Garmin Expands Trolling Motor Series
Marine electronics manufacturer Garmin has launched what it says is the most powerful trolling motor the recreational fishing market has ever seen. Force Kraken’s brushless motor uses a high-efficiency propeller to produce 100lbs of thrust on a 36V system, or 80lbs on a 24V system. It 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.
“We are excited to build on the success of our Force trolling motor and bring new mounting options and features to even more anglers in both the saltwater and inland markets,” says Dan Bartel, Garmin VP of global consumer sales. “From power and durability to integration and innovation, Kraken has everything anglers want and need from their trolling motor and more.”
Kraken 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 1m 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. What’s more, a compatible Garmin smartwatch, like the quatix 7 series, can also be connected to Kraken to control steering, anchor lock and more, from the wrist.
Select Kraken models include a built-in GT56UHD all-in-one transducer with Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar along with CHIRP traditional sonar for brilliant image clarity of structure and fish below and to the sides of the boat.
For the first time in the industry, anglers can install forward-facing sonar, like LiveScope, on a pivot-style trolling motor by routing the transducer cable inside the trolling motor shaft thanks to Kraken’s new LiveScope cable management system.
The Force Kraken trolling motor will debut at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in Orlando, Florida, from July 11-14. Expected to be available in October, Kraken will be offered in white in 63in, 75in and 90in shaft lengths, or black in 63in and 75in lengths. Both black Kraken models are sold with a GT56UHD transducer.