Kayak fishing is a great way to get out on the water, and the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 136 is the ultimate fishing kayak.
It’s a high-tech fishing machine that is saltwater ready for the avid fisherman heading out to open water. It has a comfortable seat and adjustable foot braces for people of all sizes.
Old Town incorporated a Minn Kota 45lb thrust trolling motor and includes Minn Kota’s Spot-Lock technology. This technology will hold your position in a current or a heavy wind with a Bluetooth connected remote that is controlled with just the touch of your thumb.
This is done without an anchor. Instead, it effortlessly keeps you in your favorite fishing spot with just the push of a button.
Specifications
- Maximum Weight Limit: 660lbs
- Kayak Weight: 158lbs (including motor assembly)
- Usable capacity: 502
- Length: 13’6″
- Width: 37″
Autopilot 136 Kayak Features
- Propelled with an advanced trolling motor system or paddled
- Spot-lock technology
- Highly adjustable aluminum framed seating with breathable mesh for increased comfort
- Large platform with an open cockpit design
- Padded non-slip deck for standing
- A lot of storage options including a rear deck and a hatch system.
- Accessory rails
- Flush mount fishing rod holders
- Per-wired for a fish finder
Important Feature Details
The Propulsion System
Old Town Canoe partnered with Minn Kota to equip The Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136 with one of the most advanced electric motors on the market.
The 45lbs thrust salt-water ready trolling motor that has all the power needed to get you out in big water. And, it can be powered by either a 12v deep cycle sealed lead acid battery or a lithium-ion battery.
The Autopilot has a unique design with a system that makes the motor easy to install, remove or just lift out of the way in shallow water.
Lifting the motor can even be done from a seated position with a lift assist that was designed to help rotate the motor console forward and out of the water.
The motor’s console mounts flush with the bottom of the kayak. This leaves an advanced fishing platform for standing, stretching or just moving around. You can remove the motor to open more space.
Spot-Lock Technology
One amazing feature that has been designed for use with Old Town kayaks is Spot-Lock technology. With just the touch of their thumb, fishermen use a handheld ipilot remote to lock in their favorite spots, even when out on bigger water.
This spot-lock feature uses GPS to track your location and lock you in place with the remote control. This prevents problems that can happen when anchoring a kayak in water conditions that can change rapidly.
The Autopilot’s Control and Maneuverability
Positioned for easy access, the motor throttle is a boat-style lever. Simply push the lever forward to go forward and back to go in reverse.
The Autopilot 136 has an extra large rudder system that provides excellent boat control and exceptional maneuverability. The rudder is versatile. Rotate it up when its not needed or turn it down for easy deployment.
The foot braces have an integrated rudder control for easy hands-free fishing.
The Kayak’s Seat
All kayak anglers know that a good fishing kayak must have premium seating. The Sportsman Autopilot 136 has a premium seat that provides all day comfort.
The kayak has a breathable seat constructed of dual-layer textilene material that is durable and UV resistant. The seat also dries quickly due to the textilene’s natural breathability.
This is a great feature when dealing with the sun, sweat and salt from a long day of fishing. It is also easy to clean off all the grime that may build up from catching all those fish.
The seat has an aluminum frame to prevent rusting, and also features a layer of 3D mesh for added comfort.
The seat has a high or low position. This is a great feature to make it more comfortable for people of all sizes, including big guys. Set it in the high position if you are a big guy or maybe you just want a high vantage point to see down into the water.
Use the lower position for a more relaxed ride. You can also remove the seat when transporting or used as a beach chair.
The Hull Design and Storage
This kayak has a large open cockpit, even with the motor installed. There is plenty of room for standing to cast, fighting a fish or just moving around to stretch your legs. The deck also has non-slip EVA foam deck pads to help with traction and provides stand-up comfort when barefoot.
The Autopilot has a large rear deck for a storage area with a bungee cord netting to secure your gear. An aft tank well provides a hull storage option for additional gear. This provides room to organize your gear to give you plenty of fishing space without having to worry about tripping over gear on your deck.
The weight of the kayak tends to be heavier than others due to the wide double-u hull design. This revolutionary design makes the kayak stable and able to handle larger open water.
Additional Kayak Features
- A floor plug for the console is stored in the tank. It’s readily available to keep water out when the motor is removed, or when you just want to paddle.
- Accessory tracks for mounting of accessories on the sides, and a custom tackle box to keep your gear close at hand.
- Pre-wired with a through-hull wiring kit and a universal transducer mount to quickly mount your fish finder without drilling holes. Find the fish with your fish finder, then lock your position with the spot lock!
- Fishing rod holders. There are two forward-facing and two rear-facing flush mount fishing rod holders. There rod holders ensure that you can position your fishing pole in just the right position while trolling, or keep them stored and ready to grab when you need to make a quick gear change.
Here’s a great video from Old Town Sportsman that highlights the Autopilot’s features.
Pros
- Hands Free System
- Easy to control
- Great Stability
- Lots of Storage
- Very Customizable
- Easy to Add Accessories
Cons
- Expensive
- Heavy hull weight
Conclusion
Old Town Canoes have done an amazing job at creating one of the best topwater series fishing kayaks on the market. There are some that have tried to compete, but few have been successful. Old Town has a wide range of Kayaks to offer, including some more inexpensive options.
Click here for a list of the 21 Best Fishing Kayaks For Big Guys.
To visit Old Town’s website for additional information, click HERE.