Video · Kayak Motors & Power
AutoBoat GPS Kit: Turning a Basic Trolling Motor Into a Smart Motor
I show how the AutoBoat kit turns a cheap five speed trolling motor into a GPS motor with anchor mode, heading hold and route following.
What’s in this video
My buddy showed up with the AutoBoat system, a GPS adapter that turns a dumb trolling motor into a smart one. We put it on a basic Minn Kota five speed, the kind you find at garage sales or on Facebook Marketplace. It also works with the Newport NV series. Once it’s on, you get anchor mode, heading hold and route following from your phone or the included remote.
The install needs no tools and you don’t modify the motor, so you’re not voiding your warranty. The GPS and compass clamp on the back of the motor. Keep the arrow lined up with the prop so the power cord doesn’t sit over the GPS and cause interference. The motorized collar opens like a clamshell and its tab uses the factory steering lock, and the geared AutoBoat depth collar snaps on with it. Then the brain plugs in with color matched yellow and blue connectors. Keep the brain out of the water, but the remote has a gasket and about 300 ft of range.
To run it, set the tiller to speed five so AutoBoat gets full power. Give it about two minutes in open air to find satellites, then hold the end button to calibrate. Three beeps means it worked. Now I get eight speeds instead of five, which is better for trolling. One catch: it doesn’t work well with digital motors like a Maximizer. Save your money, buy dumb motors.
Key moments
- 0:00 Introduction to Autoboat
- 2:21 Installation process
- 4:29 Hardware setup
- 6:45 Wiring the brain
- 8:03 Calibration and features
- 11:00 On-water testing
- 13:09 Advanced navigation
Quick takeaways
- Set the motor's tiller to speed five so AutoBoat can deliver full power.
- Give it about two minutes in open air to find satellites, then hold the end button to calibrate. Three beeps means success.
- It works best with basic five speed motors. Motors with digital internals like a Maximizer would need to be bypassed.
- Keep the brain protected from water. The remote is gasketed and has about 300 ft of range, longer than the phone.
Gear from this video
Read more on KayakDIY
- AutoBoat GPS trolling motor upgrade
- Best GPS Trolling Motor for Kayaks (2026): Spot-Lock Without the $3,000 Price Tag
AutoBoat GPS Adapter: Spot-Lock Style Anchoring for Basic Motors
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