight adjustable speed gears for high levels of convenience.
Going without saying, it features an easily adjustable telescoping handle measuring 6 inches for controlling five forward speed gears and three reverse gears from the comfort of your fingerprints.
Not to mention, it has a unique 28-inch shaft made up of fiberglass composite of high strength and resistant to corrosion.
On top of that, the shaft is readily adjustable, allowing for appropriate placement depths in virtually all water conditions.
Key Features
It’s made up of high quality stainless steel that is compatible with salty water. As such, it can correctly run in salty water for long without any effect. In addition to that, this motor features a 28-inch high tensile shaft made up of composite material.
Better yet, it is designed with a 10-point battery indicator that protects the batteries and gives an easy way to track the available charge.
Lastly, it’s available in different thrust potentials such as 36, 40, 46, 50, 55, 60, and 86 pounds.
Pros
- Corrosion-resistant
- Durable and highly versatile in use
- Available in different thrust potentials
- Long and durable shaft
- Easy to track available charge
Cons
- No guaranteed satisfaction or warranty
Buying Guide for Trolling Motors
As you plan to purchase a trolling motor, you want to factor in a few considerations including:
Where will you be fishing?
Are you venturing into freshwater or saltwater? Although freshwater and saltwater motors essentially function the same way, there is one major difference between them.
Saltwater motors are fabricated from rust resistant material that completely goes over the electronics as well as the automatic mechanism of the motor.
What this does is to prevent salt water from seeping into the motor and damaging it. A fresh water motor will never perform well in saltwater so you see why it is important to pick a motor based on the waters you will be fishing in.
Front or Back Motor?
You can either have your motor fitted at the front or back of your boat and these motors are known as bow and transom motors.
A bow motor is usually installed at the front of the boat while a transom one goes to the back. A bow trolling motor is normally fitted with a bracket that provides more maneuverability compared to a transom motor.
Conversely, kayaks that accommodate transom motors come with a hand control bar and are generally good for small boats.
Although this motor does not have much maneuverability, it does perform better when it comes to speed.
Thrusting Power
One of the terms used to refer to the power of a motor is thrust. Therefore, when selecting the thrust of your motor, you need to consider your boat’s weight.
Generally, for every 100 lbs of weight, you will require 2 lbs of thrust. Aside from that, you also need to consider the current of the waters you will be angling in.
If you will be navigating calm, shallow waters with a small kayak, a trolling motor with 45 lbs will be more than enough.
Tube Length
The tube or shaft length tells you how deep your motor is under the water. The length should not be too long because this will make it difficult for the motor to supply enough thrust to propel your kayak.
The tube length should not be too short either. The best shaft length should have the center of your motor about twelve inches below the water surface.
This will generate enough thrust for you to propel your boat with outstanding maneuverability.
Power Consumption
Almost all trolling motors are compact and small which means that they do not need much power to operate.
A lot of models are electric and require a small battery to function. You want to get a power efficient motor with an indicator to display the status of your battery.
Motor Price
If you are purchasing your motor online, it is important to note that prices fluctuate significantly. In that regard, we recommend having a budget in place to guide your buying decision.
If you are on a budget, you can get a good motor at $100 or less or spend $250 upwards for a first-rate model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few questions we have answered on this topic that can be of help.
How do I pick the right size trolling motor?
For that, you need to get the shaft length. You want to measure the distance from the where the shaft meets the water from where it is mounted on the deck.
Add sixteen or twenty inches to your measurements and use the dimensions to buy a motor.
What is the best trolling motor?
There are numerous quality products in the market and it would be biased of us to single out a particular motor.
Nevertheless, it is important to look at a few important features such as thrust strength, power consumption, and shaft length that will tell you whether a motor is worth the investment or not.
How fast can you move with a trolling motor?
It’s worth noting that the fastest trolling motor known to the experts so far is one that delivers 5mph. According to our in-depth research, even the motor with the most pounds of thrust has its limits. That’s why even combining two 55 pound thrust motors will not make you move faster than when using a 30 pound one.
The only time you need to shoot for a stronger and more powerful motor is when you’re working with big and heavy boat. Or it can also help you when dealing with large payloads.
Can you run your trolling motor off a car battery?
Yes, it’s possible to do that. However, that would ultimately ruin both the battery and the motor. So, it’s recommended to stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Our Best Pick
At times, it can be confusing to settle on the best motor, especially when presented with numerous options in the market. But look, we’ve made it pretty easy for you.
According to our analysis, the Minn Kota Endura Transom Mount Trolling Motor outweighs other options in terms of durability and functionality.
With that in mind, this motor is designed with adjustable eight gear speeds, indestructible composite-made shaft, Lever-lock bracket, responsive vantage, and much more.
As if that’s not enough, it has it’s easy to install & operate. Apart from that, this product boasts of a 4.5-star rating, a massive number of reviews, and tons of positive comments. For sure, this is a product worth trying out.
Final Thoughts
If you want your boat to move effortlessly in water, you want to get a trolling motor to facilitate that. Most boats will have a mount at their back or front to allow for motor fitting.
Trolling motors are generally silent and will not cause much turbulence in water so do not worry about getting your catch scared away.
With this comprehensive guide, you should be able to pick a motor that will suit your angling needs.