Often billed as the toughest trolling motor on the market, does it deserve the notoriety?

Lets start with the exposed, solid, extruded aluminum arm on the new Fortrex™ , so everyone on the water can see what they're up against: the most ruthless mount Minn Kota has ever unleashed. This is probably one of the most impressive looking trolling motor mounts in the industry. Designed with fewer moving parts, tighter tolerances and stouter, Fortrex is advertised by Minn Kota “as the beefiest, meanest, quietest motor ever” and then they have the guts to say “you have been warned”.

So is it really all that? Let’s look a little further. The new, revolutionary, innovative Mono-Arm Design is the meat of this trolling motor. It features an extruded, anodized aluminum, structural beam that operates with no metal-to-metal contact and 75% less torsion. A single hinge point and rear pivot bearing with 20% more surface area deliver less wear, longer life, and quieter operation than traditional motor mounts. And besides all that it just looks tough.

Then you add the Counter-Tension Stabilizer (CTS) that uses an integrated spring to apply force whether the motor's stowed or deployed. Out in the water, that translates to a motor with no play, no give, reduced steering torque and an almost silent operation. Couple that with the patented Lift-Assist design cutting the weight of stow and deploy in half and you have a very user friendly application. The Lift-Assist incorporates a stainless steel, nitrogen-charged gas spring to get you in and out of the water with reduced effort. Have you ever lifted a trolling motor out of the water 50 times a day? Myself, I want all the reduced effort an old man can conjure up.

Now throw in some of the other innovations on most Minn Kota trolling motors like the easy-to-read, illuminated directional indicator that shows you the way; a newly designed ultra-responsive foot pedal that’s easier to operate, with more room for your foot and more exact speed control; the Digital Maximizer™ that controls and optimizes power to extend battery life up to five times longer on a single charge; then top it all that off with the built in sonar option and the patented Weedless Wedge 2 Prop you can go anywhere in the lake fearlessly.

But we are not done yet! The Fortrex incorporates a composite shaft that is supposedly stronger than steel. It flexes on impact and won't break, kink or corrode. Minn Kota is so confident of this trolling motor shaft’s toughness that it’s guaranteed for life. That is quite a guarantee for someone like me, that has to troll up on the bank quite often and retrieve my lures from the branches of some tree.

We’ve talked about the mounting system, what about the motor? Minn Kota has always claimed that nothing runs cooler or more quietly than a Minn Kota trolling motor. They employ extra large windings and commutators to dissipate heat, resulting in cooler operation, extended battery power, and longer motor life. They also employ a unique bearing system that reduces friction to cut fish-spooking noise. So quiet, they'll never hear you coming.

At the end of that motor they have added the patented Weedless Wedge 2 Prop  that  pushes weeds away and takes on the thick stuff without battery-draining chopping and hacking. Weedless Wedge™ 2 features swept-back, flared blades for unrelenting, reliable prop performance.


 The motor is backed up with a three-year warranty, Minn Kota dependability and a composite shaft guaranteed for life. Enough said, try yours today from DJ's Marine Electronics

BASS Signs Minn Kota® as Official BASS Sponsor February 2010

BASS announced today a new multi-year sponsorship agreement with Minn Kota®, the world’s leading trolling motor company.  With the agreement, Minn Kota becomes an official sponsor of the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series in addition to a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Opens. 

“As the preferred trolling motor of tournament anglers, it is a perfect fit for Minn Kota to join forces with BASS, the leading authority in bass fishing,” said Judy Douglas, Business Director for Minn Kota. “We are proud to support the BASS community and contribute to the growth of competitive fishing.”

Minn Kota recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since its founding, Minn Kota has led the way in innovation including its recent unveiling of Fortrex, the toughest tournament motor on the water.

The agreement calls for Minn Kota to have a presence at the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series events and the Bassmaster Opens.  And Minn Kota will receive significant exposure across BASS’ multimedia properties, including ESPN2, Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times, Fishing Tackle Retailer, Bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com.

“Minn Kota has a long-standing reputation as a company that is committed to developing leading-edge technology into viable products for all anglers,” said Tom Ricks, BASS’ and ESPN Outdoors vice president and general manager.  “We are pleased to be associated with a powerful brand like Minn Kota.”

Related images can be found at ESPNOutdoorsMedia.com. For more information on Minn Kota, visit minnkotamotors.com.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. 

About Minn Kota

Minn Kota® is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as offers a complete line of battery chargers, Trim Tabs and marine accessories.  The Minn Kota brand is owned by Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. along with other fishing brands including Humminbird® and Cannon®

About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s sports broadband network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

Minn Kota Introduces New 15 Amp On-Board Charger Series January 2006
 
RACINE, Wis.– Minn Kota introduces three new chargers (MK 230, MK 345 and MK 460) to its on-board charger lineup that provide avid anglers with the ultra-fast recovery time and reliability they demand. The two-, three- and four-bank chargers deliver 15 amps per bank to bring batteries up to a full charge in three to five hours.

