quietest trolling motors buying guide

Brushless motors that won't spook fish in shallow water

The motor you can barely hear is the one that keeps fish from bolting

Brushless motors ditch the internal brushes and gear whine that make older trolling motors buzz -- these three are the quietest options on the market right now.

See the quiet picks

Quick answer: Our top pick for quietest trolling motors is the Garmin Force Kraken 63" Trolling Motor (Quietest Overall). If you're looking for best for lowrance electronics, the Lowrance Ghost X Trolling Motor is a strong alternative.

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Why motor noise matters more than most anglers think

Reviewed by the TrollCove team · last updated 2026-08-21

Older trolling motors use brushed motors, where physical carbon brushes contact a spinning commutator to deliver power -- that contact creates both electrical noise and a low mechanical hum you can hear (and fish can feel) underwater. Brushless motors replace that contact with electronic commutation, cutting out the brush noise and running smoother across the entire speed range.

That matters most in shallow, clear water, where sound and vibration travel further and spook fish before your bait even gets close. It matters less in deep water or heavy current, where the motor's noise is a smaller factor than boat position and presentation.

None of this replaces stealth entirely -- a spinning prop still creates pressure waves that a fish's lateral line can detect even from an otherwise silent motor. But going from a brushed to a brushless motor is a real, measurable step down in the noise a fish notices, on top of the runtime and reliability gains brushless motors already bring.

Our main lineup's MotorGuide Xi5 and Minn Kota PowerDrive 55 are both still brushed motors -- excellent motors on their own terms, just not the ones to reach for if quiet running in skinny water is the deciding factor.

Brushless doesn't mean silent

All three motors here still make some noise from water flow past the prop and housing -- brushless just removes the internal brush and gear-whine noise that older motors add on top of that baseline.

Electronics ecosystem narrows the choice fast

If you already run Lowrance or Humminbird electronics, the Ghost X or Ultrex Quest slot in with direct sonar and waypoint integration. If you're not locked into either ecosystem, the Garmin Force Kraken's reputation as the quietest overall motor makes it the default pick.

Shallow water is where the quiet actually pays off

In 15+ feet of water, the difference between a brushed and brushless motor matters less -- it's skinny, clear water where a quieter motor meaningfully reduces how far you can approach before fish scatter.

Product Best For Price Rating
Garmin Force Kraken 63" Trolling Motor Quietest Overall $3,600 - $3,800 4.8/5
Lowrance Ghost X Trolling Motor Best for Lowrance Electronics $3,899 - $4,300 4.7/5
Minn Kota Ultrex Quest Trolling Motor Best for Humminbird Electronics $3,100 - $3,700 4.6/5
Quietest Overall

Garmin Force Kraken 63" Trolling Motor

★★★★★ 4.8

Garmin's flagship GPS trolling motor, with 100 lbs of thrust on a 36V system and a brushless direct-drive motor that reviewers and Garmin itself point to as the quietest in its class, on top of true wireless GPS spot-lock and integrated sonar compatibility.

  • Brushless direct-drive design is the quietest motor in this comparison
  • Class-leading 100 lbs of thrust with true wireless GPS spot-lock
  • Integrates directly with Garmin fish finders and chartplotters
  • Highest price by a wide margin
  • Overkill for smaller freshwater boats
$3,600 - $3,800 View on Amazon
Best for Lowrance Electronics

Lowrance Ghost X Trolling Motor

★★★★★ 4.7

A 24V/36V brushless bow-mount motor rated up to 120 lbs of thrust on 36V systems, built around Lowrance's newest brushless motor for quiet running and up to 60% better runtime efficiency than older brushed designs, with waypoint anchoring and direct integration with Lowrance sonar and chartplotters.

  • Brushless motor markets as Lowrance's quietest trolling motor yet
  • Up to 120 lbs of thrust with strong runtime efficiency
  • Direct waypoint and sonar integration for existing Lowrance setups
  • No meaningful benefit if you don't already run Lowrance electronics
  • Premium price similar to the Garmin Force Kraken
$3,899 - $4,300 View on Amazon
Best for Humminbird Electronics

Minn Kota Ultrex Quest Trolling Motor

★★★★★ 4.6

A 90/115 lb thrust (24V/36V) bow-mount motor built on Minn Kota's QUEST brushless platform, noticeably quieter than Minn Kota's older brushed motors though reviewers still rank it a step behind the Garmin Force Kraken and Lowrance Ghost X on noise, with One-Boat Network integration for Humminbird fish finders.

  • Brushless QUEST motor is much quieter than Minn Kota's older brushed lineup
  • One-Boat Network links directly to Humminbird fish finders
  • Programmable foot pedal with Spot-Lock and automatic navigation
  • Reviewers still rank it slightly behind the Ghost X and Force Kraken for noise
  • Best value only makes sense if you're already in the Humminbird ecosystem
$3,100 - $3,700 View on Amazon

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