Electric Bow-Mount Motors

Garmin trolling motor for bow navigation

A trolling motor is an electric motor installed at the bow, designed to move the boat with precision and in complete silence while fishing. Unlike the main engine, it is a tool designed for small movements, holding position on a spot, and silently approaching an area without disturbing fish with noise or vibration. Integration with GPS and onboard chartplotters turns the trolling motor from a simple auxiliary motor into a true assisted-navigation tool, capable of automatically holding position, following set routes, and communicating with the rest of the electronic equipment.

This category includes Garmin trolling motors, divided into two lines, Force Pro and Force Kraken, which share the same level of power and integration with the Garmin ecosystem, but differ mainly in available shaft length and construction approach. Both lines are designed to deliver high thrust, multiband GPS, integrated autopilot, and a fishfinder built into the motor shaft.

Product types

Force Pro Series

The Force Pro Series is Available with 50" (127 cm) and 57" (144.78 cm) shaft lengths, and represents Garmin's most rugged offering from a construction standpoint. The high-efficiency brushless motor delivers a maximum thrust of 45 kg (100 lb) according to ISO 13342 with a high-performance propeller at 36 V, or 36 kg (80 lb), also according to ISO 13342, with the same propeller at 24 V. Operation at 24 V offers performance comparable to competing motors powered at 36 V.

Force Pro integrates a GT56UHD-TR fishfinder with traditional CHIRP technology and Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü scanning, providing detailed images of the bottom and structures with reduced interference when connected to a compatible chartplotter. The motor features high-precision multiband GPS, which ensures stable anchoring and advanced positioning, and an integrated autopilot with a heading sensor for anchor lock and heading-hold functions. The deploy and stow system is based on two gas springs with a pull cable, making it easier to launch and retrieve the motor. Control is via a wireless foot pedal with steering cable and a waterproof, floating remote control with an anti-glare screen. The structure features corrosion protection designed for prolonged saltwater use. Force Pro is covered by a 3-year warranty and a limited lifetime warranty on the shaft.

Force Kraken Series

The Force Kraken Series shares the same maximum power level as the Force Pro (45 kg/100 lb at 36 V, 36 kg/80 lb at 24 V) and the same degree of integration with chartplotters, fishfinders, and other Garmin equipment. The main difference is the availability of a wider range of shaft lengths: 48", 63", 75", 90", and 110". This makes the Kraken range the right choice for boats with high freeboard or limited bow space, where a longer shaft is needed to ensure the propeller operates correctly while submerged.

Like the Force Pro, the Kraken range also integrates dual-frequency GPS, an integrated compass sensor and, in many models, an all-in-one GT56UHD-TR transducer with CHIRP, ClearVü, and ultra-high-definition SideVü technology. A dedicated mounting bracket (Kraken LiveScope) is also available, allowing a Panoptix LiveScope transducer to be installed directly on the motor shaft, enabling Forward, Down, and Perspective viewing modes. The Kraken range integrates an illuminated direction indicator on the motor head and a quick-release bracket that simplifies installation and removal; the model with a 90" shaft also features a dedicated deck stabilizer. All models are IPX7 rated for water resistance and carry a lifetime warranty on the shaft, with a 2- or 3-year warranty on the remaining components depending on the model.

How to choose between Force Pro and Force Kraken

Because the two lines share maximum power and integration features, the choice between Force Pro and Force Kraken is based mainly on two factors: the shaft length required by the boat and the preferred construction approach.

The first element to evaluate is the shaft length, which must be proportionate to the boat's freeboard, meaning the distance between the bow mounting point and the water surface. The Force Pro Series is Available in two lengths, 50" and 57", sufficient for most small and medium-sized fishing boats. The Force Kraken Series expands the choice from 48" up to 110", making it the necessary option for hulls with a high bow, high freeboard, or configurations where a longer shaft is essential for correct submerged propeller operation.

The second element concerns the construction approach. The Force Pro is the most rugged option in the range, designed as a solid, long-lasting solution for boats that do not require extreme shaft lengths. The Force Kraken, while maintaining the same performance level, offers greater dimensional flexibility, making it the preferred choice when the hull's characteristics require it.

The third element is the type of power supply available onboard. Both series are available in 24 V or 36 V configurations, with thrust performance scaling identically across the two lines: the higher voltage delivers the maximum thrust of 45 kg, while the 24 V configuration stops at 36 kg, while still remaining competitive with competing motors running at higher voltage.

