The best motor for most paddle boards is a purpose-built fin-box motor like the Bixpy K-1, because it weighs about 11 pounds with its battery and mounts where your fin goes. If your board has a motor mount and you want to spend less, a 30–36 lb thrust trolling motor like the Newport NV-Series 36 lb paired with a light lithium battery does the job for a fraction of the price.
Before you buy, know this: adding a motor can change the rules. In many states a motorized paddle board has to be registered like a boat, and the requirements vary from state to state (more below).
We haven’t tested these motors hands-on. We picked them from manufacturer specs, owner reviews, and current availability. Four of the five motors in the 2021 version of this list are no longer available on Amazon, and the remaining big 62 lb motor is overkill for most boards, so this is largely a rewrite.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overall: Bixpy K-1 Outboard Kit, a light fin-mounted motor with a wireless remote.
- Best budget trolling motor: Newport NV-Series 36 lb, saltwater-ready and around $170.
- Best for freshwater: Minn Kota Endura C2 30, from the best-known trolling motor brand.
- Best for big fishing boards: Newport L-Series 62 lb, lots of power for heavy loads.
- Best battery: LiTime 12V 50Ah LiFePO4, about 11 lb instead of 50-plus for lead-acid.
Does a paddle board need registering with a motor?
Often, yes. Most states don’t require registration for a paddle board you paddle. Add a motor, even a small electric one, and many states treat it as a motorized vessel that must be registered and display numbers.
The rules really do differ. Paddling Magazine’s registration guide notes that it depends on your state, where you paddle, the craft’s length and whether it has a motor or sail. Some examples from that research:
- Florida: motorized canoes and kayaks must be titled and registered regardless of length.
- Illinois: unpowered kayaks no longer need registering, but craft with trolling motors must be registered and titled.
- Indiana: boats with only an electric trolling motor don’t need registering.
Check your state’s boating agency (usually the fish and wildlife or natural resources department) before your first motorized trip. A motor can also change other requirements, such as night lights, since you’d be operating a power-driven vessel rather than one under oars. Keep wearing your life jacket and leash; see do you need a life jacket on a paddle board.
A small motor made for paddle craft
Bixpy K-1 Outboard Kit
The Bixpy K-1 is a compact electric motor with a separate slim lithium battery and a wireless remote. With the right adapter it mounts in your board’s fin box, so you don’t need a transom or a bracket hanging off the tail. Board brands including ISLE and GILI sell Bixpy bundles with their own fin adapters.
Bixpy rates it at 33 lb of thrust and up to 450 watts. On the ISLE bundle page, it claims about 80 minutes at top speed or up to 12 hours at slow speeds from the 378Wh battery, and up to about 5 mph depending on the board and load. You still steer with your paddle.
Who it suits: paddlers who want help against wind and current, anglers covering more water, and touring paddlers who want a way home when tired.
| Spec | Bixpy K-1 Outboard Kit |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 33 lb |
| Max power | 450 W |
| Battery | 378Wh lithium |
| Claimed runtime | About 80 min at full speed, up to 12 hr slow |
| Claimed top speed | Up to 5 mph (board and load dependent) |
| Kit weight | About 11 lb, motor and battery |
| Controls | Wireless remote, magnetic kill switch on a leash |
| Mount | Fin box or other adapters (sold separately or in board-brand bundles) |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | Around $1,400 for the kit, about $1,430 with a US fin box adapter |
Pros
- Light enough for an inflatable SUP
- Mounts in the fin box with the right adapter
- Wireless remote and kill switch
- Battery is far lighter than a 12V lead-acid
Cons
- Expensive
- Adapter not included in the base kit
- Steering is by paddle only
- Short run time if you go flat out
Verdict
The best motor for a paddle board if you can afford it.
A light, cheap trolling motor for boards with a motor mount
Newport NV-Series 36 lb
The NV-Series 36 lb is Newport’s smallest transom trolling motor. It runs on a 12V battery (not included) and has eight speeds, five forward and three reverse, plus an LED battery meter.
Newport builds it for salt and fresh water, with stainless, zinc and magnesium hardware and a 30-inch fiberglass composite shaft. At 18.5 lb it’s heavy compared with the Bixpy, so it suits fishing SUPs and wide hard boards with a proper motor mount rather than light inflatables.
