{"id":4297,"date":"2024-02-17T00:10:59","date_gmt":"2024-02-17T00:10:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/?p=4297"},"modified":"2024-02-17T00:11:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-17T00:11:01","slug":"old-town-sportsman-106-minn-kota-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-sportsman-106-minn-kota-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Town Sportsman 106 Powered by Minn Kota: On-the-Water Angler Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After getting my Sportsman 106 MK last year, my wife and I have taken it <strong>more than 50\u202ftimes<\/strong> on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this Old Town Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota review, I\u2019ll tell you <strong>what we love about this boat<\/strong>, and what could be improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[<strong>Spoiler Alert<\/strong>: The Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota is a fantastic kayak. For the price, you simply can\u2019t beat the speed, stability, and comfort. The only downside is it\u2019s often out of stock. So chances are you\u2019ll have to wait until next year to get yours\u2026 Sorry.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Sportsman-Powered-Motorized\/dp\/B0869XTVXQ?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=7aab22c96694d74e36f2a1ba4fcfa124&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Check Availability<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things to Consider Before Buying an Old Town Motorized Kayak<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Motorized kayaks are the<strong> cream of the crop of fishing kayaks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You just<strong> can\u2019t compete<\/strong> with the ability to get to your fishing spot super quickly and start fishing <strong>hands-free<\/strong> without worrying about anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/best-motorized-kayak\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2271\">motorized kayaks<\/a> are also <strong>expensive and heavy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means if you don\u2019t have a pickup truck, you\u2019ll <strong>probably need help to load it onto your car<\/strong> or SUV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you may want to invest in a <strong>kayak cart<\/strong> to take your kayak to and from the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from that, most high-end kayaks (including the Sportsman 106\u202fMK) will<strong> last a lifetime <\/strong>as long as you take care of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can,<strong> rinse out the motor drive after taking it on saltwater.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, <strong>keep your boat out of the sun <\/strong>when not in use. Over time, UV\u202frays may warp the hull, and there\u2019s no warranty for that kind of negligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, you\u2019ll need to buy a dedicated battery for your boat. I\u2019d suggest investing in a 12V, 100AH<strong> lithium battery<\/strong> instead of a lead-acid one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will be lighter and gives much better performance. You<strong> don\u2019t want to be stranded <\/strong>in the middle of the water with a dead battery and have to paddle all the way back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town 106 Minn Kota Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106\u202fminn-kota-705x405.jpg\" alt=\"Ember Camo Sportsman 106 Minn Kota\" class=\"wp-image-4299\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106\u202fminn-kota-705x405.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106\u202fminn-kota-150x86.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106\u202fminn-kota-1536x883.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106\u202fminn-kota.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Length<\/strong>: 10 ft 6 in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Width<\/strong>: 37 in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: 98 lb \/ 121 lb with motor and seat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Load Capacity<\/strong>: 525 lb<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town 106 Minn Kota Design<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Material<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like most fishing kayaks, the Old Town Sportsman 106 is made of single-layer <strong>polyethylene<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This material is <strong>virtually indestructible<\/strong>. It will handle collisions, rocks, submerged tree branches\u2026 and anything you throw at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"527\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-minn-kota-motor-throttle-705x527.jpg\" alt=\"Throttle Control of the Sportsman MK\" class=\"wp-image-4300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-minn-kota-motor-throttle-705x527.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-minn-kota-motor-throttle-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-minn-kota-motor-throttle.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Because it\u2019s lighter than the Autopilot, the Sportsman 106 Minn Kota is a <strong>really fast boat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At full throttle, you can get <strong>between 3.8 mph and 4.5 mph <\/strong>depending on the wind and current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s much <strong>faster than most pedal kayaks<\/strong>, which tend to have a cruising speed of 3 mph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You control the speed with a <strong>throttle control<\/strong> on your right hand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, the Sportsman 106 MK can also go reverse (by simply pulling the control) at the speed you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that with the proper battery, you can only get about 2 hours and a half at full speed. So even though it\u2019s a fast boat, don\u2019t expect to cover 15+ miles. (Unless you go at a lower speed of 2 mph, which will allow you to cover 20 miles before running out of battery).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I <strong>love the battery meter <\/strong>to see how much battery you have left. It\u2019s very handy to make sure you don\u2019t have to paddle all the way back. I <strong>wish that feature was on the Autopilot as well<\/strong> \u2212 I had to paddle back for 3 miles once, and I can tell you it was hard because of the huge weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maneuverability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of its short size, the Sportsman 106\u202fMK can turn really quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can do a 180\u202fturn within 15 feet, which is good enough to avoid most obstacles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, you steer the boat with a foot-controlled rudder. Simply push on the right and left footpegs to turn the rudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I love being able to steer with my feet because I can just keep fishing and I don\u2019t have to put my rod down. It\u2019s so much better than the hand-controlled rudder on pedal kayaks IMHO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Comfort<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"547\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Sportsman-MK\u202fhuge-cockpit-705x547.jpg\" alt=\"The cockpit of the\u202fSportsman 106 MK is really huge\" class=\"wp-image-4301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Sportsman-MK\u202fhuge-cockpit-705x547.