JackM Loc: North East Florida

I'm researching a new kayak and could use some help. I fish saltwater creeks and some limited open ocean. I'm looking to either buy a kayak with a trolling motor built in like the Old Town Autopilot 135 or a Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 14 with 360 Drive and add a trolling motor.

Any suggestions on advantages or limitations between the two kayaks I listed?
Any other brands to consider?

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Jack, i can't compare either kayak and can only compare paddle vs peddle. The disadvantage to putting a motor on a kayak is you most likely will have to register it and get a sticker yearly just like a boat or every 3 years depending on your state. Then you have the personal property tax to deal with yearly.

My first yak was a paddle type and did really well with it. Then purchased a peddle yak and by far much easier to fish with it vs paddling. No yearly sticker, and no property tax.

Oldfisherguy Loc: NE Kansas

I have both the Old town Autopilot 136 and a Hobie Pro Angler 14. The Old Town is equiped with a salt water ready trolling motor as original equipment. I love fishing the gulf and bayous for redfish and trout.

The Hobie will require the addition of a salt water trolling motor. Such a motor with spot lock will cost at least a thousand dollars.

Having fished out of both kayaks for some time now, I can't say I prefer one over the other. I added a Motorguide XI3 with gps to the Hobie. At $1200 it is not actually salt water approved.

If cost is an issue, the Old Town is much less expensive with the trolling motor included in the original purchase price.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

Thanks, Oldfisherguy. This is the type of info I'm looking for. Is your Motorguide XI3 a 55# thrust motor? If so does it improve the speed over the Old Town which is 45#.

lorafa93 Loc: North Venice, Florida

Personally I prefer to have a trolling motor on my kayak. As a disabled veteran I have several issues that would prevent me from paddling or pedaling for any length of time. Currently I have an Ascend 133x tournament kayak equipped with a MinnKota Terrova Riptide saltwater trolling motor, a Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73SV fish finder, two VMAX MR137-120 12V 120AH AGM Deep Cycle Group 31 Batteries, a ProMariner Pro Spirt 20 Plus dual battery charger, and so much more. I took it out this past Thursday. It was the first time in seven months that I was able to take it out, because I had major back surgery in January and my doctor didn’t clear me to use it until about a month ago. I was very apprehensive about taking it out even last week because in order to stay upright all of the muscles in your midsection have to fire like crazy just to keep your balance on a moving craft. I only took it out for a couple of hours and by the time I got home I was in so much pain. That kind of pain, from over exerting the muscles, lasts about three days.
Sadly, since I have an estimated six more months to completely heal from the surgery, I’ll be listing my kayak for sale. It’s hard for me to get rid of it because I love fishing on it. But I can’t see having it sit unused in the garage for another six months. And who knows if I’ll even be able to use it again.
I just have to get some pictures of the kayak and all of the equipment and decide what a fair selling price would be. Here’s a quick photo of my kayak. Disregard all of the other stuff parked around it. Since this picture was taken I’ve since add an elevated seat. Even though it’s a sit on top kayak I couldn’t sit in the seat for very long.

JackM Loc: North East Florida

[quote=lorafa93]Personally I prefer to have a trolling motor on my kayak. As a disabled veteran I have several issues that would prevent me from paddling or pedaling for any length of time. Currently I have an Ascend 133x tournament kayak equipped with a MinnKota Terrova Riptide saltwater trolling motor, a Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73SV fish finder, two VMAX MR137-120 12V 120AH AGM Deep Cycle Group 31 Batteries, a ProMariner Pro Spirt 20 Plus dual battery charger, and so much more. I took it out this past Thursday. It was the first time in seven months that I was able to take it out, because I had major back surgery in January and my doctor didn’t clear me to use it until about a month ago. I was very apprehensive about taking it out even last week because in order to stay upright all of the muscles in your midsection have to fire like crazy just to keep your balance on a moving craft. I only took it out for a couple of hours and by the time I got home I was in so much pain. That kind of pain, from over exerting the muscles, lasts about three days.
Sadly, since I have an estimated six more months to completely heal from the surgery, I’ll be listing my kayak for sale. It’s hard for me to get rid of it because I love fishing on it. But I can’t see having it sit unused in the garage for another six months. And who knows if I’ll even be able to use it again.
I just have to get some pictures of the kayak and all of the equipment and decide what a fair selling price would be. Here’s a quick photo of my kayak. Disregard all of the other stuff parked around it. Since this picture was taken I’ve since add an elevated seat. Even though it’s a sit on top kayak I couldn’t sit in the seat for very long.[/q

lorafa93 Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear about your difficulties. You should hold on to your kayak for another 6 months to see if things improve. I have found that doctors sometimes are over optimistic on full recovery time. I had a total knee replacement (nothing as serious as your surgery). The doctor told me 6 months would put me back to normal. But it took a year to get to get there.

lorafa93 Loc: North Venice, Florida

I know what you mean about doctors and recovery time. I’ve had a few other back surgeries, but this one was a multi- level fusion, L-3 to S-1.
I’m torn as to weather I should hold on to the kayak or sell it now and replace it with another kayak or maybe even a small flat bottom boat down the road.
Tight lines Jack

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Lorafa, 1st Thank you for your years of service to this country. I post twice a year ( July and November ) list of all those that served and those that support the military. If you would like to be added to that list, please respond to this post the years of service and what branch.

