The right tandem fishing kayak with a trolling motor means both of you are fishing, not one of you paddling while the other casts. Five options under $1,500 cover every scenario — built-in motors, motor-ready hulls, and one inflatable under $400 that takes a bolt-on without drama.
| Photo |
Top Pick
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Versatile
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Budget
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Best Value
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Best for Reliability
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | BKC PK14 Tandem Kayak with Trolling Motor | BKC Brooklyn 14.0 Pro Motorized Tandem Kayak | Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Kayak by BKC | Brooklyn 13.0 Pro Tandem Sit-On-Top Kayak by BKC | INTEX 68309EP Excursion Pro K2 Inflatable Kayak |
| Length | 14 ft | 14 ft | 13.5 ft | 13 ft | 12.7 ft |
| Capacity | 670 lbs | 670 lbs | 680 lbs | 800 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Hull material | HDPE | HDPE | HDPE | HDPE | SuperTough PVC |
| Motor included | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Buy Now | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → | Check Price → |
Quick Tips
A 36 lb thrust trolling motor is the ceiling for most kayaks — anything more overwhelms the stern and creates torque problems at low speed.
Run a Group 24 deep-cycle battery for 4-6 hours of real fishing use; a car battery is too heavy and the chemistry is wrong for sustained draw.
If your kayak doesn't have a built-in motor mount, BKC's TM315 stern mount fits most flat-transom hulls and runs about $60 — verify your hull angle before buying.
Rudder steering makes a huge difference with a trolling motor — without one you'll be constantly correcting course instead of watching your line.
BKC PK14 Tandem Kayak with Trolling Motor
Best for anglers who want motor and paddles in one package
BKC PK14 Tandem Kayak with Trolling Motor
Best for anglers who want motor and paddles in one package
What we like
- Built-in 36 lb thrust trolling motor mounts directly to the stern channel — no aftermarket hardware needed.
- 670 lb weight capacity handles two full-size adults plus a battery, cooler, and gear without drama.
- 14-foot hull tracks straight and stays stable even when both paddlers stand to cast.
- Includes hand-operated rudder for easy correction when running the motor in crosswind.
What we don't
- At over 100 lbs fully rigged, two people are needed to carry and launch it.
- Motor is proprietary BKC design — replacement parts require going back to BKC directly.
- The battery is sold separately, which adds $80-120 to the real out-of-pocket cost.
This is the kayak you buy when you want to show up and fish, not spend 30 minutes rigging a motor to a hull it wasn't designed for. The motor-to-hull integration on the PK14 is clean — it tracks straight, the rudder corrects naturally, and both seats are positioned so neither angler is looking at the back of the other person's head all day.
If you're splitting this with a fishing partner and both of you want hands-free trolling from day one, this is the straightforward answer. Skip it if you want to run a higher-thrust motor or have a specific battery system you're already invested in.
BKC Brooklyn 14.0 Pro Motorized Tandem Kayak
Best for serious tandem anglers who want premium hull stability
BKC Brooklyn 14.0 Pro Motorized Tandem Kayak
Best for serious tandem anglers who want premium hull stability
What we like
- 35-inch wide hull allows genuine stand-up casting for both paddlers without feeling like you're going to tip.
- Dual sealed hatches plus a rear cargo recess give you organized storage for a full day's gear.
- Rotomolded single-piece HDPE construction resists impacts and UV better than multi-piece hulls.
- Hand-operated rudder combined with built-in trolling motor makes solo operation simple when your partner is fighting a fish.
What we don't
- Heavier than the PK14 and requires two people for anything beyond a short carry.
- Premium price puts it at the top of most buyers' budgets for a tandem kayak setup.
- Motor channel is BKC-specific — upgrading to a higher-thrust motor requires an adapter plate.
The extra width on the 14.0 Pro is the real story — that 35-inch beam is what lets both of you stand simultaneously without negotiating with each other about who moves first. If you're fishing structure or sight-casting in shallow water where position matters, this is the kayak that makes both anglers functional at the same time.
This is the right pick for serious tandem fishing where both people are actively casting and not just along for the ride. If you're mostly trolling at low speed and sitting the whole time, the PK14 does the same job for less.
Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Kayak by BKC
Best for covering water fast without burning out your battery
Brooklyn 13.5 Tandem Pedal Kayak by BKC
Best for covering water fast without burning out your battery
What we like
- Dual flipper pedal drives keep both anglers hands-free without any battery management.
- 680 lb capacity with an 85 lb hull weight makes it one of the best capacity-to-weight ratios in tandem kayaks.
- Compatible with BKC's TM315 trolling motor mount if you want to add a motor later.
- Three rod holders and two watertight hatches handle a full day of gear without compromise.
What we don't
- Pedal drives add depth — watch the water depth in shallow flats, as the fins can catch bottom at under 18 inches.
- No included motor means an additional $200-400 to get motorized capability.
- Pedal drives are flipper-style, which some anglers find less natural than propeller-style drives.
If you're fishing large lakes where you cover a lot of water between spots, pedal drives let both of you move and fish simultaneously without worrying about battery life at 2 PM. You can add the BKC motor mount and a trolling motor for slow-trolling runs, but most buyers find the pedals handle 90% of their needs without the extra rigging.
This is the better call if your trips are 6+ hours and you'd rather not manage battery charge or carry extra weight for a motor you use occasionally. If your fishing is mostly stationary over structure, the motorized PK14 is a simpler setup.
Brooklyn 13.0 Pro Tandem Sit-On-Top Kayak by BKC
Best motor-ready paddle kayak for anglers on a budget
Brooklyn 13.0 Pro Tandem Sit-On-Top Kayak by BKC
Best motor-ready paddle kayak for anglers on a budget
What we like
- 800 lb weight capacity is the highest of any kayak in this roundup — built to carry serious gear loads.
