Watersnake T24 Kayak Electric Motor Review

The Watersnake T24 Kayak Electric Motor is an affordable choice. It is well-constructed and powerful enough for most kayaks.

I have previously reviewed the Watersnake Kayak Motor Mount, which pairs perfectly with this motor.

While I find it to be a good product, it is missing one feature that prevents me from giving it a full 5 out of 5 stars.

That feature is the lack of a throttle control on the tiller to easily adjust the speed.

The switches for the speed and reverse settings are not adequate, in my opinion, for several important reasons.

Let’s take a closer look.

Perfect Power for a Small Kayak or Dinghy

When looking at pounds of thrust, it is important not to confuse them with horsepower. The two measurements are not interchangeable.

Adding more pounds of thrust does not automatically mean you will go faster.

Therefore, the Watersnake T24 Kayak Electric Motor will not propel you much slower than a 32-pound motor.

In my tests on a 10 to 12-foot kayak, the top speed was around 5 knots. At full speed, you might reach up to 7 knots if the current and wind are in your favour.

I found this speed to be great for getting from point A to point B.

In fact, it feels quite fast compared to paddling!

However, for slow trolling on a kayak, it is much too quick. This is true even on the slowest setting.

In a small tinny (a little over 12 feet long), the trolling speed was fine. The difference in speed comes down to the weight of the boat, which is to be expected.

Reaching Behind to Turn the Motor On and Off is Awkward

On a kayak, turning around to switch the T24 Watersnake on and off is very inconvenient.

This is where a throttle on the tiller would be an excellent addition to this model, as well as its little brother, the T18.

Reaching behind to use the switches tends to unbalance a small kayak. While this is not a problem in a tinny, it is an issue in a kayak.

On a kayak, you have to twist your body and reach behind you. I found this awkward, and it makes the kayak feel unstable.

Furthermore, a throttle would help control both power consumption and speed. The current two-speed switches make it an all-or-nothing system.

Being able to slow down using a throttle would make trolling in a kayak much easier.

This is my single biggest complaint about the Watersnake T24 Electric Trolling Motor. The larger models, starting with the 34 lb version, have a throttle right on the tiller handle.

Essentially, the throttle is a grip—much like the one on a motorcycle or an outboard motor—that you twist to speed up or slow down.

Watersnake T24 Battery Consumption

An electric trolling motor requires a deep-cycle battery.

A regular car or boat cranking battery will not work well. It will drain quickly and drastically shorten the battery’s lifespan.

Using a 60 amp-hour (Ah) battery, I easily got two and a half hours of run time with the Watersnake T24.

Since this was the longest time I needed to run the motor, I haven’t tested its absolute maximum time. However, I suspect it could run for about 3 hours at high speed.

It is important not to drain deep-cycle batteries below 25% capacity, so keep this in mind as a rough guide.

A 60 Ah battery is heavy for a kayak. Mine weighs just over 17 kg (37 lbs), which is quite a bit of weight. A lithium battery with the same capacity weighs less than 8 kg (17 lbs).

Lithium batteries are a fantastic choice for this purpose, but their cost is still quite high. Even so, it is certainly cheaper than what boat owners spend on a basic 6-horsepower outboard motor!

On the positive side, a lithium battery charges faster and provides full power right until it runs out. Lead-acid and AGM batteries simply cannot do this.

Overall, I cannot fault the battery life of this motor. A larger battery might last longer, while a smaller battery—like a 36 Ah one—reportedly provides about an hour and a half of use. That might be all you need, and the lighter weight is certainly appealing.

Two-Blade Plastic Propeller

The Watersnake T24 Kayak Electric Motor comes with a two-blade plastic propeller.

It is reasonably durable, but it can break. I strongly recommend carrying a spare propeller with you!

Given how electric trolling motors work, the amp usage would be too high if the propeller were made of aluminium or other heavy materials.

Because of this, I cannot fault the use of a plastic propeller.

It works well, and I doubt a three-blade design would be any more efficient for a trolling motor of this size. In fact, it might even make it less efficient.

Spare blades cost around $20, and it is definitely worth keeping one in your toolbox or tackle box.

Is This Kayak Electric Motor Any Good?

Yes, this kayak electric motor is an excellent piece of equipment. The engineering is first-rate. I have compared it directly to cheaper trolling motors, and there is honestly no comparison. The quality is definitely there.

I have not tried more expensive trolling motors, so I cannot say if other brands are superior at the same thrust level.

The fact that it is saltwater-rated is a great bonus, especially if you want to use it in estuaries, bays, or inlets.

I have no problem recommending the Watersnake T24 for kayaks or small boats (like a tinny) that are under 13 feet long.

My only complaint is the lack of a throttle on the tiller handle. With a throttle—even if it raised the price slightly—this motor would be perfect.

This throttle issue bothered me enough that I eventually upgraded to the Watersnake Venom 34 lb thrust motor. The Venom is significantly more expensive and a bit heavier, but it has a tiller throttle with 5 forward speeds and 3 reverse speeds. I find that model better suits my personal needs.

Review Conclusion & Product Rating

Pros

• Lightweight and well-balanced for kayak use.
• Both the motor and the fittings are light.
• Easy to steer.
• Simple installation.
• Easy to raise and tilt out of the water.
• After two months of salt and freshwater use (I always wash my gear after use), there was no corrosion on the fittings.

Cons

• No throttle on the tiller handle. You have to twist and reach behind you to change speeds or turn the motor on and off.
• The propeller blades are plastic and can break easily if they hit snags. Make sure you carry a spare prop!
• Adding a voltage regulator helps reduce battery consumption. (There are videos on YouTube showing how to add this.)
• It is not fitted with a safety cut-off lanyard. If you fall off, your kayak could continue moving without you. (There are also videos on YouTube showing how to add this safety feature.)

Summary

This motor is very well made, nicely finished, and well-designed.

I have used mine many times over the last couple of years, including in saltwater. Not a single component has corroded.

My only real complaint remains the lack of a throttle on the tiller.

Adding a throttle—even if it increased the price—would drastically improve this motor.

I can say this confidently because I also use the Watersnake Venom SXW 34 lb motor. The speed control on its tiller offers a far better experience than the simple switches on the T18 and T24 models.

Of course, the Venom 34 lb model is considerably heavier than the T24 and might not be suitable for smaller kayaks under 10 feet long.