Minn Kota

Best Overall		Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra	SEE IT
Best with GPS		Rhodan HD GPS Anchor	SEE IT
Best for the Money		Newport Vessels NV Series	SEE IT

If you’re looking to silently sneak around the skinny water, effortlessly jog over a shipwreck, or slowly troll light tackle, then you’re looking for a saltwater trolling motor. They’ve become common—practically standard—on small inshore boats, and now trolling motors are available for large offshore fishing boats.

A trolling motor is a small electric motor used to maneuver the boat while fishing. Unlike the large gas motor, a trolling motor is quieter and more maneuverable. The latest generation of saltwater trolling motors are connected to GPS to accurately position the boat and anchor it in a specific spot. If you want to take advantage of this technology, here are my picks for the best saltwater trolling motors.

• Best Overall: Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra
• Best for Kayaks: Motorguide Xi3 Saltwater
• Best for Large Boats: Minn Kota Riptide Terrova
• Best for the Money: Newport Vessels NV Series
• Best with GPS: Rhodan HD GPS Anchor

How I Chose the Best Saltwater Trolling Motors

Thrust, power consumption, and shaft length are important, but a trolling motor is worthless if it doesn’t work. I first looked at the toughest construction and best materials. Riding on the bow or transom of a saltwater fishing boat, the trolling motor has to stand up to spray, rain, waves, and rough use. Once the trolling motor is in the water, I expect easy, reliable operation. Without looking at the remote, I can control the direction, speed, and functions. Speaking of functions, saltwater trolling motors make fishing easier with programmable routes, autopilot, and virtual anchor. Finally, a saltwater trolling motor must be versatile to slow troll, hover over structure, power drift and repeat a course to keep the boat on the fish.

Best Saltwater Trolling Motors: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall: Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra

Key Features 

• Power: 24 or 36 volts
• Shaft: 54, 60, or 72 inches
• Thrust: 80 or 112 pounds

Pros 

• Easy to use remote
• Extended battery life
• GPS Control

Cons 

• Longer shaft not available

With push-button remote control for nearly all the trolling motor’s functions, Minn Kota’s Riptide Ulterra is truly hands-free. The key to the system is the i-Pilot remote with large buttons and an easy-to-read screen monitoring the motor’s functions. Not only can I control the direction and program the motor, but the Ulterra offers auto deploy and stow. I pull up to the fishing spot, hit a button on the remote, and the trolling motor automatically drops into the water. Then, without leaving the helm, I can push another button, and the motor lifts up and folds securely. Using the large, easy-to-read remote, I can also trim the motor up and down to match the water depth and fishing conditions. 

In shallow, weed-choked water, I lift the prop higher in the water. When the waves and current kick up, I drop the propeller deeper for more power and control. It also features i-Pilot, which allows me to control the direction, program speed, and route and virtually anchor the boat. The i-Pilot is perfect for programming a course for trolling or to repeat a drift. The most popular function, Spot-Lock, allows me to stop the boat and hold position over a piece of structure or in the perfect position for casting a lure or fishing a bait.

Best for Kayaks: Motorguide Xi3 Saltwater

Key Features 

• Power: 12 volts
• Shaft: 36 inches
• Thrust: 55 pounds

Pros

• Remote control
• Compact design

Cons

• Not available for transom mount

The Motorguide Xi3 is a great choice for kayak anglers looking to motorize their fishing kayak. The 36-inch shaft is the perfect size for a small boat, and 55 pounds of thrust moves the kayak faster than you can pedal or paddle. The big draw for the Xi3 is the remote control. Mount the motor on the bow and wirelessly control direction and speed. The Xi3 has many of the premium features of larger trolling motors, such as GPS control, virtual anchor, programmable routes, and autopilot. 

Installation is easy, many kayaks are pre-rigged with threaded inserts in the bow and stern to install a standard trolling motor base. Simply bolt on the Xi3 base, plug into a 12-volt, deep-cycle marine battery, and you’re ready to go. The Xi3 has a large lever to make it easy to stow and deploy, even from the kayak seat. I can use the Xi3 with any of the best kayak fish finders to combine my transducer and trolling motor. To monitor motor functions and battery power, the Xi3 has an LED display, so I never run out of juice. Not only is the Xi3 perfect for maneuvering the kayak while I’m fishing, I use the motor to power to and from the fishing grounds. Having the power of an electric trolling motor makes me more confident and expands the horizons for my fishing kayak.

Best for Large Boats: Minn Kota Riptide Terrova

Key Features

• Power: 36 volts
• Shaft: 87 inches
• Thrust: 112 pounds

Pros

• Extra long shaft
• High power
• Maximum thrust

Cons

• Manual deploy and stow

Everyone wants the convenience and control of the best trolling motors, even anglers in large sportfishing boats. To meet the need, Minn Kota’s Riptide Terrova is available with an 87-inch shaft and 112 pounds of thrust. That’s sufficient size and power for a boat over 25-feet long. Using a trolling motor on an offshore boat, I can hold the boat on structure, slow troll down a weedline, or repeat a programmed drift. The Terrova even serves as autopilot to take me back to a saved position. I gain further control of the motor’s features and functions from the fish finder screen, my smartphone, or with the handheld remote with a color touchscreen. On a big boat, I need to control the trolling motor from the helm and the cockpit. Using the Terrova’s integrated control, I can use the remote or my fish finder to run the motor. For offshore and inshore anglers looking for ultimate boat control, the Riptide Terrova offers the most advanced trolling motor features with a long shaft and high-power propulsion system.

