Minn Kota | Riptide SM Bow Mount Trolling Motor | Saltwater | 24V | 80 lb Thrust | 52" Shaft | Latch Door | 1363447

Product Overview

The Minn Kota | Riptide SM Bow Mount Trolling Motor | Saltwater | 24V | 80 lb Thrust | 52" Shaft | Latch Door | 1363447 is an elite, high-torque saltwater trolling motor engineered to deliver maximum raw pushing power, structural durability, and silent tracking for mid-to-large sized bay boats, center consoles, and heavy aluminum coastal craft. Operating on a high-capacity 24-volt DC marine power framework, this motor delivers 80 pounds of continuous thrust, providing the critical torque needed to confidently maneuver heavy hulls through strong ocean passes, heavy incoming tides, and brutal crosswinds that easily overwhelm lower-voltage motors. 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 1363447 model is configured as a heavy-duty hand-control unit, featuring a clean-deck layout that completely eliminates bulky foot pedals and heavy steering cables from your casting platform, removing dangerous tripping hazards. Steering is driven by the ergonomic 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 helm 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 Weedless Wedge 2 propeller (MKP-33) designed to slide cleanly through thick weeds.

Key Features

• Shaft Length: 52"
• Thrust Capacity:High-Thrust 24V 80 lb electrical output. Provides heavy-duty power and high torque, enabling mid-to-large-sized bay hulls to maneuver safely through heavy tides, ocean passes, and strong coastal winds.
• 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.
• Weed-Cutting Weedless Wedge 2 Propeller: Ships with an aggressive prop featuring swept-back, flared blades that easily slice through thick marine vegetation, marsh grass, and heavy cover without wrapping or draining the battery.

Compatibility Information

The Minn Kota Riptide SM 80lb 52" trolling motor (part number 1363447) is optimized exclusively for bow-mount installations on saltwater and brackish vessels. Its versatile 52-inch shaft length is universally compatible with standard mid-to-large sized saltwater craft, including fiberglass bay boats, center consoles, and deep-V multi-species aluminum hulls where the distance from the top of the bow deck down to the waterline measures between 16 and 22 inches, keeping the lower unit perfectly submerged.

Electrically, this motor runs strictly on a 24-volt DC configuration and requires two high-quality 12V marine deep-cycle batteries (flooded lead-acid, AGM, or lithium) wired together in a series loop using heavy-gauge jumper wires. To safeguard the fully encapsulated internal circuitry from overcurrent spikes, the installation must be fitted with a manual-reset 50-amp circuit breaker on the positive power line. This motor interfaces cleanly with Minn Kota's premium quick-release mounting brackets, such as the white composite RTA-19 plate for easy deck removal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the physical process for using the Latch & Door mount to remove the motor from my boat?

The Latch & Door mount is designed to make removing your motor for storage or security incredibly simple. To slide the motor off your boat, simply loosen the oversized plastic ergonomic T-bolt screw on the side of the mount collar. Once backed out, open the hinged door panel on the side of the mount bracket. This allows you to lift the entire motor head, shaft, and lower unit assembly straight out of the base mount base, leaving only the low-profile aluminum bracket base bolted to your boat deck. This feature is highly valued for preventing theft or clearing the deck during non-fishing family trips.

What capacity batteries should I choose to get a full day of fishing out of this 80lb 24V motor?

To maximize the performance and runtime of your 24V 80lb Riptide SM motor, you should choose two high-capacity Group 27 or Group 31 deep-cycle marine batteries. Look for batteries that feature an Amp-Hour (Ah) rating of 100 or higher, or a Reserve Capacity (RC) rating of at least 180 minutes. Choosing a lithium (LiFePO4) battery bank will provide the cleanest, most consistent power flow, maintaining full thrust all day long while significantly reducing the total battery weight stored inside your boat's compartments.

What wire gauge size and circuit breaker are required to wire this 80lb motor safely?

Because an 80-pound thrust motor draws up to 56 amps of current at maximum speed under heavy loads, using heavy-gauge marine wire is critical to avoid voltage drop and dangerous overheating. 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.

How do the fully encapsulated electronics protect the motor from salt air damage?

Salt air and airborne sodium chloride crystals can easily destroy exposed copper circuitry and solder joints on standard electrical components. To prevent this, the internal electronic control boards of the Riptide SM are fully encapsulated and embedded within a thick layer of high-grade marine urethane potting compound. This compound hardens around the circuits, forming an absolute, airtight and watertight seal. Additionally, all external wiring harness connections are insulated with liquid-tight, adhesive-lined heat shrink tubing, completely shielding your electrical components from corrosion.

What is the benefit of the Weedless Wedge 2 propeller compared to a standard 2-blade prop?

The Weedless Wedge 2 prop (MKP-33) is engineered specifically for extreme weed evasion and open-water efficiency. It features swept-back, flared blades that utilize a unique curved geometry to push away thick marine vegetation, marsh grass, and hydrilla without wrapping or choking the motor armature. Unlike standard 2-blade props that can chop and get caught in heavy weeds, the Weedless Wedge 2 slides cleanly through the thickest cover, allowing you to maintain your tracking speed and conserve precious battery power while navigating backcountry flats.

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.