Minn Kota | Trolling Motor Cable and Handle Kit | Steering Control Accessory | MKA-49 | 1854125

Product Overview

The Minn Kota | Trolling Motor Cable and Handle Kit | Steering Control Accessory | MKA-49 | 1854125 is a premium, factory-certified replacement pull-cable mechanism designed to restore the deployment, retraction, and locking functionality of your heavy bow-mount trolling motor. On manual-deploy scissor mounts, the entire physical strain of stowing and deploying the heavy lower unit and shaft relies on an internal latch-pin mechanism that is triggered by pulling a long cord from the boat deck. Over multiple seasons of active tournament and recreational fishing, original factory nylon cords are subjected to intense UV weathering, dry rot, and continuous abrasion against the sharp metal edges of the bracket guide tracks. This wear and tear eventually causes the cord to fray, stretch, or snap completely, leaving you with an immobilized motor stuck in either the up or down position. The MKA-49 solves this mechanical failure perfectly, returning your deck routine to factory-smooth operation.

This heavy-duty upgrade kit completely replaces the weak fabric line of standard setups by integrating an ultra-strong, jacketed stainless steel aircraft cable. This core provides an exceptional tensile strength profile that is physically incapable of stretching, fraying, or snapping, even when yanking a heavy 112lb thrust motor out of a locked downposition against rough wave waves. The cable is fully encapsulated inside a smooth, UV-stabilized polymer protective jacket that eliminates metal-on-metal scratching along your aluminum mount tracks. The package comes completely equipped for an instant, drop-in hardware refresh out of the box, containing the premium jacketed stainless steel cable, an oversized ergonomic high-impact composite T-handle that fits comfortably in large gloved hands, an adjustable cable clamp collar, and an inline protective bumper washer.

Key Features

• Jacketed Stainless Steel Aircraft Cable: Upgrades your standard fabric pull cord to an industrial-grade braided steel cable core that fully eliminates fraying, stretching, and snapping under heavy loads.
• Oversized Ergonomic T-Handle: Features a rugged, high-impact composite pull handle molded with deep finger grooves to provide a comfortable, non-slip mechanical grip in wet or freezing weather.
• Protective Protective Polymer Armor: The steel cable is fully encased in a smooth synthetic jacket that blocks out moisture and protects your trolling motor mount’s anodized finish from metal abrasion scuffs.
• Adjustable Cable Length Collar: Includes a high-security compression clamp that allows you to easily adjust and lock the cable length to perfectly match your boat's deck height and casting layout.
• Prevents On-Water Motor Jams: Restores immediate, smooth activation to the internal latch-pin mechanism, ensuring your motor stows and deploys flawlessly with a single motion.
• Comprehensive OEM Replacement Pack: Arrives fully loaded from the factory with the cable, molded handle, steel compression set screws, and an inline protective bumper washer for a tool-free hardware refresh.

Compatibility Information

The Minn Kota MKA-49 Cable and Handle Kit features extensive cross-platform compatibility across Minn Kota’s heavy-duty freshwater and saltwater bow-mount trolling motor families. It is custom-engineered to line up perfectly with all generations of manual-deploy scissor mounts, including the elite **Minn Kota Fortrex** and **Minn Kota Maxxum** series motors. It is also fully compatible with saltwater variants, including the **Riptide Fortrex (SF)** and **Riptide Maxxum (SM)** series.

Please note that this pull-cable layout is designed uniquely for mechanical scissor brackets and is **completely incompatible** with electric-steer, electronic-deploy motor lines such as the Minn Kota Terrova, Ulterra, or PowerDrive series, which rely on independent internal motorized servo gears or manual foot-pedal release levers rather than an external pull cord. The high-purity tinned and jacketed properties of the cable make it fully approved for use in both freshwater lakes and high-salinity coastal marine zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I adjust the cable length to fit my specific boat deck configuration?

Adjusting the cable length on the MKA-49 is fast and simple. First, thread the raw end of the jacketed steel cable through the internal latch-release mechanism on your trolling motor base bracket. Next, pull the cable until it has just enough slack to allow the internal latch pin to fully lock and unlock when you pull the handle. Slide the included adjustable steel compression collar up the cable until it rests tight against your handle base, and use an Allen wrench to tighten the dual set screws down firmly. Once the collar is locked onto the steel core, use sharp wire cutters to trim away any excess remaining cable tail.

Will the stainless steel core rust or freeze up after constant exposure to coastal salt air?

No, the Minn Kota MKA-49 is built specifically to handle the extreme elements of harsh saltwater coastal environments. The internal core is braided from high-grade marine stainless steel that resists pitting and rust, while the outer shell is fully sealed inside a smooth polymer protective jacket that prevents corrosive salt crystals or moisture from ever making direct physical contact with the metal strands. To ensure maximum smooth travel through the bracket guide rollers, simply rinse the cable down with fresh water along with the rest of your boat deck after each trip.

What is the purpose of the small rubber washer included inside this replacement kit?

The small rubber washer serves as an inline protective shock absorber bumper. During installation, this washer slides onto the cable section positioned directly between the trolling motor mount bracket frame and the adjustable compression collar of the T-handle. When you pull the handle hard to stow your motor, or when the cable snaps back into position after deployment, this rubber washer cushions the impact. This prevents the composite handle from smashing directly against the hard metal edges of the bracket, eliminating cracks and absorbing vibrations during trailering.

Can I install this cable without completely unbolting my trolling motor from the bow deck?

Yes, absolutely. You can easily install the MKA-49 replacement kit while your trolling motor remains permanently bolted to your bow deck casting platform. Simply deploy the trolling motor into its vertical running position to open up the internal tracks of the mount frame. Cut away the old broken or frayed fabric cord from the internal pull bracket, thread the raw end of the new MKA-49 jacketed steel cable through the guide rollers and into the latch pin loop, secure it via the compression collar, and verify smooth travel before locking it down.

Is the composite T-handle buoyant enough to float if the cable snaps or falls into the water?

While the oversized composite T-handle is molded from a high-impact, lightweight polymer blend, it is structurally dense to ensure it doesn't crack under heavy manual strain, meaning it is not natively buoyant on its own. However, because the cable is permanently anchored inside your trolling motor mount housing on the bow deck, there is zero risk of the handle falling overboard into the lake during normal operation. The only way the handle could fall into the water is if the high-strength steel cable itself snapped, which is physically impossible under standard manual fishing operations.

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.