Maybe you’re a guide who fishes all day every day and your livelihood depends on 100% uptime performance. Or perhaps you like going out on the water when the weather is fierce and the thin-skinned land lovers are tucked inside their cozy cabins. Or you’re just the guy who knows how brutal the marine environment is and you’ll settle for nothing but the best engineering and materials. Whatever the case, you’re a Riptide Fortrex guy. Quite simply, this is the beefiest motor money can buy. No joke construction features an aircraft aluminum mono-arm, a removable bow-guard, and a nitrogen-charged gas spring to help you get this monster in and out of your boat smoothly and effortlessly.The Riptide Fortrex hand control motor is easy to operate and features a telescoping and tilting tiller handle. Digital Maximizer will keep you out on the water longer and the Weedless Wedge 2 prop will keep you powering through all conditions. Backed by the Minn Kota two year warranty. See below for additional product details. To learn more, grab our FREE Trolling Motor Buyer's Guide. Split Recommended for: Medium to large saltwater v-hull, flats, center console and general fishing boats up to 25'. The 80 lbs thrust motor is recommended for boats weighing up to 4,000lbs. For more help picking the right thrust level - or to learn how much your boat weighs - please refer to our thrust guide. How It's Unique Riptide Fortrex is a step up from the Minn Kota Riptide Maxxum and is the beefiest, most heavy-duty trolling motor in the Minn Kota line up. The motor is unique as it features an aluminum mono-arm, a removable BowGuard 360 spring-protected shaft housing, and a nitrogen charged gas spring that makes stowing and deploying the motor similar to opening up the tailgate on an SUV. Freshwater fishermen should look to the Minn Kota Freshwater Fortrex, as it is the freshwater version of the Fortrex and has many of the same features. Water Type: Saltwater and Freshwater Shaft Length(s): Shaft lengths of 52" and 62" are available for Riptide Fortrex motors. For help selecting a shaft length, please see our shaft guide. Motor Features: Variable Speed Motor, Super Heavy-Duty mount, Lift Assist Piston, Bounce Buster (62" only), Digital Maximizer, Built-In Direction Indicator, Weedless Wedge Prop, Composite Shaft. (Learn about these features) Available Upgrades: Riptide Fortrex isn't compatible with any AutoPilot, Sonar or i-Pilot accessories. But it is compatible with select quick release plates and handle extensions - please see the right-hand side product bar. Split Mounting Details: This motor is bolted directly to the bow of the boat using the included mounting hardware, and requires drilling into the boat for installation. Ideally, it's best to have access to the underside of the mounting platform in order to secure and fasten the bolting hardware. However, if accessing the underside is impossible you can use no access bolts to secure the motor from the top. For more information see our compatibility and mounting guides. Mount Dimensions: N30.5" x 6" Bolting Pattern: Download Long Bolting Pattern Wiring Details: Riptide Fortrex 80 can be wired directly to the batteries, and can also be used in conjunction with a plug and receptacle for a cleaner, more professional installation that's easy to remove. To protect your motor from damage, a circuit breaker is also recommended but is not required for installation. Motor Voltage and Batteries: Riptide Fortrex 80 is a 24 volt motor and requires (2) 12-volt marine battery. For more information, see our articles on battery selection or battery wiring diagrams. Power Lead Length: 5 Feet Pedal Cord Length: NA What Is Included: Riptide Fortrex 80 trolling motor Power leads Mounting hardware Owners manual What Else Is Required: 2 Marine Batteries, Battery Charger, Circuit Breaker (Recommended) Split Amperage Draw: 56 amps at maximum speed Motor Run Time: Important Note: As you likely won't be running your trolling motor perpetually, the actual amount of on-the-water time a motor should allow will be substantially longer than times listed. Actual motor run time can vary depending on conditions (winds, waves, etc) and the type of battery used. Listed below are run-time estimates assuming a 100 amp hour rated battery. To learn more, please see our article on calculating motor run time. 20+ Hours: At slow, trolling speeds that draw 5 amps or less 4.8 Hours: Approx. run time with throttle 50% open 2.4 Hours: Approx. run time with the motor at full throttle Stow and Deploy Method: Riptide Fortrex motors feature a nitrogen charged gas spring that makes it incredibly easy to stow and deploy your trolling motor. This design is very similar to the lift-assist system on many vehicle tailgates and makes stowing the motor effortless. Motor Steering Method: The Riptide Fortrex is steered by hand. The unique Tilt Twist Tiller handle tilts up to make steering easier and more convenient. Motor speed is controlled by rotating the hand lever. Shaft Adjustment: An adjustable depth collar makes it easy to set how deep the shaft and propeller sit in the water. Motor Speed: All Riptide Fortrex motors have a variable speed motor. Learn more about fixed vs. variable speed motors. Split Owners Manual: Download Here Warranty Period: Two Years Warranty Details: The motor's composite shaft caries a lifetime guarantee. If it's ever broken - regardless of the circumstances - Minn Kota will replace it at no charge. The rest of the motor caries a two year warranty backed up by hundreds of local Minn Kota service centers across the country. Box Dimensions: Model 1363640 - 9"H x 20"W x 68"L WT: 50.0lbs Model 1363641 - 7"H x 19"W x 75"L WT: 68.0lbs Split
