Trolling motors were invented in 1934 by O.G. Schmidt in Fargo, North Dakota, to navigate through shallow water.
They are primarily used for trolling for game fish, and are often lifted from the water to reduce drag when the boat’s primary engine is in operation.
Trolling motors calibrate speed more accurately than large outboard motors, and trolling plates are also used with larger motors to slow the boat to the desired speed.
Garmin (NYSE: GRMN), the world’s most innovative and recognized marine electronics manufacturer, today announced Force Kraken, the most powerful trolling motor the recreational fishing market has ever seen.
What’s more, a compatible Garmin smartwatch, like the award-winning quatix® 7 series, can also be connected to Kraken to control steering, anchor lock and more, right from the wrist.
Coupled with Garmin’s most precise anchor lock technology, Kraken is designed with longer shaft lengths and a pivot-style mount for easy installation on boats where bow space is limited, like skiffs, bay boats, center consoles and multispecies fishing boats.
Kraken’s brushless motor uses a high-efficiency propeller to produce 100 pounds of thrust on a 36-volt system, or 80 pounds on a 24-volt system. It can move anglers from one mangrove or reef to the next more quickly, throttle back with ease when they need to fish slow and stand up better to winds and currents in rough open-water conditions.
Even with all that power, Kraken is extremely efficient so anglers can count on it to fish all day. It’s also whisper quiet above and below the water and less likely to spook the fish.
Utilizing multi-band GPS signal reception and integrated AHRS (attitude and heading reference system) for heading hold, Kraken delivers Garmin’s most precise boat positioning technology to help keep the boat in one place.
In calm conditions, the Kraken can decelerate the motor when it’s within approximately one meter of the user-selected location. And in rough conditions, Kraken can apply more aggressive motor speed for improved performance on larger boats.
Wireless integration with Garmin chartplotters allows anglers to create routes, patterns and tracks for the trolling motor to follow while they fish, and a new illuminated arrow on the trolling motor head can allow anglers to confirm the boat’s heading at a glance.
Anglers can also use the included wireless remote to help navigate from anywhere in the boat. The remote can give anglers control of the Kraken trolling motor with precise virtual anchor lock, autopilot functionality, heading hold and point-and-go gesture steering—plus it floats.
The Force Kraken trolling motor is debuting at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), in Orlando, Fla., July 11-14, where it will be on display in booth #4802.
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