2nd, Sorry to read about your ailment with the back issues. I can relate but not to that extent. I too raised my already sit on top seat on my ProPel, amazing on 4 more inches helps. Only you know if you want to get rid of the yak and possibly get started on finding something else. You know your back far better than the docs and know what you can and can not do. Personally I would lean towards a john boat if my back was like yours.

Last thing to mention is that your yak with the trolling motor at the front is a first for me. How does that work for you? Looks like a great idea, is the raising and lowering self propelled or manual?

Oldfisherguy Loc: NE Kansas

The motorguide is 52# and the Minkota is 45#. I see no noticeable difference in speed or battery life.

I use lithium batteries and one down side is they perform at level output, until they stop, no warnig like a lead acid that slowly loses power. With the Old Town I am left to paddle to the ramp. With the Hobie, I can drop the pedals in and pedal back. Worth noting is that I have NEVER run out of battery even when fishing a full day in wind and current.

Attached are a couple of pictures. At 70 years old, I find the grab bars are very helpful when entering and exiting the kayak, and you can stand to fish if you wish. You can buy them for $200-300 or you can make them out of an old bimini top like I did for about $10. All hardware is available from Amazon.

I also have mapping gps locators on both kayaks. When fishing unfamiliar water, I can simply follow my track back to the boat ramp.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Well i will be darn Ofg, 2nd yak for me to see with the motor in the front. Like i mentioned previously great idea. As for the grab bars i weighed that idea at first but as you can see i do the rope lift. Dual purpose, tie down to dock and get my 71 year old 210 lbs up and down.

Oldfisherguy Loc: NE Kansas

The motorguide is mounted on a quick release mount so I can remove it quickly. The grab bars are attached to the kayaks with bimini attachment harware. They can be removed by pulling four pins, or folded out of the way by pulling two pins and folding them down. I also have rope to help me get up when the grab bars are removed. The ropes double as an assist step to get back into the kayak if I should capsize or fall out. I got the ideas and design from utube videos. It is amazing what you can learn just cruizing utube.

lorafa93 Loc: North Venice, Florida

Plumbob, thank you for your support. I served in the Air Force from September 1982 to June 1992. I was a crew chief on B-52 bombers. It was exciting to be a young man and to learn so much about one of our countries longest flying bombers. They’re expected to remain in service until 2050.

I actually bought my kayak from the guy that had the trolling motor installed on it. He told me that he used it, but once I got it home and was becoming familiar with everything I could tell that he must of use it maybe once or twice if at all. Anyway, I find it to be an advantage to have the motor in front. I ran a cable from next to the seat to the release pedal on the motor. With that I can pull the cable to release the motor from the stowed position. I also have a length of paracord tied to the top of the motor shaft. With that I can push the motor forward and then gravity takes the motor to the down and locked position. When I’m back at the dock I pull the cable to release the motor and then pull the paracord and the motor tilts up and then slides to the stowed position. It works out well for me. And the fact that the motor is controlled by the remote fob hanging around my neck is great.
One of the drawbacks is that I have to launch the kayak from a boat ramp. With the motor, two batteries, and my fishing gear, the kayak weighs about 300 pounds.
It’s a great kayak but it’s getting harder for me to handle. Mostly due to my back problems. My age of 63 doesn’t seem to help either. 😄
I’ll be taking some pictures of the kayak very soon. I’ll get it posted for sale, and then I’ll begin my search for a 14 foot flat bottom Jon boat.
I apologize if I missed any of your questions. If I did let me know.

Tight lines Plumbob.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

That is why i like seeing kayak pics on here Ofg, learn a lot and get some awesome ideas.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Fellow yaker and fellow Air Force Prop tech for me 69 - 73 and i will add your name to the Air Force list and the next one posted will be around Veterans day. The list you see here i posted this past July so you can see some other Air Force members here on the stage.

Thanks for the reply to the few questions, very interesting how you have it rigged. My yak is coming in around 125 lbs and i can see where yours would be at that 300#.

Are you loading and unloading from a pick up? If so i can see where that is a problem. I have a pulley anchored to my truck for those ramps that are a little to steep. I can just stand at the end of the pick up and pull the rope and slide the yak on the truck.

If you do proceed with selling, check out Craig's list for comparison pricing. With the trolling motor on there i would think an easy $ 200 higher than ones with out it.

lorafa93 Loc: North Venice, Florida

I see that you already added me to the list. Thank you 🙏

Thank you for your service sir. As well as everyone on your list. 🫡

My kayak is kept on a trailer. When I purchased it, the old owner had the trailer set up with a rack to hold two kayaks side by side and a sheet of plywood rigged up so that this kayak could sit on the trailer. It was too wide to fit on the rack. I ended up removing the plywood and the rack, and making up a set of bunk boards for it to rest on. I also add a wood riser to put a crank and strap on for launching and recovering the kayak.
I’m currently driving a Toyota Highlander. When Toyota comes out with an electric Tacoma I’m going to trade in the Highlander for a Tacoma double cab.

I’m tired of hearing the wife complaining that the inside my vehicle smells like fish.🤣🤣🤣
I had a Tacoma Access cab that she insisted that I trade in to get the Highlander. Man I miss my truck. 😄