Anyone have experience with the 106 with Minnkota trolling motor? I’m looking to buy my first kayak and need something light enough to car top and like the hands free idea of the trolling motor with foot controlled rudder.

Keep in Mind with a trolling motor, It will have to be registered.

What is the typical cost for registration? Is it annual or a one time thing?

Cost about $32 and I believe it is every 2 years. Don't quote me on it though. Here is the link for TPWD.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/faq/fishboat/boat/registration_and_titles/#faq5

It's valid for 2 years and cost is $32.00.
You will have to attach a TX number (certificate of number) along with the new issue sticker on the bow of your kayak.
It's important to display the sticker and numbers correctly to be in compliance.

Thanks! That’s not too bad.

The old town plus battery is a pretty big chunk of change but would hate to plop down half that for a paddle yak and then be constantly fighting it with the Texas wind.

I wouldn't necessarily think of that yak first when it comes to carrying on the cartop. Might be a bit heavy to hoist up depending on the car and your back.

I have a paddle only yak, and the only time I would like to have a motor is when I want to cover a large distance, over two miles away from the launch. I use a chain anchor and a stake out pole to hold fishing position in the wind. You learn how to fish differently from a yak than in a boat. Just my take on it.

This is where I get confused on kayak specs. The hull weight is listed at 75 lbs for the old town 106, so I was assuming this was the weight I’d need to lift on the roof. This will go on a full size SUV so pretty tall. Compare this to a bonafide rs117 at 72 lbs without the seat. What weight is manageable to car top?

When they list hull weight, they are saying that is without the seat or any accessories!
I used to cartop my kayak and it including the seat was around 67 pounds. It wasn't light in my opinion but I'm no longer young and strong.
What gave me problems was trying to load it on uneven ground (boat launch ramp) where the kayak would tend to want to slide off the roof.

It is one thing to lift 75 pounds over your head in the gym. It is another to lift a 75 pound kayak over your head in a 20 mph cross wind after you have been fishing all day. Then lift a battery followed by a foot controlled trolling motor. I see a trailer or pickup in your future.

^^^THIS^^^^

My Jackson has a listed hull weight of 68 lbs but that is no seat and completely empty, My yak is never empty, even when I take out all my gear. There's no doubt that I could put my yak on top of an SUV if I needed to but I prefer to limit my suffering in the name of fun to a reasonable amount where possible.

If you really want to drop that much cash on a personal fishing watercraft with a motor (don't forget the expense of a battery - lithium are light but $$$) just to avoid being blown around while fishing, you may be spending a lot and not getting what you're after. Yaks in general are light, shallow draft, and catch a lot of wind, some do better than others but all are inherently challenging to control in the wind. A motor in the middle of the craft will help with control but if you're expecting bass boat like fishing position control you may be disappointed.

If you are going to be registering a kayak, you can register a small trailer too (different locations, no more of a hassle than registering a kayak).

If you don't have space to store a trailer, you might consider something like the "EZ Rack". It's pricy (about $750) but it's a pretty slick design.

https://www.ezrecreationalracks.com/

Thanks guys for all the help, definitely good points to think about.

100% accurate. I have owned many kayaks in the 65-75 pound range and nothing is more difficult than after a full day of fishing in the Texas heat loading that yak back up on to your SUV. I owned a Ford Explorer for many years and finally realized I was getting sloppy with the loading just out of pure exhaustion at the end of the day. Finally bought a small trailer and found it to be SOOO much easier. You can find trailers at minimum price on Craigslist or even here on TFF. I finally sold the yaks and trailer. Now have a truck so I no longer have any issues.