How to fit a motor to a kayak: motor type, mounting, battery and rules

To fit a motor to a kayak you need four things: the motor with its propeller, a mount that holds it on the kayak (nearly always at the stern), a battery of the same voltage as the motor, and a hand remote or foot pedal to steer it. Electric kayak motors go on and come off at the water's edge, and if your kayak already has a mounting base you won't need to drill the hull. This guide covers which type of motor suits a kayak, how it's mounted, which battery to choose, what the rules say and how much it costs.

Updated October 2026.

Electric or petrol motor

On a fishing kayak the motor is almost always electric. It starts at the press of a button, there's no petrol or oil on board and it's barely audible, which you'll appreciate when you're sitting right over the fish. A petrol outboard makes sense on bigger boats; on a kayak it means carrying fuel and servicing a combustion engine.

There's a practical reason as well: some reservoirs and lakes only allow electric motors, or none at all. Before heading out on inland water, check the rules of whoever manages it.

What a motorised kayak needs

A complete kit for motorising a kayak is made up of these parts:

• Motor and propeller. The 3Lithium range runs from 450 W to 3 hp. The Ultra EVO STG series uses a brushless motor; the details are in our article on the STG series.
• Mount or mounting plate. Attaches the motor to the kayak.
• Battery. Its voltage has to match the motor's, and its capacity (watt hours) decides how long you can run.
• Control. A hand remote, or a foot pedal so you steer with your feet and keep your hands free for fishing.
• Man-overboard (kill switch) system key (HAA). It's attached to the angler: if you go in and the key pulls free, the motor stops. Every 3Lithium kayak motor comes with one as standard.

How the motor is mounted on the kayak

If your kayak comes from the factory with a stern base for a rudder or motor, mounting is a case of bolting the bracket to that base, fitting the motor and connecting the battery.

The UltraPro and Advance models come with the universal Motor Mount stern bracket, which fits the mounting systems on the Alborán FX3, Wildcat FX, Supernova FX, Outback and Compass, and on kayaks with a similar hull shape. With the Ultra EVO STG you choose the plate and shaft length: for Galaxy kayaks, a 150 mm shaft with the Galaxy plate; for Hobie and every other brand, the standard plate, measuring the shaft length you need first.

If your kayak has no mounting base, email us the make and model before you buy and we'll tell you what the options are. Float tubes need a different mount and different motors; you'll find them in our guide to float tube motors.

How much power you need

The power you need depends on the size of the kayak, the load and the water you fish. As a guide to the 3Lithium range:

The full comparison, with measured speeds and run times, is in how to choose the electric motor for your fishing kayak.

The battery: voltage and capacity

Voltage first. Each motor only runs on batteries of its own voltage, and 3Lithium has four families: 12 V (Advance), 16.8 V (UltraPro), 24 V and 42 V (Ultra EVO STG). A 16.8 V motor won't start on a 12 V battery.

Then capacity, in watt hours (Wh). More Wh means more hours on the water, but speed matters just as much as the battery: flat out, the same battery lasts several times less than at trolling pace. If you're not sure how much capacity you need, think about how many hours you're out and at what pace, and compare that with the run-time tables on each product page.

3Lithium batteries come in a waterproof case and charge at home. Within the same voltage you can move up to a bigger battery without changing motor.

Registration, insurance and licensing

The rules depend on the country and the type of water. In some countries a motorised kayak has to be registered or insured, or a licence is required above a certain power, and lakes, reservoirs and rivers often have rules of their own; on some, only electric motors are allowed. Before your first trip out, check with the maritime authority or the body that manages the water you'll be on.

If you'll be on the water in Spain, third-party liability insurance is compulsory with a motor, and whether kayaks of 2.5 metres or more need registering at sea is down to each Harbour Master's Office (Capitanía Marítima).

Looking after it in salt water

Electric kayak motors can be used at sea. After every trip, rinse the motor and mount with fresh water and put dielectric grease on the connectors. The remotes aren't submersible, so keep them protected. There are more tips for your first trips in our guide to your first season with a motor.

3Lithium shows the maintenance in two Instagram videos (in Spanish): the motor and the STG series remotes.

How much it costs to fit a motor to a kayak

At October 2026 prices, VAT included:

Shipping a motor costs €150 to any of the 29 European countries we deliver to. Orders placed before 12:00 are dispatched the same day. The other models and versions are in the electric kayak motors category, and propellers, remotes and spare parts in accessories and spare parts.

Frequently asked questions

Can you fit a motor to any kayak?

To almost any rigid fishing kayak, as long as there's somewhere to fix the mount. Kayaks with a stern mounting base are the easiest; on the rest you'll need a plate made for that model. On kayaks under 2.5 metres a motor makes less sense.

How much does an electric kayak motor weigh?

The UltraPro 1CV with its TR1650 battery weighs 10.2 kg in total: 5.2 kg for the battery, 3.6 kg for the motor and 1.4 kg for the mount. The 42 V Ultra EVO STG 3CV weighs 11.8 kg with battery and remote.

Does a motorised kayak need registering?

It depends on the country and the water. Check with the maritime authority or the body that manages the water you'll be on before you head out.

How fast does a kayak go with an electric motor?

According to the manufacturer, the UltraPro 1CV reaches 9.3 km/h and the UltraPro 2CV 11.16 km/h. Wind, current or a heavy load will bring the speed down.

How long does the battery last?

Mainly it depends on speed, load and wind. Each product page has the run-time table measured by the manufacturer; as a rough guide, the Advance's TR1245 battery (499.5 Wh) gives 3 to 5 hours at medium speed.

If you want to motorise your kayak and aren't sure which model fits, email us at info@peskayak.com or call +34 605 080 940 with the make and model of your kayak and the water you fish, and we'll tell you which motor and mount you need.