DIY Outboard Motor Setup on an Ascend 128T Kayak

Ever since I picked up my Ascend 128T kayak, I’ve dreamed of outfitting it with a small outboard motor. The idea was simple: boost speed and range, and turn quiet paddles into adventurous scouting runs. But two big obstacles stood in the way. First, finding the right gear to mount a motor. Second, sourcing a motor that was light enough for the kayak to handle.

Creative Solutions: A Winch Mount Becomes a Transom

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The breakthrough came thanks to Gabriel, who spotted something promising while we were browsing our local Harbor Freight — a Badland Winch Fairlead Mount.

Badland Winch Fairlead Mount from Harbor Freight looks like it was made to fit my Ascend 128T

It was sturdy, had the right dimensions, and with a bit of creative thinking, looked like it could serve as a makeshift motor transom. The cream on top of this wonderful discovery? The mount only costs $19.99!

I removed the rear handgrip from the back of the kayak because I knew that I was going to put a piece of HDPE plastic between the mount and the kayak deck. Had I planned just a bit more, I may have been able to keep the handle. Ultimately, the goal was to add strength and rigidity to the rear.

We paired this with a piece of 2x4 lumber, bolted it to the winch mount, and presto: we had a solid platform for clamping on an outboard.

Scoring the Right Motor for the Ascend 128T

A quick scan on Facebook Marketplace turned up exactly what we needed: a Mercury 3.3 hp 2-stroke outboard. Lightweight, simple, and with enough power to push the Ascend 128T kayak faster than any paddles ever could.

Key Specifications of the Mercury 3.3 hp 2-stroke outboard:

Horsepower/kW: 3.3 HP / 2.5 kW
Engine Type: 1-cylinder
Displacement: 4.6 cubic inches / 74.6 cc
Bore and Stroke: 47mm x 43mm
Full Throttle RPM: 4500 - 5500
Fuel/Oil Ratio: 50:1 (pre-mix)
Starting: Manual (pull cord)
Steering: Tiller with 360° turning
Gear Ratio: 2.15:1
Dry Weight: 12 kg (27 lbs)
Trim System: 4 position
Fuel Tank: 1.4L (gravity fed)
Fuel Induction: Loop-charged (1 carb)

Mercury 3.3 2-stroke outboard on Ascend 128T kayak

Mounting the motor was straightforward — we attached the fairlead mount to the kayak, clamped the motor onto the 2x4, and made sure everything was rock-solid before testing it on the open water. We had to get creative with steering and throttle management.

Rear view of the Mercury 3.3 2-stroke outboard on the back of an Ascend 128T kayak

Ascend 128T DIY Steering and Throttle

Of course, running a motor on a kayak comes with its own challenges. Steering and throttle had to be managed from the seated position, without the usual tiller access.

Ascend 128T kayak with an outboard motor

Here’s how we solved it:

Steering: We used a 5-foot length of PVC pipe, attached to a u-bolt on the motor’s tiller handle. This gave us reach to turn the motor from the seat.
Throttle: A length of paracord let us control the throttle.
Shifting: An aluminum rod allowed us to pop it in and out of gear.

Crude? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

Hitting the Water

On our first test run, the little Mercury pushed the Ascend 128T kayak up to 15 km/h (about 9.3 mph). That might not sound like much, but on a kayak, it felt like flying. More importantly, it was rock solid, stable, and an absolute blast.

Outboard motor on Ascend 128T kayak

What’s Next for the Ascend 128T?

We’re already planning improvements:

Adding a steering cable and lever system for smoother, hands-on steering.
Installing a cable throttle and gear shift for more precise control.

At the End of the Day

If you’ve ever wanted to motorize your kayak but were put off by the cost or lack of ready-made kits, don’t let that stop you. With a little ingenuity — and a fairlead winch mount from Harbor Freight — you can turn your paddle kayak into a compact motorized skiff and unlock whole new adventures on the water.