Motorized Kayaks · Fishing
The ATAK line has been a tournament favorite for years, and the Motor Drive version takes the proven 12 foot 3 inch hull and adds the Helix MD electric motor drive, included in the package. We’re talking up to 6 mph top speed and around 20 miles of range from a drive unit that weighs just 15 pounds
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The ATAK line has been a tournament favorite for years, and the Motor Drive version takes the proven 12 foot 3 inch hull and adds the Helix MD electric motor drive, included in the package. We’re talking up to 6 mph top speed and around 20 miles of range from a drive unit that weighs just 15 pounds including the battery. That’s bass boat territory in a kayak you can still paddle. .
If you want to skip ahead and see what it costs, check the current price here.
Wilderness Systems built this with Torqeedo on the motor side, so the tech is proven. Let’s look at what you get for your money.
Who the ATAK 120 Motor Drive Is For
This is for the serious angler who wants electric power without building a DIY motor setup. Tournament fishermen who need to run long distances between spots, big-water anglers who fight wind and current, and anyone who wants to arrive at the fishing spot fresh instead of worn out from pedaling. If you’ve ever watched the clock tick while pedaling two miles into a headwind, you understand the appeal.
It’s not a casual purchase. This is a premium rig at a premium price, and at 86 pounds before the drive, it’s a trailer or truck-bed boat. If you fish small ponds close to the ramp, the motor is overkill.
Stability: The Famous ATAK Platform
The ATAK hull is known for three things: an open customizable deck, excellent stability, and a wind-shedding low profile. At 35 inches wide with Wilderness Systems’ S.M.A.R.T. hull design, it’s stable enough to stand and cast confidently, and the increased rocker on the 120 helps it handle moving water better than the longer 140. The deck is highly walkable, so you can move around your gear like you’re on a skiff. It stays composed at motor speeds, which matters when you’re running 6 mph across a lake.
Comfort: AirPro MAX Seat
The patented AirPro MAX seat is one of the best in the business. It adjusts high, low, and reclines, and a quick-release cam lever lets you slide it fore and aft on the fly to trim the boat. The mesh fabric over 3D foam keeps air moving and supports your lower back through long tournament days. Keepers XL foot braces are big, padded, and easy to adjust with a locking lever. When you’re sitting in this seat running the motor with the remote throttle, it feels less like kayaking and more like driving a very small, very quiet boat.
Storage and Rigging: Built for Electronics
The Flex Pod OS console is the centerpiece: a removable pod that holds your fish finder, battery, and transducer, or swaps out for the Helix MD motor drive. Three hatches, a big stern tank well, a covered bow tank well with paddle park, SlideTrax accessory rails front, mid, and rear, rod holders, cup holders, and tackle storage give you room for everything. A secondary transducer scupper accommodates side-scanning sonar even with the motor drive installed. This hull was designed by people who run a lot of electronics, and it shows.
Drive Performance: Helix MD Electric Power
The Helix MD motor drive is the headline. Developed with Torqeedo, it delivers quiet electric thrust with an intelligent remote throttle that shows GPS-calculated speed, remaining range, and battery runtime. Top speed is around 6 mph with roughly 20 miles of range, and the solar-rechargeable lithium battery lasts up to 8 hours and can charge while underway. The whole drive unit weighs only 15 pounds including the battery, so it doesn’t ruin the boat’s balance. And when you want silence or the battery’s done, pull the drive and paddle: the hull paddles well on its own.
Honest Drawbacks
Price is the big one: this is a serious investment, well into used-bass-boat money. The 86 pound hull weight (before drive and gear) means trailering or a strong cart and a buddy at the ramp. Electric drives mean batteries to charge, software to understand, and eventual battery replacement costs. Check your state registration rules for motorized kayaks, since many states require it. And like any high-tech rig, there’s more that can need troubleshooting than a simple paddle kayak.
Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 12 ft 3 in |
| Width | 35 in |
| Weight | 86 lbs (without motor drive; drive unit 15 lbs with battery) |
| Capacity | 400 lbs |
| Drive type | Helix MD electric motor drive (included); paddle compatible |
Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120 Motor Drive Kayak FAQ
Is the Helix MD motor drive included with the ATAK 120 Motor Drive?
Yes. This version includes the Helix MD electric motor drive with its lithium battery and intelligent remote throttle.
How fast does the ATAK 120 Motor Drive go?
Up to about 6 mph, with a range around 20 miles depending on speed, load, and conditions. The remote shows speed, range, and battery runtime.
How long does the battery last?
The lithium battery lasts up to 8 hours and is solar-rechargeable, even charging while underway.
Can you still paddle the ATAK 120 with the motor removed?
Yes. Pull the Helix MD drive out of the Flex Pod and the hull paddles like a normal fishing kayak.
Where to Buy
If the Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120 Motor Drive Kayak sounds like your kind of boat, check the current price:
Also check out our reviews of the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 Fishing Kayak, Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Kayak, Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL+ 132 Fishing Kayak, Wilderness Systems Recon 120 Fishing Kayak with AirPro ACES Seat, and Old Town Malibu ePDL+ 120 Fishing Kayak.
For the latest colors, specs, and warranty details, see the official Wilderness Systems website for the Wilderness Systems A.T.A.K. 120.
