Six years ago, I started to take kayak fishing more seriously. In that time, I've been in and out of several different boats with various features and designs. I fished in a few different pedal drives and countless paddle boats. However, in all my years of kayak angling, I never stepped foot into a motorized kayak—until now.
Last year, the Old Town team sent me a new Autopilot 136 with a 45-pound thrust Minn Kota motor that drops into the deck. Since then, I've had the chance to take this kayak all over the Southeast, fishing in different lakes and rivers along the way. I even loaded it down and traveled up a river for an overnight camping trip. The quick summary: The Autopilot 136 is a fishing machine. Here's a closer look at this boat and how it performed for me over the course of a year.
Old Town Autopilot 136 Overview
Specs
Style: Sit on top
Capacity: One
Power: Motorized
Maximum weight capacity: 660 pounds
Weight: 158 pounds (plus battery)
Length: 13 feet, 6 inches
Width: 37”
Weighing 158 pounds and costing $5,000, the Autopilot 136 is a very heavy, very expensive kayak. But that’s where the drawbacks of this boat end. Starting with the deck, this boat has all sorts of room to store tackle, gear crates, a cooler, and whatever else you might need to bring. It does all of this with enough space to stand and fish. Plus, the EVA foam padding on the deck is comfortable and secure.
An oversized rudder at the back is deployed by a lever at the seat and controlled by sturdy, adjustable foot braces. There’s a dry box just to the right of the seat that's the perfect place to store phones, car keys, and the remote for the motor. Speaking of the motor, the Autopilot 136 has a hole cut into the middle of the deck where a 45-pound thrust Minn Kota motor drops in. The motor pivots on a spring-loaded hinge and can be raised and lowered using a pull chord while seated. The troller has multiple speeds and can run continuously or intermittently. Anglers can also deploy Spot-Lock if they want to hold their position. It also has lift assist and a magnetic kill switch.
On the Water Performance
You’re going to need either a trailer or a truck with a bed extender to transport the kayak to and from the lake. I have a Malone Auto Racks Axis Truck Bed Extender, and it has been a huge help for hauling this 13-footer around. After I loaded up the boat, I hit the water.
First, I took the Autopilot 136 to a 600-acre local lake that I normally fish in my bass boat. On the water, I cranked the Minn Kota motor up to its highest setting, which tops out at 4 miles per hour. The motor comes with a remote, and with a single click, it can spin 360 degrees. While fishing down the bank, I was able to control the motor hands-free by setting it to the lowest power and adjusting the boat's direction left and right using the foot braces that control the rudder.
I covered quite a bit of water that day, as much as I would have wanted to in my big bass boat. When I loaded my boat back onto the truck, I checked my 12-volt Goldenmate Lithium battery, and it still had 75 percent charge. This boat can cover a surprising amount of water without draining the battery.
Next, I took this boat to an area right below a large dam to fish the current generated by hydroelectric turbines. I fished it before in my bass boat, but never in a kayak. The strong current sends the fish into a feeding frenzy, but there’s no way to hold a kayak in the swift water with just a paddle. Enter the Autopilot 136.
I was really pleased with how the Minn Kota motor performed. Not only did it carry me far upstream into the rolling waters, but its Spot-Lock feature also held me perfectly in place whenever I wanted. For instance, when I got a bite, I would hit Spot-Lock, and the boat would hold in place until I landed the fish. And since I hadn't drifted, I was able to make multiple casts back to the same spot to catch several more fish.
Last fall, I loaded up the huge tank well on the Old Town with all my camping gear and set sail. I put it in at my local lake and then ventured about three miles upriver to an isolated sandbar. The boat had plenty of room and weight capacity to haul my tent, a small Solo Stove, a cooler, a backpack, cooking pots, fishing gear, and more. It was so comfortable that I fished my way up to the campsite. The boat handled no differently loaded down than it did on any other regular outing. I set up camp, fished a little more that evening, spent the night, packed up the next morning, and fished my way back down to the ramp. I checked my battery at the end of the trip and still had about 62 percent charge remaining.
Who is the Autopilot 136 Made For?
As good as this boat is, the Autopilot 136 isn't for everyone. The 136 is extremely capable and versatile, but is also one of the most expensive kayaks on the market. So, who is the Autopilot 136 for? The boat is designed for serious kayak anglers who want the very best money can buy. At $5,000, this boat is going to put a dent in your wallet. That said, it comes decked out with a trolling motor, accessory bar, and enough space to store and mount all the gear an angler might need. As far as fishing kayaks go, this thing is at the top of the list.
It's also important to consider the type of fishing you do and what this boat is capable of. The Autopilot 136 is not designed for drifting shallow creeks and toting into remote locations. This boat is built for big water and capable of making long treks and fighting strong currents. You can still fish out of the Autopilot 136 in ponds and other tight places, but you’re going to need to get your vehicle pretty close to the water, or at a minimum, a clear area for you to roll it in with a kayak cart.
The 136 sets up perfectly for the angler who wants to fish tournaments as well as the angler who doesn’t want to drop 20 to 100K on a big fiberglass boat. The stability, versatility, and capability of this kayak are really impressive. I love the SpotLock feature, as well as the motor as a whole—from the lift assist to the magnetic kill switch. For the serious kayak angler, this is a fantastic boat that will last a long time and open up a whole new world of possibilities.
THE 1871 CLUB