Best for the Money: Newport Vessels NV Series

Key Features 

• Power: 12 volt or 24 volt
• Shaft: 30 or 36 inch
• Thrust: 33, 46, 55, 62, 86 pounds

Pros

• Transom mount
• Adjustable shaft length
• Eight speeds

Cons

• Basic features
• Not available in bow mount

Anglers powering a small skiff, jon boat, flat transom canoe or kayak need a transom mount trolling motor with a tiller drive. Newport Vessels NV trolling motor provides reliable power at a great price. Available with a 30 or 36-inch shaft and power from 33 to 86 pounds, there is an NV model to fit any small watercraft. The NV has five forward speeds and three reverse speeds with smooth transitions between settings. To monitor battery life, an LED display keeps track of the remaining power. The Newport Vessels NV is simple and inexpensive, but it is also durable with corrosion-resistant components and sturdy construction. Electric motors are lighter and safer than a small gas outboard, and the Newport Vessels NV is also less expensive and easier to operate.   

Best with GPS: Rhodan HD GPS Anchor

Key Features 

• Power 12, 24, or 36 volts
• Shaft: 36 to 84 inches
• Thrust: 55, 80, or 120 pounds

Pros 

• High Definition GPS
• Available in black and white
• Efficient circuitry

Cons

• Only available in three models

The most accurate GPS available puts the Rhodan HD GPS Anchor within three feet of programmed coordinates. That means the GPS Anchor holds the boat in a specific position and follows programmed routes, and returns to an exact point. When I’m fishing a shipwreck or reef, and I mark fish on the fish finder, I want a saltwater trolling motor that returns the boat to the same spot time after time. The HD GPS Anchor operates like a traditional trolling motor, or it can be programmed to run in conjunction with the main motor in heavy seas and current. The HD GPS Anchor is easy to operate with a water-resistant, floating fob. Rhodan offers one model in three power levels, so they focus their engineering expertise on making the HD GPS Anchor one of the best saltwater trolling motors with GPS. 

Things to Consider Before Buying a Saltwater Trolling Motor

The first time I saw a trolling motor on a large center console boat, I was fishing a wreck 10 miles off Virginia Beach. As I was drifting across the wreck in my 20-foot center console, another boat pulled up and deployed a trolling motor. While I busily engaged my motor in forward and reverse to hold my boat over the wreck, the guy with the trolling motor pushed a button on a remote control, dropped his bait to the bottom, unwrapped a sandwich, and started eating. A trolling motor’s convenience and versatility are huge assets in almost all aspects of inshore and offshore fishing, but designing and building an electric motor for a marine environment is a huge challenge.

Thrust

Saltwater trolling motors are stronger and tougher than freshwater trolling motors. To pull a large boat through rough water and strong current, an electric motor for saltwater needs up to 100 pounds of thrust. Thrust is the measurement of foot-pounds of force produced by the propeller. To determine the amount of thrust, consider the boat’s weight and dimensions. The rule of thumb is five pounds of thrust for every 200 pounds of boat weight.

Shaft Length

A trolling motor shaft connects the head to the propeller. Big boats require a longer shaft to reach the water. Saltwater trolling motors are available with a shaft length up to 100 inches. To determine the best shaft length, measure the distance from the mounting surface to the boat’s waterline. Then, add the number of inches recommended by the trolling motor manufacturer to keep the propeller below the surface.

Batteries

To power a heavy-duty trolling motor, you’ll need as much as 36 volts of electricity. That’s three of the best trolling motor batteries linked together. Before buying a trolling motor for saltwater, consider where you will store the batteries and how you will rig the wires.

Built Tough

Mixing metal and saltwater with electricity is a recipe for corrosion. To combat the elements, a saltwater trolling motor uses sacrificial anodes and waterproof connections. For a trolling motor to survive on the open sea, the shaft, head, and propeller must be capable of bouncing around in rough water without breaking or failing.

Saltwater trolling motors are stronger, bigger, and tougher to meet the challenges of a marine environment. To choose the best saltwater trolling motor for your boat, consider the thrust, size, and construction to match your needs.

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Final Thoughts

Saltwater trolling motors have come a long way in the past decade, and the Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra is the result of years of testing and improvement. Offering every feature and function available, including GPS connection, remote control, fish finder integration, and advanced power metering in a robust, corrosion resistant, reinforced, and sealed package. Minn Kota’s large, intuitive remote has a LCD screen to monitor the trolling motor’s functions. My favorite feature is the auto stow and deploy; I don’t have to leave the helm to drop or retrieve the trolling motor. Trolling motors are all about convenience and versatility, and the Riptide Ulterra has all the bells and whistles making it my top pick among the best saltwater trolling motors.

• Best Overall: Minn Kota Riptide Ulterra
• Best for Kayaks: Motorguide Xi3 Saltwater
• Best for Large Boats: Minn Kota Riptide Terrova
• Best for the Money: Newport Vessels NV Series
• Best with GPS: Rhodan HD GPS Anchor

The post The Best Saltwater Trolling Motors of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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By: Ric Burnley
Title: The Best Saltwater Trolling Motors of 2023
Sourced From: www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-saltwater-trolling-motors/
Published Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:30:48 +0000

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