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Sportsman-MK\u202fhuge-cockpit-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Sportsman-MK\u202fhuge-cockpit.jpg 1199w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like most high-end Old Town kayaks, the Sportsman 106 MK has an <strong>incredibly comfortable seat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can choose between the<strong> low and high positions<\/strong>, and the seatback can be reclined easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, <strong>the foot braces are adjustable<\/strong>, and like on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-sportsman-120-pdl-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4363\">Sportsman 120<\/a>, you can easily adjust them with <strong>one hand<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regarding legroom, <strong>I<\/strong> <strong>was amazed by how much space there <\/strong>is on this boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering it\u2019s very short at 10 ft long, I <strong>didn\u2019t expect the cockpit to be this huge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve<strong> let a 6ft3 tall friend use it<\/strong> the other day and he told me he felt so comfortable, like being on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/beach-chair-for-big-guys\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5579\"> a camping chair<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, it will be a lot more comfortable than a paddle or pedal kayak since you don\u2019t have to use your legs at all, you <strong>can just relax and sit<\/strong> <strong>back<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So <strong>even for big and tall guys<\/strong>, the Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota is a super comfortable boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stability and Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-cockpit-width-705x624.jpg\" alt=\"The Sportsman 106\u202fMK\u202fis so stable with its huge cockpit width\" class=\"wp-image-4302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-cockpit-width-705x624.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-cockpit-width-150x133.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-cockpit-width.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Like the Autopilot, the Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota has <strong>amazing stability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This boat is literally <strong>impossible to flip<\/strong>, and you could stand on the nose of the boat without feeling too unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Even for big guys<\/strong>, you can lean to the side without rocking the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The stability and the Sportsman series is<strong> just crazy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve never felt unstable while standing and casting, which is impressive for a boat this short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regarding <strong>tracking<\/strong>, the<strong> rudder does a pretty good job <\/strong>of keeping you on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even in 15 mph wind with current, I\u2019ve <strong>never had any problems with tracking<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, this boat is also made for saltwater, so this might explain why the tracking is so good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Durability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned previously, the Sportsman 106\u202fMinn Kota has a virtually indestructible hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And even if you did manage to damage the hull, you\u2019d be covered by Old Town\u2019s <strong>lifetime hull warranty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, the warranty only covers the motor for 2 years. I\u2019ve never had any problems with it, but this means you\u2019ll have to be careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Particularly in shallow water, I\u2019d suggest not locking down the motor so that it can pop up in case you hit something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Little-known fact<\/strong>: If you <strong>do hit something<\/strong>, say a submerged tree branch or you didn\u2019t see a rock\u2026 then<strong> the prop won\u2019t break<\/strong>. The motor will just kick off and you\u2019ll simply break the pin. Since a pin costs a few bucks, that\u2019s a very well-thought-out design from Old Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, you have a spare prop pin in the little kill switch key, which is nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transportability<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/loading-the-sportsman-mk-on-a-car-705x413.png\" alt=\"Loading the Sportsman MK on a car\" class=\"wp-image-4305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/loading-the-sportsman-mk-on-a-car-705x413.png 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/loading-the-sportsman-mk-on-a-car-150x88.png 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/loading-the-sportsman-mk-on-a-car-1536x900.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/loading-the-sportsman-mk-on-a-car.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>At 98 pounds unloaded, the Sportsman 106 MK is<strong> not a light boat<\/strong> by any means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, it\u2019s <strong>still much lighter than my Autopilot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, when I go out with my <strong>wife she can just take it out of the truck bed herself<\/strong> and carry it to the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I like the fact they\u2019ve added a<strong> skid plate so you can drag the boat<\/strong> and you don\u2019t necessarily need a kayak cart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you don\u2019t own a truck\u2026 then<strong> loading it on top<\/strong> of your car or SUV might be a <strong>challenge<\/strong>. Chances are you\u2019ll need help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you\u2019ll be parking far from the landing area, then yes, you should invest in a kayak cart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town 106 Minn Kota Fishing Ease<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-reading-for-fishing-705x413.