The fourth element is the Panoptix LiveScope compatibility. If the goal is to install a LiveScope transducer directly on the motor shaft for real-time scanning, the Kraken range offers a dedicated mounting bracket specifically designed for this purpose.

Technologies and technical features

Brushless motor: both the Force Pro and Force Kraken series use a brushless electric motor, with no brushes, reducing mechanical friction and noise generation compared to traditional electric motors and ensuring quiet operation suitable for stealth fishing approaches.

Thrust and voltage: both lines offer a maximum thrust of 45 kg (100 lb) according to ISO 13342 with a high-efficiency propeller at 36 V, or 36 kg (80 lb) at 24 V. Operation at 24 V on both series offers performance comparable to competing motors powered at higher voltage.

Multiband GPS and compass sensor: both lines integrate high-precision GPS (multiband or dual-frequency depending on the model) and a compass sensor, elements that ensure accurate positioning and stable heading readings for the boat.

Anchor lock: a function that, thanks to the integrated GPS, automatically holds the boat's position on a specific point, independently compensating for movement caused by wind and current, without the need to deploy a physical anchor. Available on both series.

Integrated autopilot: combined with the heading sensor and GPS, it allows you to set and follow a predefined route, automatically navigate to a waypoint saved on the chartplotter, or follow a previously recorded track. A function common to both lines.

Integrated GT56UHD-TR fishfinder: both Force Pro and many Force Kraken models integrate this all-in-one transducer with traditional CHIRP technology and Ultra High-Definition ClearVü and SideVü scanning, delivering detailed images of the bottom and structures with reduced interference.

Panoptix LiveScope compatibility: the Force Kraken range includes a dedicated mounting bracket (Kraken LiveScope) that allows a Panoptix LiveScope transducer to be installed directly on the motor shaft, enabling Forward, Down, and Perspective viewing modes.

Wireless connectivity: both series communicate wirelessly with compatible Garmin chartplotters, allowing motor management directly from the onboard display. Manual control is via wireless foot pedal and floating remote control with anti-glare screen.

Water resistance and warranty: both series are IPX7 rated and feature a corrosion-protected structure designed for saltwater use. The warranty covers 3 years on the motor, with a limited lifetime warranty on the shaft for both lines.

Practical use

During a fishing trip, the trolling motor is used mainly for two functions: silently moving toward a fishing area and holding position once the desired spot has been reached. Electric propulsion, without the vibration and noise typical of a combustion engine, allows you to approach a fishing area without spooking fish, a factor that is especially important when fishing in shallow or clear water.

Once the position has been reached, the anchor lock function automatically holds the boat on the set point, compensating for wind and current without requiring manual input from the helmsman. This frees attention for fishing operations while reducing maneuvering time compared with using a traditional anchor, especially over bottoms where physical anchoring would be complex or not recommended.

Integration with the chartplotter allows you to set a route in advance toward a fishing area marked as a waypoint, letting the motor autonomously follow the set course, or to record and retrace a track previously followed, useful for repeating a productive fishing drift along a specific coastline or bottom structure.

The fishfinder integrated into the motor shaft, when connected to a compatible chartplotter, provides real-time readings of the bottom and submerged structures even during the low-speed movement typical of trolling motor use, integrating position and heading information with sonar data in a single display.

Available brands

Garmin is the exclusive brand of trolling motors in this category. An American company founded in 1989, Garmin produces bow-mounted electric motors integrated with the brand's entire ecosystem of chartplotters, fishfinders, and transducers, offering two lines equivalent in power and integration but different in available shaft length: the Force Pro Series and the Force Kraken Series.

Conclusion

The choice between Force Pro and Force Kraken is not about a difference in power or functionality, since both lines share the same maximum thrust and the same level of integration with the Garmin ecosystem. The distinction instead concerns the shaft length required for your boat: the Force Pro, Available in 50" and 57", represents the most rugged solution for most fishing boats; the Force Kraken, with lengths up to 110", is the right choice when the boat's freeboard requires a longer shaft to ensure correct propeller operation.

In both cases, multiband GPS, anchor lock, integrated autopilot, and built-in fishfinder make these electric motors an active tool in the onboard navigation and fishing system, not just a simple auxiliary propulsion unit.