Who it suits: SUP anglers with a stable, high-volume board and a stern motor mount who want the cheapest reliable option.
| Spec | Newport NV 36 lb |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 36 lb |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Speeds | 5 forward, 3 reverse |
| Shaft | 30 in composite |
| Battery meter | LED |
| Water | Fresh and salt |
| Weight | 18.5 lb (motor only) |
| Price | Around $170 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Cheap
- Saltwater-rated
- Plenty of owner reviews
- Enough thrust for a loaded fishing board
Cons
- Needs a transom-style mount on your board
- Heavy, plus the weight of a battery
- Tiller steering means sitting or kneeling at the tail
Verdict
The best value motor for a fishing SUP with a mount.
A proven freshwater motor
Minn Kota Endura C2 30
Minn Kota is the best-known name in trolling motors, and the Endura C2 30 is its smallest transom-mount model. It has 30 lb of thrust, a 30-inch composite shaft, five forward and three reverse speeds, and a 6-inch telescoping tiller.
The 10-position lever-lock bracket lets you set the motor angle quickly. Minn Kota builds this model for freshwater, so look elsewhere if you paddle in the ocean.
Who it suits: lake and river anglers with a motor-ready fishing SUP who want a brand with wide service and parts support.
| Spec | Endura C2 30 |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 30 lb |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Speeds | 5 forward, 3 reverse |
| Shaft | 30 in composite |
| Tiller | 6 in telescoping |
| Water | Freshwater only |
| Weight | About 17 lb (motor only) |
| Price | Around $165–210 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Trusted brand with widely available parts
- Composite shaft that won’t bend or rust
- Easy angle adjustment
- Push-to-test battery meter
Cons
- Not for saltwater
- Needs a transom-style mount and a 12V battery
- Heavier than a fin motor
Verdict
A dependable freshwater choice if you already have a mount.
Lots of power for big, heavy setups
Newport L-Series 62 lb
The L-Series 62 lb is far more motor than most paddle boards need. It’s on this list for the few big fishing boards and SUP-kayak hybrids that carry a lot of gear in wind and current.
It has a 40-inch shaft, a three-blade prop, eight speeds and a 10-LED battery meter, with saltwater-rated hardware and a 2-year warranty. Newport quotes a top speed of about 4.25 mph and a maximum draw of 58 amps, and recommends a 50Ah 12V battery.
Who it suits: anglers with a large, very stable fishing platform who fish in current or wind.
| Spec | Newport L-Series 62 lb |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 62 lb |
| Voltage | 12V |
| Speeds | 5 forward, 3 reverse |
| Shaft | 40 in |
| Prop | 3-blade |
| Max draw | 58A |
| Weight | About 23 lb (motor only) |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Price | Around $325 at the time of writing |
Pros
- Plenty of power for heavy loads and current
- Saltwater-ready
- Good battery meter
Cons
- Heavy and long for a paddle board
- Drains batteries fast at high speed
- Too much motor for most SUPs
Verdict
Only for big fishing boards. Most paddlers should choose a 30–36 lb motor.
The light battery that makes a trolling motor practical
LiTime 12V 50Ah LiFePO4 battery
A transom trolling motor needs a 12V battery, and the battery choice matters as much as the motor on a board. A lead-acid deep-cycle battery can weigh 50 pounds or more. This lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery weighs about 11.3 lb and holds 640Wh.
LiTime says it handles 60 amps for 30 minutes and has a 50A battery management system with low-temperature charging protection. Bluetooth lets you check the charge on your phone. You need a lithium-compatible charger.
Who it suits: anyone running a 12V trolling motor on a paddle board.
| Spec | LiTime 12V 50Ah |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | LiFePO4 |
| Capacity | 50Ah (640Wh) |
| Weight | About 11.3 lb |
| Max output | 60A for 30 min (claimed) |
| Waterproofing | IP65 |
| Extras | Bluetooth app, low-temp charge cut-off |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Price | Around $205 at the time of writing |
Pros
- A fraction of the weight of lead-acid
- More usable capacity than a lead-acid battery of the same rating
- Bluetooth charge monitoring
Cons
- Charger sold separately with this version
- Only splash-resistant (IP65), so keep it in a dry box
- A 62 lb motor at full power can draw more than its 50A rating
Verdict
Pair it with a 30–36 lb motor for a setup you can actually lift.
