Motorized Kayaks · Minn Kota Spot-Lock
Old Town’s AutoPilot 120 pairs a 45-pound-thrust Minn Kota with GPS Spot-Lock in a 12-foot fishing platform. Here’s who it’s for, how it fishes, and what it really costs to get on the water.
Imagine motoring across the lake to your spot, tapping one button, and having your kayak hold position by itself while you cast. That’s the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120. It comes with a 45 pound thrust Minn Kota motor built into the hull, complete with Spot-Lock GPS anchoring and an i-Pilot remote. This is the boat that made motorized kayak fishing mainstream.
If you want to skip ahead and see what it costs, check the current price here.
At 12 feet long and 37 inches wide, it’s a big, stable platform. But the motor is the headline, so let’s talk about what it’s like to actually fish from it.
Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 Review: Who It’s For
This kayak is for the angler who wants to cover water without paddling or pedaling all day. Tournament anglers love it for holding on offshore structure in the wind. Older anglers or anyone with a bad back, knees, or shoulders can keep fishing hard without the physical grind. And if you fish big water where the wind pushes you off your spot every two minutes, Spot-Lock will change your life.
It’s not for the minimalist. At 152 pounds fully assembled, this is a trailer or truck-bed boat, and you’ll also need to buy a 12V trolling motor battery separately. For the battery, I recommend the WattCycle 12V 100Ah mini LiFePO4 battery with Bluetooth — it runs most 12V trolling motors up to 55lb thrust plus a fish finder, and it’s compact and light. If you like simple and light, look elsewhere.
Stability: Big Water Confidence
The 37 inch wide hull is rock solid. You can stand and cast, walk the deck, and fight a fish from the front without drama. The motor sits in the center of the hull ahead of the seat, which keeps the weight balanced instead of hanging off the stern. In chop and boat wakes it feels more like a small skiff than a kayak, which is exactly what you want when you’re standing up in wind.
Comfort: All-Day Seat
The premium Element seat has high and low positions and good lumbar support, and it removes easily for transport. The nonslip EVA foam deck pads give you traction and cushion when you’re standing, which matters on those eight-hour tournament days. Under-seat storage holds your tackle, and Old Town even includes a custom tackle box.
Storage and Rigging: Tournament Ready
Four 18 inch accessory tracks give you mounting room for graphs, rod holders, and cameras. You get two forward-facing and two rear-facing flush mount rod holders, a shallow-water anchor mount for a PowerPole-style pole, bow and center hatches, a big aft tank well, and a universal transducer mount. The XL rudder works with foot brace steering, so you can steer with your feet while your hands are busy. The kill-switch tether is a smart safety touch: fall out and the motor stops.
Motor Performance: The Minn Kota Advantage
The 45 pound thrust 12V Minn Kota is saltwater ready and plenty strong for a kayak. Top speed is around 4 mph, and real-world run time is about two hours at full throttle or four-plus hours at trolling speeds, depending on your battery. Spot-Lock holds you within a few yards of your spot automatically, adjusting for wind and current. The i-Pilot remote controls speed and direction from your hand, and a pull cord lets you stow or deploy the motor in seconds for shallow water or launching. Because Old Town and Minn Kota are sister companies, the integration is clean and the support is in-house.
Honest Drawbacks
Weight is the big one: 152 pounds rigged means you need a plan for transport and launching. You also have to buy the battery separately, and a good lithium battery isn’t cheap. The tech has a learning curve, so give yourself a few trips to get smooth with the remote. And check your local regulations, because some states require registration for motorized kayaks. Finally, at this price point, you’re in used-boat territory, so be sure the motorized kayak style fits how you fish.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 12 ft |
| Width | 37 in |
| Weight | 152 lbs assembled (hull 85 lbs, motor console 24 lbs) |
| Capacity | 558 lbs total (406 lbs usable) |
| Drive type | Minn Kota 45 lb thrust 12V motor with Spot-Lock and i-Pilot remote |
FAQ
Does the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 come with a battery?
No. You’ll need to buy a 12V trolling motor battery separately. It accepts lead acid or lithium, and lithium is lighter and lasts longer.
What is Spot-Lock on the AutoPilot 120?
Spot-Lock is Minn Kota’s GPS anchoring. Tap the button and the motor automatically holds your kayak in position against wind and current so you can fish hands-free.
How fast does the AutoPilot 120 go?
About 4 mph at full throttle. Most owners cruise at 2 to 3 mph, which stretches battery life to four hours or more of fishing.
How heavy is the AutoPilot 120?
152 pounds fully assembled, so plan on a trailer, truck bed, or a heavy-duty kayak cart rather than cartopping alone.
Where to Buy
If the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 sounds like your kind of boat, check the current price:
For the latest colors, specs, and warranty details, see the official Old Town website for the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120.
Relevant battery links
Shop WattCycle 12V 100Ah Mini Battery My recommended 12V battery for this kayak: runs most 12V trolling motors up to 55lb thrust plus a fish finder, and it’s compact and light.
Also check out our reviews of the Old Town Sportsman 120 Fishing Kayak.
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