How good is the cheapest trolling motor you can buy?

Last Updated on June 4, 2025

This article explores the Minn Kota Endura 30, a popular and affordable trolling motor. We'll discuss its features, and show you how to set it up on a small boat. We'll also share some real-world experiences, including a minor issue encountered during testing and how it was resolved.

The Cheapest Trolling Motor: Is It Worth It?

When you're looking for a trolling motor, especially if you're on a budget, you might wonder if the cheapest option is any good. The Minn Kota Endura 30 is often the most affordable trolling motor you can find in stores like Walmart, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop, and Dick's Sporting Goods. It's a 12-volt, transom-mount, freshwater electric trolling motor designed for small boats, typically 14 feet or less and under 1,600 lbs. This makes it a common choice for jon boats, small RIBs, sailboat tenders, and other small craft used for fishing or moving around calm waters.

Understanding Trolling Motor Thrust

Unlike gasoline outboards rated in horsepower or electric outboards measured in watts, trolling motors are rated in pounds of thrust. There are charts available, like on the Minn Kota site, that help you figure out the right amount of thrust for your boat size. It's helpful to see comparisons, and there are videos that show how different thrust levels perform on a 14-foot boat.

Powering Your Trolling Motor

The Minn Kota Endura 30 runs off a 12-volt battery. While you might think of a car battery, it's better to use a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are designed for sustained power output, which is what a trolling motor needs, unlike car batteries that are meant for short bursts of high power to start an engine.

Unboxing the Minn Kota Endura 30

Opening the box, you'll find the motor and an instruction manual. This motor uses a brushed motor design, which has been around for a long time and works well. It's important to note that these motors aren't designed to run at top speed for hours on end, unlike some more expensive electric outboards. The manual includes warnings about keeping fingers clear of moving parts, which is good advice.

Assembly is pretty simple. You just need to attach the handle. The manual is quite detailed, but for this part, it's mostly common sense. The handle extends and rotates for easy use, and once it's clicked into place, it's permanent.

Mounting and Using Your Trolling Motor

Mounting a transom-mount trolling motor is straightforward. The clamp sits on the back edge of your boat's transom, and you tighten the clamps until they are snug. You don't need to overtighten them, as the motor won't generate enough torque to fly off. However, make sure they are tight enough so the motor doesn't come loose.

Important Operating Tips

• Don't Run Dry: Just like any boat motor, a trolling motor needs to be in the water to cool down. Running it dry can damage it.

• Battery Placement: Many people prefer to place their battery or batteries further forward in the boat. This helps with weight distribution, especially if you have other gear or an engine at the back.

• Circuit Breaker: It's recommended to use a circuit breaker. While you can wire it directly to the battery, a circuit breaker protects the motor if the prop gets tangled in weeds or fishing line. This prevents damage to the motor and is often a Coast Guard requirement.

• Height Adjustment: The motor has a height adjustment feature. You can slide it up or down to adjust how deep the propeller sits in the water. This is useful for different transom depths or shallow water conditions. Once you set the height, tighten the nut to keep it in place.

• Steering Tension: There's a tension adjustment for rotating the motor. You can set it to provide some resistance, keeping the motor where you put it, or tighten it down to lock it in a straight position, which is handy for fishing.

• Tilting: A lever allows you to tilt the motor up out of the water, which is useful when coming to the boat ramp or for transport. When transporting, it's best to slide the motor all the way up so the heaviest part is next to the clamp.

• Angle Adjustment: You can adjust the angle of the motor to ensure the propeller is straight in the water, even if your boat sits at an angle. If you notice bubbling around the prop, lowering it slightly can help.

• Off-Center Mounting: The motor doesn't have to be mounted in the center of the transom; it can be mounted off-center if needed.

• Telescoping Handle: The handle telescopes, making it easier to operate if your seating is further forward.

Speeds and Water Type

The Minn Kota Endura 30 has five forward speeds and three reverse speeds, clearly marked on the handle. It's important to note that this motor is designed for freshwater only. Using it in brackish or saltwater can cause premature failure. Minn Kota does make saltwater-compatible models, and other brands like Newport offer saltwater-safe options at similar price points.

Real-World Test and a Quick Fix

During a test run, the motor made a loud thunking noise. It turned out the propeller was rubbing against the motor housing due to a molding imperfection from the factory. This is a common issue with mass-produced items. Instead of returning it, which often leads to products being discarded, a simple fix was attempted.

By removing the prop (which is held by a half-inch nylon locking nut), two silver spots on the motor housing indicated where the prop was rubbing. The inner edge of the prop had an uneven burr. Sanding down this burr with sandpaper on a board, and smoothing a small bump on the outside lip, resolved the issue. While it's disappointing for a new product to have a flaw, the fix was easy.

Even after the fix, the motor isn't as quiet as more expensive models. At top speed, there's a bit of noise and vibration, though much of the loud clanging sound heard in the video was water against the aluminum hull. At lower speeds, it runs smoothly. Overall, for its price, the Minn Kota Endura 30 is a decent trolling motor, especially if you're willing to do a minor adjustment if needed.