How much should you budget to motorize your fishing float-tube?

For a float-tube, we use an electric motor weighing between 35 and 55 lbs. If you opt for a conventional motor with a control handle, you'll need to budget between ?250 and ?400.

If you want to motorize your float-tube, the battery and its accessories are quite expensive.

The first part is fixed, corresponding to the casing, charger and circuit-breaker, and the second part is variable, depending on the autonomy and quality of the battery selected.

Equal costs, regardless of the battery chosen, can be estimated at ?150.

Secondly, the price of a lithium battery can vary greatly according to brand and capacity. If you opt for a 50 Ah battery, you'll need to budget ?150, and ?200 for a 100 Ah.

If the float-tube you're after doesn't have a motor mount, you'll need to spend ?50 to buy one, including the glue-on patch. For this reason, it's best to buy directly from a brand that offers float tubes with motor support included.

In the end, the budget will vary according to the motorization and range chosen. If you're buying new, you'll need to budget at least ?600 for the equipment. This budget will grow the more you want to increase engine power, opt for certain technologies or increase battery capacity.

The investment is well worth it, as it offers many more possibilities in terms of accessible locations, and at a price that's still affordable compared to investing in other equipment, such as a kayak or boat, not to mention the added constraints of transport and storage.