Reviewed: Minn Kota Riptide
Mounting an electric your boat can make a huge difference to your fishing.
ELECTRIC motors have changed the way we fish. This became evident to me following the recent arrival of the Fisho estuary project boat, a Sea Jay 4.65 Discovery Sports spowered by a Yammie 70 four-stroke and a 55lb Minn Kota Riptide bow mount electric.
Electric engines like the Riptide are nothing new. Serious estuary anglers have been using them for years. Prior to the Sea Jay, however, I’d never owned a boat with a bow mount electric fitted and I have to say that using and fishing with one has been a game-changer.
The Minn Kota Riptide electric fitted to the Fisho boat is a 12-volt 55lb thrust model with Autopilot function and a wireless remote “Copilot” allowing control of the engine anywhere in the boat. Other models in the Riptide range include 80 and 101 lb thrust 24-volt models. The Fisho Riptide is powered by an Ultimate 12V UL 100Ah AGM deep-cycle battery deep cycle battery and the performance and battery life exhibited so far are more than adequate. The 55 lbs of max thrust allows me to operate the boat in the heaviest currents and winds. The so far excellent battery performance is no doubt also influenced by the Riptide unique “Digital Maximiser”, which regulates power and optimises draw. A display on the engine also allows you to gauge how much power you have left.
The Riptide is also suitable for retrofitting with the new i-Pilot accessory, which uses an internal GPS receiver to control the boat. I haven’t actually used or been in a boat with i-Pilot as yet but all the reports I’ve had on this technology indicate that it is revolutionary. From my understanding, one of the major benefits of i-Pilot is that at the push of a button it will hold the boat in position, even with opposing wind and tide. It also lets you store and retrace productive trolling lines. All that sounds pretty cool but I have to say that I am content at this stage to learn how to use the “standard” Riptide to full advantage. My first few trips out saw some pretty erratic driving but as I’ve got used to the wireless remote I’ve found I can easily position the boat to allow accurate casts to fishy snags.
General use of the unit has been largely hassle free. A handy lever makes deploying the engine easy. You simply press in and down, push forward and the unit slides into position and locks down. Stowing it is pretty much the reverse of deploying. A master switch turns the unit off when stowed so you don’t have any issues of props spinning madly when you pull the leg out of the water.
A lot of tournament anglers prefer the foot controls that are standard on other Minn Kota models, such as the Terrova, because these controls allow faster and more accurate control of the boat. I’m not in that competitive league and like the convenience of the remote, which I’ve put on a lanyard around my neck. Other anglers use an optional strap or band to position the control on their wrist or a clip which attaches to their rod butt.
An optional foot control is available for the Riptide if you prefer.
Unlike the aforementioned Terrova, the Riptide is rated for use in saltwater and features extensive corrosion protection.
All up, the Riptide has so far been an absolute boon. I would go so far as to say that my experience so far with this sort of technology leads me to believe that there’s no way you could effectively lure fish estuary and freshwater locations with out an electric mounted on the front of your boat.
For more info on the Riptide range, and details of your local Minn Kota dealer, go to www.minnkota.com.au.
By Jim Harnwell
