6 Trolling Motor Accessories You May Need
Whether you’re new to fishing and want to learn as much as possible about your trolling motor, or simply need a refresher on how to get the most out of your motor, these 6 Trolling Motor Accessories can be a great way to customize your setup to your needs and spend your time on and off the water more effectively.
From rigging to performance, Minn Kota has you covered with all of the accessories to get the most out of your trolling motor – starting with how to power it.
What do I need to Install a trolling motor?
Rigging your trolling motor requires a few essential things like trolling motor batteries, the right size marine-grade pre-tinned wire, ring terminals and the appropriate circuit breaker.
To learn more about whether Lithium marine batteries are right for you we have a helpful blog, as well as a guide to learn how to wire marine batteries in series and parallel.
1. Do trolling motors need a circuit breaker?
Trolling motor circuit breakers are designed to trip when they hit a certain amperage, which ultimately protects your investment, the trolling motor, from damage. While it might be tempting to save a few dollars on this critical safety tool, it’s always a good investment to make sure any powered accessories on your boat are properly fuse protected for their amp draw.
How to choose a trolling motor circuit breaker
As for choosing a trolling motor circuit breaker, the Minn Kota MKR-27 Circuit Breaker is recommended for most applications, and all the more important for trolling motors with QUEST brushless technology. This is because the MKA-27 was designed with the most exacting tolerances to be rated for 60 amps.
While you can find inexpensive circuit breakers almost anywhere, a breaker that trips too early can be a pain to frequently reset, and one that trips above its rated voltage will cause your wiring to heat up and can pose a potential fire risk.
2. What is a trolling motor quick release bracket?
With your batteries, wiring and circuit breaker in place you have everything you need for a hard-wired and mounted application, but if you want to switch your motor between boats or remove it entirely while your boat is moored or in storage, you might benefit from a quick-release bracket or trolling motor plug and receptacle.
Trolling Motor quick release brackets (sometimes called QRBs) are designed to allow for quick and easy removal of your trolling motor from the bow of your boat. They generally achieve this by using a two-piece design, part of which mounts to your motor and part which mounts to the deck of your boat. When mated together and held in place by a pin (or a lock for added security) your motor is held securely to the deck of your boat for safe operation.
By removing the pin or lock you can remove the motor for trailering, boat covers, winter storage or for cleaning and maintenance.
What kind of quick-release bracket do I need for my trolling motor?
Minn Kota offers a full selection of quick-release brackets to best fit your boat and trolling motor.
You can find more information about quick release bracket compatibility for QUEST trolling motors and non-QUEST trolling motors.
3. Trolling Motor Stabilizer
Speaking of a rock-solid connection, one thing that will keep your trolling motor more secure is a deck support or trolling motor stabilizer kit.
Many of our trolling motors come with this right out of the box, but if you don’t have one installed or bought a motor where it wasn’t provided, a stabilizer kit can help counteract the impacts from wind and waves and keep your motors head and shaft locked into place, reducing movement and folding down when not in use.
4. Do I need a trolling motor plug for power?
We already talked about how you can hard wire your motor directly to your batteries through a circuit breaker, but if you are thinking of removing and installing your trolling motor you may just benefit from a trolling motor plug and receptacle as well.
What is a trolling motor plug and receptacle?
A trolling motor plug allows you to disconnect the power connection from your trolling motor to your boat as well as the mount itself. The Minn Kota MKR-28 Trolling Motor Plug and receptacle fits a wide array of wire sizes all the way up to 1 AWG and comes with ferrules and shrink tube to make the job of installation that much easier.
Another important consideration is the fishing environment you’ll be using your plug in. Anyone who fishes in saltwater can attest to the corrosive properties it can have on their equipment.
Rated for up to 60 amps and 48 volts, the MKR-28 uses silver plated terminals to resist corrosion in any application and has been tested by our engineering team in salt fog and spray to ensure a rock-solid connection for years to come.
5. What Prop Does My Trolling Motor Need?
One of the most common accessories that anglers tend to add to their emergency kit is a replacement trolling motor prop. Whether you fish around stumps, rocks, weeds or docks, your trolling motor prop is bound to take a beating. Having a spare prop in the boat is a cheap insurance policy to make sure that an unexpected impact doesn’t mean the end of a fishing day.
In the unlikely case of damage, Minn Kota props can be changed out on the water quickly and easily with simple hand tools.
To figure out ahead of time which prop you need for your motor you can check our handy trolling motor prop selection guide.
6. What’s the best way to charge trolling motor batteries?
With your motor installed and all the accessories you need to get the most out of your day on the water, now all you need is a way to recharge your batteries when you get back home.
Precision on-board chargers are the most advanced chargers on the market and allow you to dial in your battery chemistry by bank. So, if you want to use lithium batteries for your trolling motor and Lead Acid for your outboard cranking battery you can dial in each charging bank to your unique set-up.
With just a single plug, you can supply clean and digitally controlled power to up to five different batteries to ensure you have enough power for your next outing, no matter what it brings.
Trolling Motor Battery Compartment for Smaller Boats
For smaller kayaks or Jon boats with transom mount motors, an easy way to handle fuse protection and secure your battery is with a Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center. This battery box offers more than just a place to store your battery by creating a secure connection to two 12-volt accessory plugs, which feature 10 amp resettable fuses as well as easy-access external terminals which are protected by a 60 amp resettable fuse.
Add in a push-to-test LED battery meter, and you will have the ultimate power station for everything a smaller boat might need.
Minn Kota offers a comprehensive line of trolling motor accessories to fit the needs of every angler, so be sure to check out the full line-up before your next outing to make sure you’re getting the most out of your motor – and your time on the water.