Garmin announced the introduction of the Force Current, the first kayak trolling motor with a hands-free, wireless throttle and steering control system.
The Garmin Force Current allows anglers to navigate, troll and fight fish without setting down the rod. It features a brushless motor purpose-built for kayak anglers with full forward and reverse thrust, making it easy to navigate in any direction, 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,” said 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.”
Features include:
• Power steer foot pedals, included on select bundles, for hands-free throttle and steering.
• Wireless handheld remote with point-and-go gesture steering.
• Reduce clutter on deck and eliminate rudder cables; the pedals connect wirelessly to the motor and are designed to accommodate a variety of installations.
• Quickly engage anchor lock, heading hold and more with programmable foot pedal buttons.
• The dual-voltage, brushless motor delivers 50 pounds of thrust with 24-volt power, or 30 pounds with 12-volt power.
• Stay in place, even in windy conditions or strong current, with Garmin’s smart anchor lock technology with multiband GPS.
• Wireless plotter integration allows the creation of routes and tracks for the trolling motor to follow; the plotter can also be used to control steering, throttle, anchor lock and more.
• Control throttle and steering with a compatible Garmin smartwatch.
• The included wireless man overboard tag will cut off the motor should the operator end up in the water.
• In shallow areas, stow or deploy the prop with one hand using the included stow rope and cleat kit.
• Installation is simple and intuitive, and the lightweight motor weighs less than 25 pounds.
The Force Current is designed for use in salt water and fresh water, with advanced corrosion protection. Two prop options are included: a high-efficiency prop for maximum battery life and a weedless prop to cut through vegetation. Suggested retail pricing is $3599.99 for the motor and foot pedals, or $2999.99 without pedals.
Garmin also announced a new 110-inch version of the Force Kraken trolling motor ($6,499.99), and a 16-inch addition to the ECHOMAP Ultra 2 plotter series ($4,599.99 and $4,799.99, with or without a GT56UHD transducer), expected to debut in August.