- Accessory rails accept a motor mount, fish finder bracket, and rod holders without drilling.
- Adjustable footrests and a 2-inch height-adjustable seat give larger anglers a functional fit.
- Dual dry hatches and an expanded stern cargo area holds a 20L cooler without blocking access to the rear seat.
What we don't
- Paddle-only out of the box — motor and mount are separate purchases that add $300+ to the total.
- At 13 feet it's shorter than the 14-foot options, which affects straight-line tracking on long open-water runs.
- Hull width is slightly narrower than the 14.0 Pro, so stand-up casting feels less confident on choppy water.
The 13.0 Pro gets you into a purpose-built tandem fishing hull with accessory rails and 800 lbs of capacity at a price that leaves room to buy a proper motor and battery without total sticker shock. It's not as polished as the 14.0 Pro but the bones are the same — rotomolded HDPE, rudder-ready, and designed to accept a trolling motor without improvised clamps.
Buy this if you want to grow into a motorized setup over two seasons rather than all at once, or if you're splitting costs with a partner who wants input on the motor choice. The 800 lb capacity is the real hidden value here — most couples fishing together with full gear will never max it out.
INTEX 68309EP Excursion Pro K2 Inflatable Kayak
Best for anglers who need the kayak to fit in a trunk
INTEX 68309EP Excursion Pro K2 Inflatable Kayak
Best for anglers who need the kayak to fit in a trunk
What we like
- Packs into a carry bag and fits in a car trunk or back seat — no roof rack, no trailer.
- SuperTough laminate PVC with polyester core handles mild abrasion and UV better than basic inflatable vinyl.
- Two built-in fishing rod holders and a GoPro mount come included at a price where most kayaks include nothing.
- Compatible with small bow-mount electric motors for flat-water trolling up to roughly 18 lbs thrust.
What we don't
- 400 lb capacity is the tightest of any option here — two heavier adults with gear will push this limit.
- Inflation takes 10-12 minutes with the included pump — add a battery pump if you're launching multiple times.
- Not appropriate for rough water, open bays, or anything with meaningful chop or current.
If the obstacle between you and fishing is a one-car garage and no way to store or transport a hard kayak, this is the only option in the roundup that solves that problem directly. On calm lakes and slow rivers it performs well enough that the compromise feels minor — especially at under $250 before a motor.
This works best as a couple's lake-day kayak where serious fishing is secondary to being on the water together. If you're both committed anglers who want to cover structure and troll productively, the 400 lb capacity and soft hull will frustrate you within a season.
What to Look For
Weight capacity is the most underestimated spec on tandem kayaks. Two adults, a trolling motor, a battery, a cooler, and tackle boxes can push 500 lbs fast — pick a kayak rated for at least 600 lbs.
Hull width determines whether you can actually fish comfortably or just survive the trip. Anything under 32 inches feels unstable the moment one person shifts to cast, especially with a motor hanging off the stern.
Built-in motor mounts are worth paying a premium for. Bolt-on aftermarket mounts work, but they shift your motor off-center and create tracking issues that a purpose-built channel eliminates entirely.
Who Should Skip This
If you fish solo 90% of the time, a tandem is the wrong call — they're longer, heavier, and harder to car-top by yourself. If your fishing spots involve a carry of more than 200 yards, even the lightest tandem here will wear you out before you wet a line.
Anglers chasing fast-moving water should also look elsewhere — these kayaks are built for lakes and slow rivers, not current.
What the Community Actually Uses
On r/kayakfishing, tandem motor setups come up constantly and the consensus is consistent: the BKC motor-integrated kayaks get recommended most for beginners, while experienced anglers usually go motor-ready hull plus a separate Minn Kota or Newport trolling motor so they control the thrust rating. The thread on whether pedal-drive or trolling motor is better for tandem fishing has been running for years with no clean winner — it comes down to battery budget and how far your spots are from launch.
Quick Picks — In Case You've Already Decided
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any 2 person kayak use a trolling motor?
Most sit-on-top tandem kayaks can accept a trolling motor with an aftermarket stern mount, but the hull needs a flat or near-flat transom to mount cleanly. Kayaks with pointed sterns require specialized clamp mounts that can shift under load. Purpose-built motor channels like BKC's are far more reliable.
What size trolling motor do I need for a tandem kayak?
A 36 lb thrust motor is the standard for most tandem kayaks — it's enough to move two adults and gear at a comfortable trolling speed without overwhelming the stern. Going above 36 lbs on a kayak creates torque and tracking problems more often than it adds useful speed.
How long will a trolling motor battery last on a fishing trip?
A Group 24 deep-cycle marine battery running a 36 lb thrust motor at mid-speed gives you roughly 4-6 hours of run time. Full throttle cuts that in half. Most anglers use half-throttle or less when actually fishing, so a full day is realistic with one battery.
Are inflatable kayaks stable enough for trolling motor fishing?
The better inflatable tandem kayaks like the Intex Excursion Pro are surprisingly stable with a motor mounted at low-to-mid speed. They're not appropriate for rough water or open bays, but for calm lakes and slow rivers they hold up well and the motor mount works with a bow-mount adapter.
Can one person paddle a tandem fishing kayak?
Yes, but most tandem kayaks track poorly solo because the hull is balanced for two paddlers. Sit in the rear seat when paddling alone, and accept that tracking will take more correction. A rudder helps significantly. Kayaks with removable center seat options handle solo use much better.
Buying Guide
You need a kayak wide enough to stay stable when both of you stand to cast — 34 inches minimum. Weight capacity matters more than you think once you add a battery, motor, cooler, and two anglers.
Motor-ready means there's a mounting plate or stern channel built in. Anything less and you're improvising with clamps.