Minn Kota Fortrex 80 Bow-Mount Trolling Motor - 24v-80lb.-52"

Dominate the Water with Unmatched Power and Precision

Picture this: you're navigating a weed-choked bay or dodging stumps in shallow backwaters, and your trolling motor powers through without flinching. That's the reality with this beast of a bow-mount motor. Designed for serious freshwater anglers who demand reliability in the toughest spots, it combines brute 80-pound thrust with smart engineering to keep you on the fish longer. No more fighting props or fragile mounts— this setup is built to take abuse and keep delivering stealthy, quiet runs.

Ruthless Strength Meets Innovative Design

The heart of its toughness lies in the anodized aluminum Mono-Arm Design. Unlike traditional multi-part mounts that wear out or rattle, this single extruded beam flexes minimally under torque, ensuring rock-solid stability. Paired with the Counter-Tension Stabilizer (CTS), it eliminates slop in both stowed and deployed positions, giving you whisper-quiet operation that won't spook skittish bass or walleye.

Deploying and stowing? Effortless thanks to the patented Lift-Assist mechanism. That nitrogen-charged gas spring handles half the weight, letting you focus on fishing instead of wrestling gear. And when things get rough, the Removable Bowguard 360° absorbs impacts from any angle with its dual-bearing system, then resets automatically—protecting your investment without downtime.

Precision Control at Your Feet

Steering feels intuitive with the ultra-responsive heel-toe foot pedal, crafted from high-impact composite for bombproof durability. Its ergonomic shape offers more foot room and exact speed control across variable forward and reverse settings. Spot the illuminated directional indicator even in low light—it tells you precisely where you're headed, so you maintain perfect boat positioning over structure.

Power Through the Thick Stuff

Equipped with the Weedless Wedge 2 prop, swept-back flared blades push vegetation aside instead of chopping it, saving precious battery life. The indestructible composite shaft—guaranteed for life—flexes on brutal hits but never kinks or corrodes, outlasting steel in real-world pounding. Backed by cool-running windings and a friction-reducing bearing system, it stays quiet and efficient, extending motor life season after season.

Maximize Every Charge with Digital Maximizer

Here's where it shines for all-day anglers: Digital Maximizer tech optimizes power draw, squeezing up to five times more runtime from your 24-volt setup. No more guessing on amp draw or cutting trips short—dial in your speed, and it delivers just what's needed, reducing heat and waste. Pair it with deep-cycle batteries, and you're set for marathon sessions targeting suspended crappie or schooling stripers.

Real Angler Insights: Tackling Tough Conditions

Anglers swear by this motor on bass boats and multi-species rigs in lakes riddled with hydrilla or milfoil. Its 52-inch shaft provides the reach for high freeboards, while 80 pounds of thrust handles 18- to 22-foot crafts loaded with gear. In stump fields or timber lines, the Bowguard shines, breaking away cleanly to avoid bent props or damaged mounts. Maintenance is minimal—just rinse after salty exposures (though freshwater optimized) and check connections for peak performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Lift-Assist feature so effective for stowing?

The stainless steel, nitrogen-charged gas spring reduces stow/deploy effort by 50%, guiding the motor smoothly into position without slamming—ideal for solo anglers or rough launches.

How does the Mono-Arm Design improve performance over standard mounts?

It uses a single anodized aluminum beam with no metal-to-metal contact, cutting torsion by 75%, wear, and noise for smoother, longer-lasting operation in heavy cover.

Is this motor suitable for weed-heavy waters?

Absolutely—the Weedless Wedge 2 prop with flared blades powers through thick weeds without clogging or draining batteries, perfect for bass lakes or lily pad mazes.

What kind of boats does it work best on?

Optimized for freshwater bow-mount applications on 16- to 22-foot boats like bass rigs or walleye setups, handling winds and currents with its 80-lb thrust.

Does the foot pedal offer good control in variable conditions?

Yes, the heel-toe cable-steer pedal provides precise variable speed control with an illuminated directional indicator, excelling in fog, dawn, or choppy water.

How efficient is the battery usage?

Digital Maximizer extends runtime up to 5x by matching power output to your needs, maximizing 24V deep-cycle battery life for full-day fishing.

What's the benefit of the composite shaft?

Stronger than steel pound-for-pound, it flexes on impacts without breaking or corroding, backed by a lifetime guarantee for unbeatable durability.

Fortrex® is fearless, with a ruthlessly tough anodized aluminum mount, Mono-Arm Design and with 80 pounds of thrust. It tears through anything in its path — from thick weeds to stump fields — to deliver you to the fish.

