Minn Kota Riptide ST Model Trolling Motors

 

RIPTIDE ST Saltwater Bow Mount Models

DM=Digital Maximizer   US2=Universal Sonar 2   AP=Auto Pilot

 

 

RIPTIDE ST Saltwater Bow Mount Features

Riptide ST Stow/Deploy Lever Easy in. Easy out. Everyday. That’s the thought behind the innovative stow/deploy mechanism on Riptide ST. The balanced motor design makes stowing easy, and a master cut-off switch automatically turns off the motor when stowed.
CoPilot for Riptide ST Fish from anywhere on the boat with CoPilot™. Only the Riptide ST’s wireless CoPilot lets you activate AutoPilot or reach maximum power at the push of a button. You can also control speed, steering and prop on/off from anywhere on the boat. CoPilot can be mounted on your lanyard, rod or wrist for easy access.
Digital AutoPilot (select models) Digitally controlled AutoPilot™ locks onto any heading you choose and delivers you there. Infinitely variable steering adjustments provide smoother course corrections and tighter heading accuracy against wind, waves and current. Included on select models. Also available as an add-on accessory.
Riptide ST Foot Pedal (optional) Our waterproof, low-profile electric steer foot pedal lets you take precise control with less than one degree of steering resolution. Features an IP68 waterproof rating. Sold separately.
Indestructible Composite Shaft Guaranteed For Life! Pound for pound, our composite shaft is stronger than steel. It flexes on impact and won’t break, kink or corrode. That’s why we’re confident enough to make it the only trolling motor shaft that’s guaranteed for life.
Digital Maximizer Digital Maximizer™ controls and optimizes power to extend battery life and reduce damaging heat. You’ll stay on the water up to five times longer on a single charge.
Weedless Wedge 2 Prop Push weeds away and take on the thick stuff without battery-draining chopping and hacking. Weedless Wedge™ 2 features swept-back, flared blades for unrelenting, reliable prop performance.
Advanced Corrosion Protection Riptide motors are impervious to saltwater’s corrosive effects, thanks to premium-grade marine alloys and aluminum upper arms. Metals undergo a rigid multi-step cleaning process before being anodized or coated with a special zinc dichromate armor plating. All components are then finished with a durable 5-mil TGIC polyester, powder coat paint. When it’s all done, you’re left with unequaled corrosion protection.
Full Encapsulated Electronics Marine-grade urethane fully encapsulates Riptide control boards to protect the electronic circuitry. Also, all electrical connections are sealed with liquid-tight heat shrink tubing to form an impregnable barrier against saltwater.
Sacrificial Anode Galvanic corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals come into electrical contact through saltwater. Riptide fights back with a patented sacrificial zinc anode, a composite shaft and properly balanced materials that are close in electrical potential. The result is a motor that’s completely protected from saltwater’s destructive forces.
Cool, Quiet Power Nothing runs cooler or more quietly than a Minn Kota. Our extra large windings and commutators dissipate heat, resulting in cooler operation, extended battery power, and longer motor life. And our unique bearing system reduces friction to cut fish-spooking noise. So quiet, they’ll never hear you coming.
Three-Year Warranty This motor is backed up with Minn Kota’s® three-year warranty.

 

RIPTIDE ST Saltwater Bow Mount Accessories

 

• What about shaft length selection?
  

  Choosing the correct shaft length is important so that the angler’s electric motor does not cavitate, creating fish-spooking noise. The rule of thumb is that the center of the motor section should be submerged 9". In general, shaft length selection is more critical with bow-mount motors versus transom-mount motors. Most boat transoms are similar in their distance to the water, and Minn Kota’s standard transom shaft lengths should be adequate. With bow-mounted motors, there is much greater variation in shaft length requirements. Measure down from the mounting surface of the transom or bow to the water level. Add 5" to waterline measurement for fishing in rough water. Add 12" to waterline measurement for steering a hand control motor while standing. Use this measurement and the tables below to find the appropriate shaft length.

• Bow Guide

  

  Bow to Waterline	Recommended Shaft Length
  0"-10"	36"
  16"-22"	42"
  22"-28"	48"-52"
  28"-34"	54"-62

  Transom Guide

  

  Transom to Waterline	Recommended Shaft Length
  0"-10"	30"
  10"-16"	36"
  16"-20"	42"
  Over 22"	Consult Factory

 

• Electric motor power ratings are in pounds of thrust. How do I determine the thrust requirements for my boat?
  

