Best Boat Trolling Motor Features for Saltwater Fishing

The trolling motor was invented in 1934, however the first saltwater fashions didn’t hit the water till a decade in the past. Why did it take virtually 90 years for the trolling motor to achieve coastal anglers? Sturdiness. Combining saltwater, steel and electrical energy is a recipe for corrosion-forming electrolysis. Freshwater trolling motors died in salt and early saltwater fashions struggled to outlive. 

The most recent era of saltwater trolling motors function sturdy elements and good design to thrive within the harsh marine surroundings. Main the best way, Garmin’s Power Kraken trolling motor is constructed with powerful elements and superior options for the last word in boat management to catch extra fish.

What Is a Trolling Motor for Saltwater Fishing?

The primary trolling motors had been small electrical kickers that connected to the strict of a jon boat. Bass anglers rapidly realized the benefit of mounting an electrical motor on the bow to silently maneuver the boat whereas fishing. Earlier than lengthy, a trolling motor was normal gear on a bass sled. However the expertise has been sluggish to achieve saltwater. 

A trolling motor is a small electrical motor on a protracted shaft powered by massive, rechargeable batteries. The shaft is mounted on the boat to carry the motor under the water. Utilizing a hand management, distant management or foot pedal, I direct the motor to place the boat with extra accuracy than doable with a gasoline outboard. With a trolling motor, I can silently troll for skittish fish, sneak into shallow water, patrol an space, maneuver handsfree and maintain my boat in a single place whereas I fish. 

Trolling Motor Improvements

Fashionable trolling motors have some wonderful options. Probably the most vital development is connecting the trolling motor to a GPS community. With the satellite tv for pc location info, I can program my trolling motor to observe a course, repeat a course, return to a location, jog at a low pace, and extra. After I push the anchor lock button, the GPS manipulates the trolling motor so my boat stays in a single place. 

Producers have centered on sturdiness and energy enhancements to deliver the expertise to saltwater anglers. To outlive salt and sand that plagues coastal fishing gear, saltwater trolling motors like Garmin’s Power Kraken use corrosion-resistant supplies, redundant programs, and sealed electronics. 

The following problem was producing energy to drag a big saltwater fishing boat in sturdy present and wind. To supply sufficient torque to maneuver heavy boats, one of the best saltwater trolling motors use brushless motors that draw much less electrical energy and create extra energy. Garmin’s Power Kraken can produce as much as 100 foot kilos of thrust with a shaft size as much as 90 inches to run boats as much as 35 toes lengthy.

With the invention of forward-facing and 360 sonar, the trolling motor has develop into a handy place to mount the sonar transducer. Attaching the transducer to the motor head, I can flip the transducer to direct the sign at potential targets whereas watching the return on a multi-function show.

Talking of the fish finder show, Garmin’s Power Kraken trolling motor makes use of wi-fi connection to combine with Garmin’s electronics programs. I management the Kraken with a handheld distant management, wi-fi foot pedal, smartphone or smartwatch. Combining these user-friendly options with a sturdy electrical motor massive and highly effective sufficient to fish offshore and inshore, Garmin’s Power Kraken is an ideal instance of the capabilities of recent saltwater trolling motors.

8 Prime Saltwater Fishing Electrical Trolling Motor Options 

Including GPS management and forward-facing sonar fully modified the trolling motor recreation. The small electrical motors at the moment are a ship management and fish-finding weapon. With the Garmin Power Kraken and different fashionable trolling motors, I program routes, maintain my boat in a single place, search fish in each path and fish all day with out worrying about battery energy. Right now’s trolling motors have a protracted listing of options aimed toward making fishing simpler and extra enjoyable.

Anchor Deployment Capabilities

Surely, the Garmin Power Kraken’s digital anchor is its most precious function. I push a button on the distant and the trolling motor works to carry the boat in place. Garmin’s Power Kraken makes use of a two band GPS for pinpoint accuracy and lightning quick steering response. 

Most trolling motors spin the motor 360 levels to maneuver the boat ahead and backward. As a substitute of turning the entire motor, The Power Kraken makes use of a reverse gear which creates much less turbulence and responds faster saving time and power. In swift present and robust wind, the Power Kraken controls my boat with out lacking a beat. 

Garmin LiveScope Compatibility

Along with superior boat management capabilities, Garmin’s Power Kraken and different top-end trolling motors supply me a spot to mount my ahead dealing with sonar transducer. Ahead-facing and 360 sonar permit me to see fish and construction in each path under the water. The transducer turns 360 levels to seek for fish and construction as much as 200 toes from the boat. 

Some anglers mount the transducer to the top of a pole that’s connected to a bracket on the facet of the boat. Garmin’s Power Kraken permits me to mount the LiveScope transducer on the motor. To direct the sonar sign, I flip the trolling motor within the path I’m looking. I route the transducer cable by way of the trolling motor shaft for a clear set up and fewer probability of damaging the twine.

Battery Efficiency

Battery efficiency is a trolling motor’s Achilles heel. The electrical motor runs on massive batteries with restricted capability. Sealed lead-acid marine batteries are the usual; lithium batteries are lighter and extra sturdy with longer battery life. 

To increase the battery life, Garmin’s Power Kraken’s brushless motor conserves power and produces extra energy than a brushed motor. Additionally, the environment friendly propeller and reverse gear scale back the motor’s work load. Working off 36 volts (that’s three 12 volt batteries), the Kraken will produce 100 kilos of thrust for hours of fishing. 

