Garmin announced in early July its Force Current — a trolling motor that shakes up traditional kayak fishing with a hands-free wireless throttle and steering control system. The brand-new electric motor allows anglers to navigate, troll and fight fish without ever setting the rod down. Anglers can expect from the Force Current a brushless motor purpose-built for kayaks with full forward and reverse thrust that makes it easy to navigate in any direction, weave through tight timber, turn in a tight circle, sneak along shorelines, or creep through weed beds while fishing.
“Kayak fishing continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments of recreational fishing,” says Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing. “We’re thrilled to expand our Force trolling motor lineup with a premium kayak solution that’s both innovative and intuitive for anglers of all skill levels. Leveraging Garmin’s most advanced trolling motor technology with our revolutionary hands-free kayak propulsion system, the Force Current will change the way you fish from a kayak.”
Highlights of the Garmin Force Current Trolling Motor
- Use the power steer foot pedals, included on select bundles, for hands-free throttle and steering, or use the wireless handheld remote with point-and-go gesture steering.
- Reduce clutter on the deck and eliminate the need for rudder cables; the pedals connect wirelessly to the motor and are designed to accommodate a variety of simple installation methods.
- Quickly engage anchor lock, heading hold and more with programmable foot pedal buttons.
- The dual-voltage, efficient brushless motor delivers 50 pounds of thrust with 24V power, or 30 pounds with 12V power to move anglers from spot to spot all day long.
- Stay put – even in windy conditions or strong current – thanks to Garmin’s smart anchor lock technology with multi-band GPS.
- Wireless chartplotter integration allows anglers to create routes and tracks for the trolling motor to follow while they fish; the chartplotter can also be used to control steering, throttle, anchor lock and more
- Control throttle and steering from the wrist with a compatible Garmin smartwatch.
- With safety in mind, the included wireless man overboard tag will cut off the motor should the operator fall overboard.
- In shallow areas, quickly and easily stow or deploy the prop with one hand with the included stow rope and cleat kit.
- Get on and off the water fast; installation is simple and intuitive, and the lightweight motor weighs less than 25 pounds so it can be easily carried in one hand.
The Force Current is built to handle both saltwater and freshwater environments with advanced corrosion protection. Two prop options are included; a high-efficiency prop for maximized battery life and a weedless prop designed to cut through aquatic vegetation. The Force Current is available in July with a suggested retail price of $3599.99 for the motor and foot pedals, or without the pedals for $2999.99. The tech revolution we’ve seen in bass and flats boats over the last decade is quickly becoming available for dedicated kayak anglers.
