You’ve surely heard that Minn Kota is an awesome brand.
And that their Endura C2 is perhaps the best trolling motor for inflatable boats.
But how true is that?
Is it worth the extra $?
Or should you get a cheaper motor instead?
Today, we’re answering all of these questions for you.
We’ll have an in-depth look at:
- Who this motor is built for
- What you’ll get from it
- What you WON’T get from it
Plus, we’re also comparing it side-by-side with your other options (including the Endura Maxx).
This is the complete Minn Kota Endura C2 Review, so let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Who Is This Product For?
Here’s a bold statement:
In my opinion, this is the best trolling motor for inflatable boats.
That’s right. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better.
You could argue with me of course, and I’m sure not everyone will agree.
But hear me out.
No other motor is as high-quality and fits the needs of an inflatable boater as perfectly as this one.
Inflatable boats are incredibly lightweight. You don’t need a lot of power to push them around.
With 30-55 lbs thrust options, the Endura C2 has just the right amount of power to troll around smoothly. And if you want some speed, this motor can power you up to 5mph.
What’s more, this motor isn’t heavy at all.
The 30lb thrust model only weighs 15 lbs!
This will go perfectly with your inflatable. Overloading your boat is the last thing you have to worry about.
It’s also super high-quality.
If durability is your thing, you’ll love the Endura C2.
This motor is virtually indestructible. Minn Kota is so confident about it, they put a lifetime warranty on its shaft! (We’ll take a closer look at that in a bit)
Everything right down to the buttons is extremely well-made.
For boaters who are tired of cheaply made motors, this will be a breath of fresh air. Minn Kota motors are renowned for their quality, and it shows.
Finally, this is a transom-mount motor.
You can go full DIY and install a bow motor on your inflatables if you want to.
But why bother, when there’s already a high-tech and high-quality motor built for the transom?
If you have a transom board on your boat, it’s super easy to install this motor. All you have to do is screw it on and you’re good to go.
Don’t have a transom board?
No worries. You can easily buy one online.
Now, the Endura C2 doesn’t have as many features as bow-mounts. So if you’re after Minn Kota’s fancy features, this isn’t the motor you’re looking for.
What it does have though, is everything you need for your inflatable boat.
Minn Kota Endura C2 Features
| Thrust: | Shaft Length: |
| 30, 40, 45, 50, 55 lbs | 30”, 36”, 42” |
The Endura C2 is a surprisingly simple motor by Minn Kota’s standards.
Yes, it still has everything you need, but it isn’t quite as fancy as their other models.
Let’s have a look.
What We Like:
- Many power options
- Quick-release lever lock bracket
- Super responsive telescoping tiller
- 8-speeds: 5 forward 3 reverse
- LED battery meter
- Adjustable shaft
- Indestructible shaft
- 2-year warranty
- Power prop
Before we get into what this bad boy can do, I have to give serious props to the Endura C2 for having so. many. power. options.
Seriously.
With the Endura, you get to choose between 5 different thrust levels and 3 shaft lengths.
So whether you have a small 2-person inflatable that needs minimal power – or a big, tough dinghy that requires some extra kick – there’s an Endura model for you.
Alright, now to what it can do.
The lever lock bracket allows you to easily deploy and stow your motor.
All you have to do is push a button and you can raise your motor off the water. Deploying is just as easy.
You also get a super responsive telescoping tiller.
The tiller is super sensitive to every turn you make. You don’t have to stretch and strain to get the motor facing the right direction.
The telescoping feature also gives you extra comfort. You can extend the tiller a full six inches out, allowing you to steer without having to sit right next to the motor.
When you’re on the move, you can go at any pace you want.
The Endura comes with 8-speed options: 5 forward and 3 reverse.
You get to choose between chilling at speed 1 or hitting up to 5mph with speed 5.
You won’t have to worry about running out of battery either.
With the built-in LED battery meter, you can check your battery levels anytime.