Consumer-Pleasant Distant and Foot Pedal Management

A trolling motor is all about boat management, so controlling the motor is vital to catching extra fish. Garmin’s Power Kraken affords a floating, wi-fi distant management, a wi-fi foot pedal or integration with a smartphone or smartwatch. I may even function the motor with my fish finder show. 

One of the best trolling motor remotes have massive, intuitive buttons and a small LED show of motor info. To function the motor whereas I’m casting my fishing rod, a wi-fi foot pedal promotes hands-free fishing. 

If the wi-fi programs fail, I can nonetheless management the motor with my telephone. A couple of fundamental options, like anchor lock, are accessible on the bottom of the motor. After I’m trying to find fish, I exploit the foot-pedal to forged and retrieve whereas masking water. 

The hand-held distant provides me fast entry to anchor lock and different programming options. To unlock the motor’s full potential, I exploit the app and wi-fi connection to my fish finder to program routes and make exact location changes.

Turbo Mode

When the present is ripping and the wind is whipping, a trolling motor struggles to manage a giant boat. Garmin Power Kraken has a Turbo Mode that will increase the facility and torque for brief durations once I want it most. Kicking the motor into Turbo Mode helps me restrict energy utilization by saving most pace for the hardest motoring situations. 

Minimal Prop Wash and Obstruction Fast Reverse

A trolling motor quietly maneuvers the boat whereas I’m fishing. To stop spooking the fish, Garmin’s Power Kraken combines an optimized propeller and silent operation. The propeller creates minimal bubbles and no cavitation and the shaft turns easily. When the boat is in anchor lock mode, the propeller spins ahead and reverse as an alternative of the shaft always spinning to maintain the boat in a single place.

Pivot Model Mount

Most saltwater boats don’t have a large open deck within the bow like a bass boat. Garmin’s Power Kraken makes use of a small pivot fashion mount to safe the motor with a minimal footprint. 

After I arrive to the fishing grounds, I rotate the shaft to unlock the discharge after which slide and pivot the motor head into the water. The pivot mount is simple to take away from the boat and requires much less area within the bow, so it suits extra saltwater boats. 

Composite Shaft

A protracted shaft on a big saltwater boat takes numerous abuse. In tough seas, the highly effective motor needs to bend and break the shaft. Saltwater trolling motors have an indestructible and corrosion resistant composite shaft. One of the best saltwater trolling motors, like Garmin’s Power Kraken, have a shaft that features a conduit to route a fish finder transducer cable.

The ultimate alternative is selecting the shaft size. The trolling motor’s composite shaft reaches from the bow to under the water. Measure the gap and select a shaft size that can maintain the motor under the water in tough seas. A simple-to-use on-line tutorial makes it straightforward to construct a complete boat system. 

Garmin’s Power Kraken is offered in 4 sizes, from 48 inches to 90 inches, to cowl boats from 18 toes to 35 toes lengthy. The worth at Bass Professional Outlets depends upon the shaft size, with a 48-inch mannequin going for $3799.99 to $4299.99 for the 90-inch motor.

Options to the Garmin Power Kraken

It’s a very good time to be available in the market for a trolling motor. Probably the most superior expertise is now accessible for saltwater trolling motors with as much as 115-pounds of thrust and a 100-inch shaft. And the most recent motors are lastly profitable the battle towards corrosion with space-age supplies and design. The race is on to create probably the most superior trolling motor that’s best to make use of. All that is nice information for saltwater anglers wanting so as to add a trolling motor to their boat.

Heavy Obligation: Energy-Pole Transfer PV

Energy-Pole’s main goal once they designed their first trolling motor was sturdiness. They glad that goal with a bulletproof brushless motor, bolstered propeller, titanium shaft and redundant programs. 

The Transfer PV is a part of Energy-Pole’s whole boat management system to hyperlink with their shallow-water anchors to cease and propel the boat with one distant. After all, the Transfer contains all of the superior GPS options anticipated of a top-of-the-line trolling motor.

Value: $5599.99 – 72”

Finances Pleasant: MotorGuide Xi5

MotorGuide’s Xi5 is a basic saltwater trolling motor that gives superior options at a terrific worth. I management the Xi5 with a handheld distant or wi-fi foot pedal. The trolling motor integrates with Lowrance, Simrad and Mercury Marine electronics. A pin-point correct GPS permits me to jog the boat, observe a course and lock the boat in place. The Xi5 has been round for years, a testomony to its sturdy composite shaft, sealed electronics and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Value: $2549.99 – 72”

Massive Boats: Minn Kota Riptide Intuition Quest

Minn Kota began the trolling motor recreation and stays forward of the competitors with the most important and strongest trolling motors. With shafts as much as 100 inches and 115 foot-pounds of thrust, the Riptide Intuition Quest motor is acceptable for boats over 35 toes lengthy. Minn Kota’s Riptide Intuition Quest features a brushless motor, GPS management, electronics integration and power-saving options anticipated in a premium trolling motor for saltwater. 

Value: $4699.99 – 72”

Elevate Your Fishing With Superior Trolling Motor Options

Trolling motors for saltwater are extra highly effective and sturdy than ever earlier than. I exploit my trolling motor to troll, energy drift, fish construction and silently seek for fish. Trolling motors could also be new to saltwater fishing, however the superior boat-control options make me marvel how I ever lived with out a trolling motor on my saltwater boat.

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