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-reading-for-fishing-705x413.png 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-reading-for-fishing-150x88.png 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-reading-for-fishing-1536x901.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-reading-for-fishing.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>What really makes the Sportsman 106 MK stand out is the <strong>amazing motor drive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Being able to get to your fishing spot at 4 mph is just amazing, and you don\u2019t even have to use your arms and legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, the incredible stability means you can <strong>stand and cast without ever feeling tippy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regarding fishing features, it has the usual <strong>two gear tracks <\/strong>to mount a fish finder, a GoPro, a camera mount, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also has <strong>two extra gear tracks at the back<\/strong> (which aren\u2019t on the paddle-version of the Sportsman 106).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are <strong>two rear-facing flush-mounted rod holders<\/strong> and one forward-facing rod holder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You get <strong>net storage on the sides<\/strong> to throw plastics on one side, pliers on the other side, or whatever you might need. You also have <strong>pockets <\/strong>to fit your <strong>tackle boxes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, the <strong>deck is padded<\/strong> all around with EVA\u202ffoam so that you don\u2019t slip, and there\u2019s a <strong>universal transducer mount<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got a <strong>huge rear tankwell storage<\/strong> where you can fit a black pack and a cooler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>cockpit area is just massive<\/strong>. It\u2019s <strong>as big as the cockpit on my Autopilot 120<\/strong>\u202fwhich is 2 feet longer\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s due to the fact the motor is actually flush-mounted, so once you set it down there\u2019s nothing sticking up. It\u2019s completely flat so you can get your dog, kid, or simply walk around on the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-motor-fully-set-nothing-sticks-out-705x660.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-motor-fully-set-nothing-sticks-out-705x660.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-motor-fully-set-nothing-sticks-out-150x140.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sportsman-106-mk-motor-fully-set-nothing-sticks-out.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><br>This simple difference makes the\u202fcockpit feel so much bigger than a usual 10-foot kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, the motor has a <strong>double kill switch<\/strong>. One that makes it<strong> stop if you hit something<\/strong> and <strong>another that you tie to your life jacket<\/strong>. This way if you take a swim the motor will stop and you <strong>won\u2019t have to try and catch up with your boat going at 4 mph<\/strong> in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is the Old Town Sportsman 106\u202fPowered by Minn Kota for?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/standing-sportsman-705x430.png\" alt=\"Standing on the Sportsman MK\" class=\"wp-image-4309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/standing-sportsman-705x430.png 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/standing-sportsman-150x91.png 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/standing-sportsman.png 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>I think it\u2019s clear by now \u2212 the Sportsman 106 MK is <strong>made for serious anglers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This boat will take you to your fishing spot <strong>so fast<\/strong>. You can use it in rivers, lakes, in a creek\u2026 it\u2019s so<strong> light and quick<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For tournament anglers<\/strong>, the Sportsman 106 Minn Kota will definitely be better than even an expensive pedal kayak. But it won\u2019t be as good as the Autopilot which is made especially for tournament fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, if you just want a kayak that will take you to your fishing spot effortlessly so you can just focus on fishing\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And you\u2019re tired of paddling and you\u2019d love hands-free fishing\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then for almost the same price as a comparable pedal kayak, you get an amazing motorized boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For under $3000, the Sportsman 106 MK is the best motorized kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Sportsman-Powered-Motorized\/dp\/B0869XTVXQ?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=7aab22c96694d74e36f2a1ba4fcfa124&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Check Availability<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town 106 Minn Kota Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sportsman Autopilot 120<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/autopilot-120-705x381.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/autopilot-120-705x381.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/autopilot-120-150x81.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/autopilot-120.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-3 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.backcountry.com\/old-town-sportsman-autopilot-120-kayak\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Get the Best Deal<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m sure many of you are hesitating between the Sportsman 106 MK and the Autopilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the truth is these boats have <strong>very different purposes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my opinion, the Autopilot 120\u202fis specifically <strong>made for tournament fishing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has more storage capacity and the <strong>amazing spot-lock<\/strong> feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s also <strong>huge and heavy<\/strong>, you can\u2019t just throw it out anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019d say the Autopilot is<strong> more like a bass boat<\/strong>, for serious kayak anglers in big lakes or open ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman MK is slightly faster than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-sportsman-autopilot-136-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4326\">Autopilot<\/a>. But it <strong>doesn\u2019t have a remote control<\/strong>, so you can\u2019t steer the boat and <strong>adjust speed while standing<\/strong>, you have to sit back down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, the Sportsman 106 MK is <strong>around $1200\u202fcheaper<\/strong> than the Autopilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So\u2026 if you\u2019re a serious angler and you have the budget for it, then sure \u2212 the Autopilot is a fantastic kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you can\u2019t afford it, the Sportsman MK is just as great for different reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related article<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/saltwater-spinning-reels\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5626\">Best Saltwater Spinning Reels<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hobie Mirage Passport 12<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"423\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/hobie-mirage-passport-12-705x423.