“Not only will these chargers top your batteries off quickly, they will also fit the same space and use the same mounting holes as most original equipment chargers on today’s fishing boats,” Minn Kota Manager of New Product Development Jeff Davison said. “Anyone wanting to step up to a faster, more reliable on-board charger will be able to swap-out a charger quickly and easily.”

The MK 230 (2-bank), MK 345 (3-bank) and MK 460 (4-bank) on-board chargers include the following features to ensure fast, reliable charging without overcharging:

Fully automatic three-stage charging (bulk, absorption and maintenance) controls current and voltage during the charging cycle. This assures faster recharge time and prevents overcharging. Overcharging can damage and shorten battery life.

The Automatic Temperature Compensation feature adjusts output voltage based on the ambient temperature in the battery compartment to ensure that the battery reaches its gassing threshold, thus receiving a full charge. This feature also protects batteries from boiling due to overcharging at high temperatures.

Additional features and specifications include:

• Waterproof, and shock- and vibration-resistant construction
• Short circuit, reverse polarity and ignition protection
• FCC compliant and UL listed to marine standard 1236
• Three-year warranty

Specifications for Minn Kota’s new on-board chargers:
 MK 230 (2-bank)             MK 345 (3-bank)                MK 460 (4-bank)
 15 amps per bank          15 amps per bank             15 amps per bank
 30 amps total output     45 amps total output         60 amps total output
 3-5 hours recovery        3-5 hours recovery             3-5 hours recovery
11 ¾" x 6 ¾" x 7"             11 ¾" x 6 ¾" x 8"                14 ½"  x 6 ¾" x 8" 
16.6 pounds                    22 pounds                          31 pounds
 $249.99**                      $329.99**                           $399.99**  
* Charging recovery time can vary due to battery type, age and condition

Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of bow- and transom-mount trolling motors, and carries a complete line of battery chargers and marine accessories. Trolling motors in the Minn Kota line includes Maxxum Pro, Maxxum, PowerDrive, Edge, Vantage, Vector, Endura, Riptide Pro, Riptide, Engine Mount and E-Drive models. Minn Kota motors are manufactured and marketed by Johnson Outdoors Inc. 

Thanks to Johnson Outdoors

Minn Kota History
 
Anywhere. Anytime. For 75 Years.

2009 marks the 75th anniversary of Minn Kota® Motors. That’s 75 years of innovation. Of power. 75 years on the water, with the best-built trolling motors in the world. And we’re just getting started.

Where We’ve Been: The History of Minn Kota Motors

The Minn Kota electric trolling motor began its life in 1934 in Fargo, North Dakota. Mr. O. G. Schmidt, inventor of the trolling motor, was known to be a man of many diverse ideas. Prior to the trolling motor, Mr. Schmidt invented, produced and sold a copper soldering torch from his home in Wheatland, North Dakota. Due to its success, manufacturing operations were then moved to Fargo. Because of its proximity to the MINNesota – North DaKOTA border, Mr. Schmidt named the business The Minn Kota Manufacturing Company.

Since its founding, Minn Kota has led the way in product innovation and cutting-edge technology. Our list of Minn Kota “firsts” supports this commitment to trolling motor development and the fishing community.

1934
First electric gear-driven motor
1935
First electric flexible cable motor
1965
First electric motor with reverse switch
1968
First remote control adaptable to other brand motors
1985
First electronic speed control, sold as an accessory (Maximizer™)
1986
First built-in electronic/variable speed control
1987
First electric steer in commercial quantities
1987
First low-profile foot pedal in cable steer
1987
First compact bow-mount, built-in electronic speed control with first automatic electronic battery gauge
1991
First computer-controlled motor, first self-steering unit (AutoPilot™)
1991
First composite, energy-absorbing motor tube
1992
First completely weedless propeller (Weedless Wedge™) 
1995
First all-direction breakaway mounting system (Bowguard 360°™)
1999
First fully automatic trolling motor (Genesis™)
2001
First trolling motor with built-in sonar transducer compatible with all major fishfinders (Universal Sonar)
2002
First wireless remote that allows trolling motor control from fishing rod, wrist or belt (CoPilot™)
2004
First trolling motor 3:1 ratio articulated steering system (3X™ Steering)
2005
First trolling motor with gas-charged, spring-assisted stow and deploy (Lift-Assist on Maxxum Pro)
2007
First DualBeam integrated transducer - 83kHz/200kHz with temperature sensing (Universal Sonar 2)
2007
First injection molded composite Trim Tabs 
2009
First Mono-Arm bow mount trolling motor (Fortrex)
2009
First One-Hand Stow transom trolling motor (Traxxis)  

Copyright 2009 Johnson Outdoors Inc.

The New Minn Kota i-Pilot