And that’s only the head of the motor. We haven’t even got to the shaft yet!
One of the standout features of the Endura C2 is its indestructible composite shaft.
It’s so strong, Minn Kota slapped on a lifetime warranty for it.
That’s right, that warranty is never going to expire.
Keep in mind though that this is only for the shaft. The rest of the motor is covered by a 2-year warranty (which is still great).
Finally, right at the bottom, there is a power prop installed.
It isn’t quite as sharp as Minn Kota’s Weedless Prop. However, this propeller is strong enough to get rid of light vegetation.
- Lever Lock Bracket: This solid 10-position bracket features a quick-release lever lock and reinforced composite material that resists flexing, warping, and UV damage
- Telescoping Tiller: Get easy, comfortable, intuitive operation of your trolling motor with the six-inch telescoping tiller
Last update on 2024-04-24 at 13:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What We Don’t Like:
- No Digital Maximizer
- No special Minn Kota features
- Not built for saltwater
As I’ve said before, the Endura C2 has everything you need.
However, for more tech-savvy fishermen, this motor is quite basic.
For one, it doesn’t have Minn Kota’s Digital Maximizer, the feature that lets the battery run 5x longer.
You won’t find Minn Kota’s fancy features here either. Things like i-pilot, auto-pilot, spot-lock, and fishfinders are lacking with the Endura C2.
This motor is also NOT built for saltwater.
If you take it to the beach, don’t expect it to survive for a long time.
What’s worse, you also instantly void your warranty if you run it on saltwater.
How to Install
Installing your Minn Kota Endura C2 to your inflatable boat is extremely easy.
To do this, all you have to do is 2 things: fasten it to your transom and hook up the battery.
The motor comes with its very own screw clamps ready. That’s why all you have to do is screw it in to attach it to your transom board.
If you don’t have a built-in transom board, check out this article to learn how to install a transom mount.
Next up is the battery.
Note: The Endura doesn’t come with a battery, you’ll have to buy a marine battery yourself.
You’ll find two wires dangling from your motor.
All you have to do is attach these wires to the battery – the positive cable to the positive terminal, and the negative cable to the negative terminal.
And that’s it!
Your trolling motor should be up and ready to go.
Easy right?
Alternatives
The only real problem with the Endura C2 is its price tag.
Not everyone has the money to invest in its quality.
Especially people with affordable inflatable boats.
Newport Vessels’ NV Series
If you’re on a budget, you should check out Newport Vessels’ NV series.
This motor has similar power options and shaft lengths to the Endura C2.
What’s cool about this motor is that it’s saltwater-rated. You can take it wherever you want without worrying it’ll rust up.
No, it isn’t as high-quality as Minn Kota. However, it’s much cheaper.
That’s why a lot of budget boaters go for Newport Vessels instead.
Minn Kota Riptide Transom
If you want a top-quality saltwater motor for your inflatable. Go for the Minn Kota Riptide Transom.
The Riptides are Minn Kota’s line-up of saltwater motors.
But the Riptide Transom isn’t just a saltwater version of the Endura C2.
This motor also has:
- Tilting tiller – allowing you to steer while standing up
- Weedless Wedge prop – which can slice through any vegetation
- Digital Maximizer – for 5x longer battery life
It’s also far pricier.
But hey, if you need a quality saltwater motor, this is your best bet.
Minn Kota Endura C2 vs Endura Maxx
If you need that extra battery life, you’re in luck.
Minn Kota has built another version of the Endura, the Endura Maxx.
This motor is the same as the C2, except that it comes with the Digital Maximizer.
You also won’t be stuck with only 8-speed options.
The Endura Maxx has variable speed control, which gives you unlimited choices of speed.
Conclusion
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again:
For me, the Minn Kota Endura C2 is the best trolling motor for inflatable boats.
But the real question is…
What about you?
Is this the motor you’re looking for?
Have a question? Drop a comment below!
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