Keep still, move quietly, and fish for longer without scaring anything. VEVOR electric trolling motors come in 12V, 24V, and 36V versions, with thrust ratings that work with kayaks up to full-size bass boats. They come in bow-mount and transom-mount styles. You can choose models built for freshwater or sealed saltwater, with hardware that will not rust. You can also get units with GPS that let you anchor in a specific spot and track your route. Some shaft lengths work well for shallow ponds, while others suit deep offshore transoms. Sealed composite shafts, stainless bolts, and variable-speed controls help fishermen, duck hunters, tender drivers, and anyone else who needs to power a small boat quietly.
Are you sick of fighting wind drift, starting up a noisy outboard, or leaving a good fishing spot as soon as you lower your rod? Electric power can solve all of them. While fishing, you can focus on the fish instead of constantly moving the boat because VEVOR motors offer smooth, variable thrust, almost quiet operation, and hands-free positioning.
The motor's voltage and mounting location determine the control style, thrust ceiling, and battery setup. Read on to learn how to choose.
A bow-mount trolling motor attaches to the front deck of the boat and pulls it along instead of pushing it. In wind and current, that pulling action improves tracking because the bow leads and the stern wanders less. The main benefit is hands-free movement with foot pedals. Bow mounts are ideal for serious bass and walleye anglers because they let you move with your feet, leaving your hands free to cast and fight fish.
For installation, you need a flat, reinforced bow deck with enough room for the mount to unfold and stow. Prior to placing an order, please check that the stow position leaves enough space for anchor gear and rod lockers. Because the motor is in the front, bow mounts naturally work with GPS features because they can quickly fix drift. For fishing structure, points, or weed edges where keeping your line tight is important, this configuration is worth the extra money. When used in this way, electric trolling motors for boats with casting decks almost always work best.
From the tiller handle, you can move the boat with a transom-mounted trolling motor that clamps to the stern. It is easy to move between boats, sets up quickly, and is perfect for renters, jon boats, tenders, and inflatables. Kayak electric trolling motors usually have small transom or side brackets, short shafts, and low power, since a loaded kayak needs much less push than a 16-foot aluminum hull.
Control is the price to pay. You steer by hand, which means you have to put down your rod to change direction. That is not a problem when drifting, trolling slowly, or going from spot to spot. Additionally, a transom-mounted electric outboard trolling motor works well as an extra source of propulsion, either as a backup in case your main motor breaks down or as the main source of power on lakes that ban combustion engines. Many small-boat owners use one as their only motor. Transom units hang off the back of the boat, so check the rated capacity before putting a heavy model on a light hull.
Voltage sets your power ceiling. A 12V electric trolling motor runs on a single battery and can push 30 to 55 pounds, which is more than enough for kayaks, canoes, small jon boats, and tenders under 14 feet. To get to 24V, connect two batteries in series. This gives you 70 to 80 lbs of thrust. This is the norm for fishing boats 16 to 18 feet long, and it is at this length that a high power trolling motor is useful in windy conditions.
Three batteries power a 36V system that can handle 100 pounds or more, making it good for boats with heavy hulls and rough water. Higher voltage also means the same power uses fewer amps, which means less heat and longer run time from the same battery capacity. As a general rule, plan for 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of fully loaded boat weight. Then, leave some room for wind. A big trolling motor that idles at half speed will last longer than a small one that runs at full speed. Deep-cycle batteries work better than starting batteries for any battery powered trolling motor.
The most common mistake people make is getting the shaft length wrong, which leads to a prop that ventilates in chop and drags in shallows. Find the distance from the surface of the mount to the waterline. To make sure the prop stays underwater when the bow rises over waves for bow mounts, add about 20 inches to that number. Most transom mounts need the prop to be about 12 inches below the water.
Long shaft electric trolling motors work well with boats that have a high bow, deep V-hulls, or operate in rough open water where the bow lifts a lot. Kayaks, jon boats with low freeboards, and quiet, protected water can all use short shafts. If you're somewhere in between, go with the longer one. You can adjust the mount collar to raise an extra-long shaft, but you can not fix a shaft that is too short on the water. It will cave in every time a wake passes.
It comes down to where you fish and how much technology you want. It affects both how long it lasts and how easy your daily life is.
Electronics that are sealed, stainless steel or coated hardware, sacrificial anodes, and marine-grade paint are all used in a saltwater electric trolling motor but not in freshwater models. An uncovered unit can corrode in just one season because salt constantly attacks aluminum and steel. Most warranties are void if you use an electric trolling marine motor in salty or coastal water without the right protection. After every ocean trip, rinse the mount, shaft collar, and prop shaft well with fresh water.
The freshwater design is safer for fishing boat trolling motors used on inland lakes and rivers, which lowers the cost. Make sure you know what kind of water you usually use before you buy, because electric outboard boat motors rated only for freshwater can not be upgraded later.
A GPS guided trolling motor stays in place even when there is wind or current, and it keeps fixing itself without you having to do anything. Anglers call this "spot-lock," and you can use it instead of anchoring over structure or brush piles. Recording a route lets you save a good trolling path and play it back exactly as it was, which is useful when a contour line works over and over. When you make long, straight passes, heading lock keeps the bearing steady.
These tools cost extra, but they change the way you fish. GPS quickly pays for itself if you tend to drift when you should be working. If you want to control your motor without using your hands, look for electric trolling motors for sale that come with GPS. This makes trolling with electric motor power much more accurate.
We have a wide range of VEVOR products, from small kayak units to 36V high-thrust models, bow-mount and transom-mount options, sealed saltwater and freshwater builds, and GPS-equipped motors with spot-lock and route replay. Shaft lengths range from short options for kayaks to long ones for deep-Vs. In addition to clear pricing, quick after-sale customer service, and a guarantee, each unit includes mounting hardware and variable-speed controls. Do not fight the wind; just fish the spot. Explore the whole VEVOR collection right now.
Plan for about 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds the boat weighs when fully loaded. Then, leave some room for wind and current. When motors are too small, they always run at full speed, which drains batteries quickly.
For bow mounts, add about 20 inches to the length of the mount to the waterline. For stern mounts, add 12 inches. When picking a size, always go with the longer shaft.
Not at all. Saltwater models have sealed electronics, anodes, and hardware that does not rust, but freshwater models don't. When you run freshwater units in salt water, they rust quickly, which usually voids the warranty.
AGM or lithium deep-cycle naval batteries. Under long-term draw, starting batteries fail quickly. A 36V system needs three batteries, but a 24V system needs only two.
Usually four to eight hours, but it depends on the speed setting, battery size, and other factors. Running at half speed doubles the runtime compared to full power.