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/hobie-mirage-passport-12-705x423.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/hobie-mirage-passport-12-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/hobie-mirage-passport-12.jpg 732w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since the Sportsman 106 MK\u202fis by far the best motor kayak at its price range, I prefer comparing it to a similarly-priced pedal kayak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hobie Mirage Passport 12 is the <strong>cheapest Hobie boat <\/strong>\u2212 costing around $2100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since this is a pedal kayak, <strong>you\u2019ll have to use your legs<\/strong> to get to your fishing spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But at the same time, you <strong>won\u2019t <\/strong>ever<strong> worry about running out of battery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mirage Passport isn\u2019t as fast as the Sportsman MK. I have a <strong>cruising speed of only 3 mph<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from that, it\u2019s still an OK boat, but it <strong>doesn\u2019t have any reverse capability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though some people prefer the Hobie over the Sportsman\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, <strong>I think the Sportsman is so much better<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But I\u2019ll leave the choice to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/hobie-mirage-passport-12-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4816\">Read our full Mirage Passport 12 review.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town Predator PDL<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Old-Town-Predator-PDL-side-view.jpg\" alt=\"Old Town Predator PDL Side View Picture\" class=\"wp-image-1684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Old-Town-Predator-PDL-side-view.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Old-Town-Predator-PDL-side-view-150x49.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-4 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westmarine.com\/buy\/old-town--sportsman-bigwater-132-sit-on-top-pedal-drive-angler-kayak--20046074\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Get the Best Price<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Old Town Predator PDL or BigWater PDL 132 (they changed the name in 2020) is the <strong>fastest pedal kayak<\/strong> ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, you can get a <strong>cruising speed of 4 mph<\/strong>, right on par with the Sportsman 106 MK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you can <strong>coax out 6 mph<\/strong> out of it if you really pedal like crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a <strong>fantastic boat <\/strong>with a big cockpit, huge storage space at the stern and bow\u2026 and all the fishing features you get on the Sportsman 106 MK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, you<strong> can\u2019t go wrong<\/strong> with the BigWater PDL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think you need a pedal drive instead of a motor drive \u2212 mainly <strong>if you plan on doing 15+ mile trips<\/strong>, then go for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or <strong>if you want to lose some weight<\/strong> and work out while you go fishing on the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you\u2019re OK covering less than 15 miles in a day, then <strong>it\u2019s hard to go back from a motor to pedals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I know, I\u2019m lazy\u2026 but so will you once you\u2019ve tried it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/old-town-predator-pdl-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1680\">Read my full review of the Predator PDL.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old Town 106 Minn Kota &#8211; Wrapping it Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you didn\u2019t read any of the above\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman 106\u202fpowered by Minn Kota is a <strong>fantastic kayak with motor<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At just under $3000, it simply <strong>blows the competition out of the water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you value <strong>speed<\/strong>, <strong>stability<\/strong>, <strong>maneuverability<\/strong>, and <strong>even if you\u2019re a big and tall guy<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sportsman 106\u202fMK is the <strong>best value motorized kayak<\/strong> on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only downside is it<strong> tends to get out of stock<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So by the time you\u2019re reading this article, it might already be unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In which case, I\u2019m sorry. <strong>You\u2019ll have to wait until next year<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-layout-5 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Old-Town-Sportsman-Powered-Motorized\/dp\/B0869XTVXQ?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=happinessw0d5-20&amp;linkId=7aab22c96694d74e36f2a1ba4fcfa124&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" style=\"border-radius:15px;background-color:#fe4a49\"><strong>Check Availability<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After getting my Sportsman 106 MK last year, my wife and I have taken it more than 50\u202ftimes on the water. In this Old Town Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota review, I\u2019ll tell you what we love about this boat, and what could be improved. [Spoiler Alert: The Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Sportsman 106 Minn Kota: %%currentyear%% On-the-Water Review","_seopress_titles_desc":"After taking it on the water more than 50 times, here\u2019s my Old Town Sportsman 106 powered by Minn Kota Review.\u202fSpoiler Alert: It\u2019s the BEST...","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4297"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4297"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5759,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4297\/revisions\/5759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}