Over the course of a little more than a year, brushless technology has permeated the market for saltwater trolling motors. Offering improved efficiency, stealth and durability, brushless electric motor technology is becoming available from a growing list of major trolling-motor brands, and appears to be ensconced as the future of electric propulsion when it comes to positioning anglers to catch more fish.
All of this advancement raises an interesting question: Is there any reason to opt for a conventional (old-fashioned) brushed unit when it comes time to buy a new trolling motor? No…unless you’re someone who just doesn’t need the benefits of brushless or if cost is a primary concern.
By removing the friction and electrical waste of a mechanical brush in contact with commutator plates to spin the armature, brushless technology has achieved marked efficiency improvements leading to increased power and decreased battery drain at the same time. Without friction, a brushless motor is also a quieter motor. The only claimed benefit yet to be tested on these new units is improved durability, and that’s only because they haven’t been on the water long enough. Theoretically, without physical contact from a brush, there is less wear and tear taking place during operation.
Garmin, Minn Kota, Power-Pole, Lowrance and Simrad have all introduced brushless saltwater trolling motors within the past couple of years. They all feature GPS guidance, rugged marine-grade construction, sophisticated technology, and advanced system integration. Here’s a quick look at their features and capabilities.
Power-Pole Move
The Move PV series saltwater trolling motors from Power-Pole feature pivot mounts, brushless motors, GPS guidance, wireless controls, and virtual anchoring. Move’s brushless motors are engineered to deliver power at lower rpm. A super-strong titanium shaft carries a lifetime guarantee. Advanced electronic technology includes built-in GPS navigation with features such as Anchor mode and Active Vector Heading navigation.
Move PV motors are available in 24 and 36 volts, delivering 78 and 100 pounds of thrust, respectively. A variety of user-friendly wireless controls include a ReelFeel foot pedal, which provides the sensation of cable steering and the ability to put it anywhere on the boat. There are also wireless foot buttons available to activate the Anchor and Active Vector Heading modes. Power-Pole’s ProNav app can enable a mobile device to become the trolling-motor controller.
The PV series is available in 45-, 52-, 60- and 72-inch shaft lengths, and comes in black or white. It starts at $4,999.99. For more, visit power-pole.com.
Minn-Kota Instinct
Minn Kota’s top-of-the-line Instinct models feature Quest brushless motor technology and push-button deploy and stow. The Riptide Instinct operates either on 24 volts for 90 pounds of thrust or 36 volts for 115 pounds of thrust. Shaft-length choices include 60, 65, 87 and 100 inches.
These motors also have beefy composite shafts and pivot points, and the motor incorporates real-time battery monitoring with a “time until empty” indicator, which prompts anglers to switch to Eco mode when reserves drop to 20 percent. Features include built-in i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link GPS-enabled guidance functionality such as Spot-Lock virtual anchoring and Drift mode, which works like a virtual drift sock.
Control options include a GPS wireless remote to drive the motor from anywhere in the boat. Riptide Instinct offers compatibility with the One-Boat Network for easily networking with and controlling via a Humminbird multifunction display. Available in black or white. Starting at $4,399.99 for a 60-inch-shaft model. For more, visit minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com.
Garmin Force Kraken
Garmin’s Force Kraken brushless saltwater trolling motors are engineered with a pivot-style mount for easy installation on boats where bow space is limited. With manual deploy and stow, they offer anglers seamless, wireless integration with Garmin sonar systems, multifunction displays, and smartwatches.
The Kraken features a brushless motor and high-efficiency propeller to produce 100 pounds of thrust as a 36-volt system or 80 pounds as a 24-volt system. Anglers can also easily install live sonar thanks to a cable-management system that routes the transducer cable inside the trolling-motor shaft. With the Kraken LiveScope mounting bracket (additional purchase required), any Garmin LiveScope transducer can be installed and operated in all three modes: Forward, Down and Perspective.
The Force Kraken series includes 48-, 63-, 75- and 90-inch shafts to accommodate most boats from skiffs to larger center-consoles. The included wireless remote gives anglers control of the trolling motor with precise virtual anchor lock, autopilot functionality, heading hold, and point-and-go gesture steering. Kraken is available in black and white, with suggested retail prices from $3,599.99. For more info, visit garmin.com.
Simrad & Lowrance Recon
The new saltwater trolling motors from Lowrance and Simrad share the same model name—Recon—and possess the same design, including a brushless motor that operates on either 24 or 36 volts and produces 90 and 115 pounds of thrust, respectively.
These manually deployed, electric-steered trolling motors boast a unique joystick remote called Freesteer. Incorporating a color LCD display, the remote is lightweight and wearable, providing 360 degrees of manual steering, as well as activation of automatic functions. With the Lowrance version of Recon, the remote can be combined with a wireless foot pedal with programmable keypad and seamless display integration via an NMEA-2000 network. The Simrad version grants full integration with a Simrad multifunction display via an NMEA 2000.
Recon trolling motors also feature GPS-guided virtual anchoring that holds boats within a 3-foot radius. A unique jogging function allows anglers to execute diagonal moves in eight directions. There’s also the option to move virtual anchor positions in almost any direction. The carbon-fiber-infused shafts carry lifetime warranties, while the motor carries a three-year warranty.
The Recon trolling motors integrate sonar technology and are available with a sonar nose-cone option. Recon models are available in 54-, 60-, and 72-inch shaft lengths, and start at $3,499. To learn more, visit lowrance.com or simrad-yachting.com.
Rhodan
Rhodan is one of the few saltwater trolling-motor brands that has not yet switched to brushless electric-motor technology.
However, it has been a pioneer in building big, tall and tough motors for the brine. The HD GPS Anchor+ saltwater trolling motors feature pivot mounts and digital pulse width modulation circuitry to maximize efficiency, minimize heat dissipation, optimize power, and extend battery life. A wireless and waterproof floating remote-control fob controls the trolling motor from anywhere on the boat.
Available in 12-, 24- and 36-volt models delivering 80 to 120 pounds of thrust, these motors also have the unique ability steer the boat while the main engine is at low power, allowing trolling at higher speeds and anchoring in heavy current. The Anchor mode -automatically compensates for wind, waves and crosscurrent.
The Rhodan integrates with Raymarine Axiom MFDs to adjust thrust and motor direction, and to activate Anchor mode. This -system enables Axiom to steer the trolling motor when it is active and control a Raymarine Evolution autopilot when the motor is stowed. The HD GPS Anchor+ is available in black and white, in shaft lengths ranging from 36 to 108 inches, and starting at $2,399. Visit rhodanmarine.com to learn more.