  Thrust requirements are determined by the size and weight of your boat. As a rule of thumb:

• 40 lb. thrust max boat size 17 feet
• 50 lb. thrust max boat size 20 feet
• 55 lb. thrust max boat size 21 feet
• 65 lb. thrust max boat size 23 feet
• 70 lb. thrust max boat size 23 feet
• 80 lb. thrust max boat size 25 feet
• 101 lb thrust max boat size 25 feet

However if you frequently fish in heavy winds, rivers or adverse weather conditions, you may want to consider a higher thrust electric motor. It’s always better to have too much power than not enough!

Minn Kota has a trolling motor selection guide on their web site where you can enter specifics about your boat and it will recommend a model that fits your input. You can access that site by clicking HERE.

• How important is battery selection for electric motor usage?
  

  The battery is a critical element of your electric motor system. A high-quality deep cycle marine battery should always be used. Unlike automobile batteries, deep cycle marine batteries are designed to be run down to a discharged state and then recharged. (To extend the life of your battery, always recharge after use. Most trolling motor batteries fail due to lack of proper charging.)

• What are the benefits of a bow-mounted electric motor?
  

  Boats do not tend to go in a straight line. Because of this, it is much easier to pull a boat than to push a boat. It is also easier to move the bow of the boat sideways compared to moving the transom. Therefore, a bow-mounted electric motor allows for much greater boat control and positioning. If quick-response boat control and positioning is what you are looking for, a Minn Kota bow-mount electric motor is a must.

• Can I get an adapter plug to mate a newer CoPilot up with an older motor?
  

  No, there are no adapter cables for the CoPilot accessory.

• Can I upgrade my PowerDrive or Riptide SP motor with AutoPilot?
  

  In order to add AutoPilot in an older PowerDrive, in most cases, it will be necessary to replace the main control board, the coil cord, as well as the compass control board...due to the cost of the parts required, such a modification is not cost effective.

• Can I use the wireless pedal on my trolling motor in place of my corded foot pedal?
  

  As long as you have the CoPilot system on your motor you will be able to program the wireless pedal with your CoPilot.

• Digital Maximizer Analogy
  
  • You are driving a car fully accelerated. To slow down, you lift your foot off the pedal to decelerate allowing only the proper amount of gas (power) to be used. This burns less gas than the first analogy and does not heat up the brake system.
  • Same theory applies to the Maximizer. Only the necessary power to go the desired speed is delivered to the motor providing extreme efficiency and longer running time.

• Digital Maximizer Benefits
  
  • Extended trolling time (up to 5x longer on a single charge).
  • The Digital Maximizer speed control saves valuable power over a conventional speed coil motor.
  • The Digital Maximizer allows more fishing time on your battery charge, up to five times longer run time per battery charge, compared to the 5-speed switch.
  • With variable speed control, the Digital Maximizer allows for proper speeds to be set and maintained while trolling lures for proper presentation.
  • Virtual speed adjustments for changing conditions.
  • The Digital Maxmizer allows for fine-tune speed adjustments.
  • The Digital Maximizer allows the user to control boat speed more effectively in changing environments.

• How Digital Maximizer Works
  
  • Since speed coils reduce the power going to the motor, the Digital Maximizer feature was designed to eliminate this inefficient speed control method by using rapid on/off switching. The Digital Maximizer is simply a switch that turns the connection to the battery on and off 20,000 times per second.
  • If “on” time is longer compared to “off,” the motor receives more power. If “off” time is longer, the motor gets less power. Since there is minimal power lost to accomplish this, the overall motor is very efficient.

• Soft Start
  A feature of the Digital Maximizer, it limits how fast the motor can go from “off” to “on.

• How far away will my CoPilot remote communicate?
  

  Your remote will communicate up to 25 feet.

• How long will the batteries in my CoPilot remote and wireless foot pedal last?
  

   Typically the batteries will last one year or at least two regular fishing seasons.

• What type of battery is required for the CoPilot remote?
  

  Model CR 2032 coin cell battery.

• What type of battery is used in the wireless foot pedal?
  

  It requires two AA size non-alkaline batteries.

• Why buy a Minn Kota trolling motor with the AutoPilot feature?
  

  Minn Kota’s patented AutoPilot system (available on Terrova and PowerDrive V2 trolling motors) keeps you headed in the right direction by intelligently and automatically steering your boat. AutoPilot utilizes a patented, state-of-the-art compass system that locks onto a particular heading, and automatically and continuously makes adjustments to keep your boat moving in that direction.