Minn Kota | Composite Quick Release Bracket | Riptide Saltwater | RTA-19 | 1854019

Product Overview

The Minn Kota | Composite Quick Release Bracket | Riptide Saltwater | RTA-19 | 1854019 is an elite, heavy-duty marine accessory engineered to allow coastal and offshore anglers to quickly remove or reattach their bow-mount trolling motors in seconds. Saltwater boaters face unique operating conditions; they frequently need to clear the bow deck to prevent fly-line snags, remove expensive electronics when parking at public slips to prevent theft, or protect their gear from harsh weather when storing the boat outdoors. The RTA-19 provides a rock-solid solution, using a low-profile two-piece interlocking plate design. The small inner plate (or puck) bolts permanently to your fiberglass deck, while the larger outer plate secures to the base of your trolling motor. To remove the motor, you simply pull back the heavy-duty locking handle, slide the top plate off the puck, and lift the motor away, leaving your bow clean, flat, and safe to step on.

Molded entirely from high-yield, premium white composite materials, the RTA-19 is built to withstand intense sun, salt, and wave force. Unlike traditional aluminum brackets that can chip, scratch, or experience severe galvanic corrosion when exposed to saltwater, this industrial composite structure is completely immune to rust, pitting, and discoloration. The clean white finish matches modern offshore center consoles and bay boat gelcoats perfectly for a clean, factory-installed look. The heavy-duty locking handle features dual integrated stainless steel pins that hold the plates together tightly to eliminate motor wobble. For added security, the handle pin features a dedicated clearance hole that accommodates a short-shank padlock, allowing you to lock the trolling motor securely to your deck to deter opportunistic thieves at the marina boat ramp.

Key Features

• Instant Tool-Free Motor Removal: Interlocking slide plate tracking allows you to slide your trolling motor off the bow deck in seconds by simply pulling a mechanical locking handle.
• Rustproof White Marine Composite Build: Constructed from a high-yield composite matrix that is completely impervious to saltwater corrosion, pitting, rust, and UV-induced yellowing or chalking.
• Low-Profile Visual Integration: When the motor is removed, the remaining deck-mounted puck features a smooth, low-profile design that leaves your casting platform clear of tripping hazards.
• Padlock Security Locking Handle: The locking arm is outfitted with dual stainless steel pins and features an integrated padlock hole, allowing you to lock the motor to your deck for maximum security.
• Anti-Rattle Tight Fitment: Engineered with tight tolerances across the interlocking channels to absorb motor torque and prevent rattling, ensuring silent stealth while hunting fish on shallow flats.
• Complete Marine Hardware Kit: Comes fully loaded with premium marine-grade stainless steel bolts, nuts, washers, and insulated spacers required for a professional through-hull deck installation.

Compatibility Information

The Minn Kota RTA-19 Composite Quick Release Bracket features a specialized compatibility matrix configured uniquely for manual-deploy and cable-steer bow-mount form factors. It is fully compatible with the **Minn Kota Riptide Fortrex**, **Minn Kota Riptide Maxxum**, and **Minn Kota Riptide Edge** saltwater trolling motor series. The bolt hole patterns on the upper plate are pre-drilled to align with the cast-aluminum bases of these specific motor series.

Please note that this bracket is explicitly rated and safety-tested for mid-range power outputs. It is designed for motors with **80 pounds of thrust or less, and shaft lengths of 60 inches or shorter**. It is **not for use** with high-output 36-volt, 112lb thrust motors or any trolling motor with an extended shaft length of 72 inches or longer. Those larger systems generate extreme leverage and high-torque forces that override this bracket's footprint, requiring you to step up to the larger heavy-duty aluminum RTA-54 or RTA-55 brackets. It requires a flat bow deck section for proper flush installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between this RTA-19 bracket and the RTA-17 model?

The key difference between the two brackets lies in their structural shape and pre-drilled bolt hole patterns, which cater to entirely different trolling motor steering styles. The RTA-19 is custom-engineered to fit manual-deploy and cable-steer saltwater motors, specifically the Riptide Fortrex, Maxxum, and Edge series. Conversely, the RTA-17 features a narrower, extended plate design tailored to fit electric-steer, electronic-deploy saltwater motors like the Riptide Terrova, Ulterra, and PowerDrive. Always match the bracket model to your specific motor series to ensure the pre-drilled base holes align correctly during installation.

Do I need to have under-deck access to install the RTA-19 puck to my boat bow?

Yes, having direct access to the underside of your bow deck is highly ideal and recommended. Securely mounting the RTA-19 inner puck requires drilling through your fiberglass deck and fastening it from underneath using the provided stainless steel bolts, large washers, and nylon-locking nuts to ensure the plate can handle high motor torque. If your bow is completely sealed and you have no physical way to reach underneath, you will need to utilize specialized aftermarket marine blind fasteners, such as toggle bolts or rubber well nuts, to anchor the puck securely from the top down.

What size padlock do I need to secure the locking handle against theft?

To secure the RTA-19 locking handle, you should look for a high-quality marine-grade padlock featuring a short-shank design with a maximum shackle diameter of 1/4 inch. A stainless steel or brass padlock is highly recommended to prevent the locking mechanism from freezing up due to salt air exposure. Avoid using long-shackle padlocks, as the excess loop space can allow the lock to bounce around and slap against your boat's fiberglass deck while running at high speeds, which can cause noisy distractions and chip your gelcoat finish.

Can I buy an additional inner deck puck separately to use one motor on two different boats?

Yes, absolutely. The inner composite deck plate (puck) can be purchased independently as an accessory part (Minn Kota part number 2371965). This modular design is an excellent advantage for multi-boat owners. By installing an independent inner puck on the bow of your primary flats boat and a second puck on your family pontoon or aluminum skiff, you can easily shift your single Riptide trolling motor between both vessels in seconds without having to buy a second expensive motor.

Is this composite bracket strong enough to handle rough offshore ocean swells without cracking?

Yes, the RTA-19 is engineered from an industrial-grade, high-yield composite polymer matrix that provides exceptional structural strength and flexural endurance. It is designed to withstand heavy wave impacts, sudden acceleration torque, and the continuous vibrations encountered during offshore coastal use. As long as you stay within the maximum structural limits of 80 lbs of thrust and a 60-inch shaft length, the composite material will absorb stress smoothly without fatiguing, cracking, or loosening over time.