Minn Kota 1368661 Attributes

• Water Type: Freshwater
• Steering Type: Cable Steer
• Speeds: Variable Speed Forward And Reverse
• Voltage Rating: 24 Volt
• Ampere Rating: 56 Amp
• Maximum Thrust Force (LB): 80 Pound
• Shaft Length: 52 Inch
• Mounting Type: Bow Mount
• With Sonar: No
• With Pinpoint GPS: No

Minn Kota 1368661 Features & Benefits

• Patented Lift-Assist Design Cuts The Weight Of Stow And Deploy In Half
• Removable Bowguard 360 Degree® Features A Dual Bearing System That Eliminates Noise And Allows For Improved Breakaways From Any Angle
• Counter-Tension Stabilizer (CTS) Uses An Integrated Spring That Applies Force Whether The Motor's Stowed Or Deployed
• Easy-To-Read Directional Indicator Is Built Into The Top Of The Trolling Motor Head On Edge Foot Control Models
• Ultra-Responsive Heel-Toe And Cable-Steer Foot Pedal, Made With A High-Impact Composite Material For Unparalleled Durability
• Digital Maximizer™ Provide Up To 5 Times Longer Run Times On A Single Battery Charge
• Weedless Wedge™ 2 Prop With Swept-Back Flared Blades To Power Through Anything Without Battery-Draining Chopping And Hacking
• Indestructible Composite Shaft Guaranteed For Life
• Every Minn Kota Lower Unit Runs Cool To Extend Trolling Motor Life, And Stays Quiet
• Limited 2 Year Warranty

Minn Kota 1368661 Installation Instructions

• MIN_productmanual_Fortrex-Install.pdf
• MIN_productmanual_Fortrex-FC.pdf
• MIN_productmanual_tm-battery-install.pdf

Fortrex
Freshwater Bow Mount

We left the solid, extruded aluminum arm on the new Fortrex™ exposed, so everyone on the water can see what they're up against: the most ruthless mount we've ever unleashed. With fewer moving parts, tighter tolerances and less give, Fortrex is the beefiest, meanest, quietest motor ever. Consider yourself warned.

Mono-Arm Design
Sometimes, the simplest solution is best. In this case, it's a revolution. Fortrex's innovative Mono-Arm Design features an extruded, anodized aluminum, structural beam that operates with no metal-to-metal contact and 75% less torsion. A single hinge point and rear pivot bearing with 20% more surface area deliver less wear, longer life, and quieter operation than traditional motor mounts.

Counter-Tension Stabilizer (CTS)
CTS uses an integrated spring that applies force whether the motor's stowed or deployed. On the water, that translates to a motor with no play, no give, reduced steering torque and silent operation.

Lift-Assist
Fortrex's Lift-Assist design cuts the weight of stow and deploy in half, making it as easy as lifting your SUV tailgate. It features a stainless steel, nitrogen-charged gas spring to get you in and out of the water with ease.

Removable Bowguard 360°
Lifting the motor and bowguard off of the mount is now even easier on Fortrex - just remove a single cap screw. The Removable Bowguard 360°™ also features a dual bearing system that eliminates noise and allows for improved breakaways from any angle.

Illuminated Directional Indicator - Fortrex
The easy-to-read, illuminated directional indicator leaves no doubt about where you're headed

Foot Pedal
Get wired to the water with our ultra-responsive foot pedal. Its new design is easier to operate, with more room for your foot and more exact speed =control.

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.

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.

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.

Two-Year Warranty
This motor is backed up with Minn Kota's two-year warranty

Specifications

• Control: Cable Steer Foot Pedal
• Volts: 24
• Max. Thrust: 80 lbs
• Shaft Length: 52"
• Speed Control: Variable
• Max. Amp Draw: 56
• Prop: Weedless Wedge 2 (MKP-33)

The Minn Kota Fortrex 80-pound thrust towing motor is the ideal choice for large fishermen who need a durable, well-structured motor for frequent expeditions. The aluminum single arm, the movable bow guard and the lifting assist arm all contribute to the reliable construction of this Minn Kota motor (with 52-inch shaft). The illuminated indicator on this Fortrex tow motor always keeps you aware of the direction of the motor, which adds to this unique feature. The thrust towing motor is made for fresh water on large ships. The Minn Kota motor has a 24 volt voltage of 52 inches, and the shaft has a variable speed, which can be installed on the bow for easy maintenance. The Fortrex traction motor also has a debris-free wedge 2 thruster and a life-saving system. Other features of Minn Kota Fortrex 80 pounds. The thrust drag motor includes light-emitting direction indicators, foot pedals and digital maximizer technology.
SKU: NVN-35152
MPN: 1368661
UPC: 029402031955