Minn Kota | Riptide SM Bow Mount Trolling Motor | Saltwater | 24V | 70 lb Thrust | 52" Shaft | Latch Door | Side Control | 1363425

Product Overview

The Minn Kota | Riptide SM Bow Mount Trolling Motor | Saltwater | 24V | 70 lb Thrust | 52" Shaft | Latch Door | Side Control | 1363425 is a high-torque, structurally reinforced hand-control trolling motor built to handle the intense physical strains of tracking through strong coastal passes, incoming ocean tides, and driving crosswinds. Operating on an efficient 24-volt DC marine power framework, this motor delivers 70 pounds of continuous thrust, providing the critical torque needed to confidently maneuver mid-to-large fiberglass bay boats, center consoles, and heavy aluminum coastal craft. The hallmark of the Riptide SM series is its ultra-tough Latch & Door bracket mount. Machined from premium extruded marine aluminum, this mount utilizes a non-flexing design that tightly clamps the composite shaft to eliminate mechanical play, wobbling, and rattling while running through heavy open-water chop, yet opens smoothly to let you remove the entire motor from the deck mount base for theft prevention.

This 1363425 model pairs this high-torque 24V lower unit with a versatile 52-inch shaft length, providing the ideal depth profile for mid-profile hulls to keep the prop fully submerged in rolling chop without causing excessive drag in shallow bays. Directional and speed controls are managed via the intuitive side-control tilt/twist tiller handle that telescopes out 6 inches and tilts up to 45 degrees upward, allowing you to steer and select your variable speed smoothly from a standing casting deck position or a raised pedestal seat. Built with Minn Kota’s legendary indestructible composite fiberglass shaft, it flexes naturally upon striking underwater hazards like rocks or oyster reefs, preventing structural damage to your boat's bow. The motor comes fully outfitted with a fully encapsulated Digital Maximizer control board, a push-to-test battery gauge, an inline zinc sacrificial anode, and a high-torque Power Prop propeller (MKP-2).

Key Features

• Shaft Length: 52"
• Thrust Capacity:High-torque 24V electrical layout. Generates a powerful 70 pounds of continuous thrust, running cooler and drawing fewer amps than lower-voltage systems for maximum efficiency when fighting heavy coastal elements.
• Extruded Aluminum Latch & Door Mount: Built with a structural, non-flexing marine aluminum base arm with a hinged collar door that simplifies motor removal for security or winter garage storage.
• Tilt/Extend Ergonomic Tiller: Premium hand-steer handle extends up to 6 inches and tilts up to 45 degrees upward, providing comfortable steering and precise variable speed control from any position.
• Impregnable Saltwater Armor Defense: Marine-grade alloys undergo a multi-step cleaning and zinc dichromate armor plating process before being sealed under a 5-mil TGIC polyester powder coat paint finish.
• Fully Encapsulated Electronics: Internal control boards are completely sealed in high-grade marine urethane potting compound, and all wire joints utilize liquid-tight heat shrink tubing to block out corrosive salt air.
• Digital Maximizer Power Savings: Regulates current draw dynamically to deliver only as much power as needed, reducing destructive heat and extending battery lifespan up to 5 times on a single charge.
• Sacrificial Zinc Anode Protection: Equipped with a replaceable lower unit zinc anode that catches galvanic corrosion first, keeping your aluminum lower unit and steel shaft perfectly clean.

Compatibility Information

The Minn Kota Riptide SM 70lb 52" trolling motor is designed for saltwater and brackish bow-mount installations. The 52-inch shaft length is universally compatible with standard fiberglass bay boats, center consoles, and mid-profile multi-species hulls where the distance from the top of the bow deck down to the waterline measures between 16 and 22 inches, ensuring the prop sits at the perfect depth for quiet, efficient operation.

The electrical system runs on standard 24-volt DC power, requiring two high-quality 12V marine deep-cycle batteries (flooded lead-acid, AGM, or lithium) wired together in a series configuration using a heavy-gauge jumper wire. To protect the motor's internal electronics and wiring from power surges, it must be paired with a manual-reset 50-amp circuit breaker on the positive lead wire. This motor is fully compatible with standard marine wiring systems and works seamlessly with Minn Kota's quick-release mounting plates like the white composite RTA-19 plate for easy deck removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How exactly do I wire two 12-volt batteries to power this 24-volt trolling motor safely?

To create a safe 24-volt power source for this motor, you must wire two identical 12V deep-cycle marine batteries together in series. First, take a heavy-gauge jumper wire (typically 6 AWG or 8 AWG) and connect the positive (+) terminal of Battery 1 directly to the negative (-) terminal of Battery 2. Next, connect the red positive (+) lead wire from your Minn Kota trolling motor to the remaining open positive (+) terminal on Battery 2, ensuring you install a 50-amp circuit breaker inline on this wire. Finally, connect the black negative (-) lead wire from the trolling motor to the open negative (-) terminal on Battery 1 to complete the 24V loop circuit.

What are the main advantages of a 24V 70lb system compared to a maximum output 12V 55lb trolling motor?

While a 55lb 12V motor is great for smaller watercraft, a 24V 70lb system provides a dramatic upgrade in overall efficiency, runtime, and control. Because it operates at a higher voltage, a 24V motor draws fewer amps from the batteries to produce the same amount of thrust as a 12V motor. This lower amp draw significantly reduces heat buildup inside the wires and motor housing, resulting in up to twice the battery life on the water. Additionally, the jump to 70 pounds of thrust gives you the crucial torque needed to handle mid-to-large hulls when sudden tidal currents or crosswinds kick up heavy waves.

What type of maintenance does the hand-control steering assembly require over time?

The mechanical hand-control assembly on the Riptide SM is exceptionally durable, but basic seasonal care will help keep it operating smoothly. After operating in high-salinity saltwater environments, always rinse the steering head, tilt mechanism, and composite shaft down thoroughly with fresh water to prevent salt crystals from building up inside the pivot joints. If the steering friction feels too loose, you can easily adjust the tension collar knob located directly on the main pivot bracket beneath the head. Turning it clockwise increases friction on the shaft sleeve, helping to hold your directional track when you let go of the handle.

What wire gauge size should be used to extend the battery wires to the front bow deck?

Because a 70-pound thrust motor draws up to 42 amps of current at maximum speed, using heavy-gauge marine wire is critical to avoid voltage drops and dangerous overheating along the line. If your deep-cycle batteries are located within 15 feet of your bow trolling motor plug, standard 8 AWG marine-grade copper wire is fully sufficient. However, if your batteries are stored back in the stern transom compartment and the wire run measures between 15 and 25 feet in length, you must upgrade to thicker 6 AWG wire to ensure the motor receives full voltage and runs cool, protected by a 50-amp circuit breaker.

Is the composite fiberglass shaft guaranteed not to snap if it hits an underwater rock bar?

Yes, absolutely. The core of every Minn Kota trolling motor is their proprietary, indestructible composite fiberglass shaft. Pound for pound, this specialized composite blend is structurally stronger than high-tensile steel. It is completely non-metallic, meaning it is physically incapable of rusting, pitting, or suffering from galvanic corrosion due to saltwater exposure. Furthermore, when your lower unit strikes a submerged rock or oyster reef, the shaft flexes naturally to absorb the shock before springing back perfectly straight, backed by an exclusive lifetime warranty.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to P65Warnings.ca.gov.