Minn Kota Unveils Its New Trolling Motor and Fishing Electronics Lineup

Minn Kota has officially unveiled its next generation of trolling motors and marine electronics, introducing updated motors, new navigation technology and a major expansion of the Minn Kota brand.

For trolling motor owners, the good news is that Minn Kota hasn't completely reinvented its motor lineup. Popular models including the Ultrex, Terrova, Ulterra, Riptide Terrova, Riptide Instinct QUEST, PowerDrive and Riptide PowerDrive continue, with most of the changes focused on upgraded software, navigation and integration rather than major changes to the motors themselves. This networking technology was called the One Boat Network. 

The larger story is the introduction of a fully integrated Minn Kota fishing system, Powered with Humminbird Imaging™, which brings Minn Kota trolling motors, fish finders, sonar, mapping and shallow water anchors together under a single platform.

What's New With Minn Kota Trolling Motors?

Minn Kota has introduced a new generation of several of its most popular trolling motors for 2027.

The updated lineup includes:

• Minn Kota Ultrex
• Minn Kota Terrova
• Minn Kota Ulterra
• Minn Kota PowerDrive
• Minn Kota Riptide Terrova
• Minn Kota Riptide Instinct QUEST
• Minn Kota Riptide PowerDrive

 

For most of these models, the basic motor design and functionality will be familiar to current Minn Kota owners. The biggest changes are inside the motors, with updated electronics designed to support Minn Kota's new wireless fishing system and navigation technologies.

That means anglers aren't looking at an entirely unfamiliar generation of trolling motors. Instead, Minn Kota has concentrated much of its development on making the trolling motor work more intelligently with the rest of the boat's electronics.

New Riptide Terrova QUEST

One of the more significant physical changes is coming to the Riptide Terrova QUEST.

The current Riptide Terrova QUEST has become extremely popular on larger bay boats, center consoles and offshore-capable boats thanks to its brushless QUEST motor, 90/115-pound selectable thrust and availability in long shaft lengths.

For 2027, Minn Kota is updating the Riptide Terrova QUEST with a smaller mounting footprint, addressing one of the biggest installation considerations with the current motor.

Bow space can be extremely limited on saltwater boats because of anchor lockers, windlasses, navigation lights and other equipment. A more compact mounting footprint should make the new Riptide Terrova QUEST easier to install on a wider range of boats.

Minn Kota says the next Terrova QUEST and Riptide Terrova QUEST models will begin arriving in early 2027.

Wireless Trolling Motor and Fish Finder Integration

One of the most important changes to the new Minn Kota system is wireless communication between compatible trolling motors and fish finders.

Previously, taking full advantage of the One-Boat Network typically required networking compatible Minn Kota and Humminbird products together.

With the new system, compatible Minn Kota fish finders and GPS-equipped trolling motors can communicate wirelessly without requiring an Ethernet connection between the trolling motor and fish finder.

Even better, this isn't limited entirely to new motors. Minn Kota says compatible 2024 and newer trolling motors equipped with Advanced GPS Navigation can gain wireless integration through a software update.

For many current Minn Kota owners, that means buying a new fish finder won't necessarily require buying a new trolling motor to access the latest integrated features.

Improved Spot-Lock

Spot-Lock has long been one of the defining features of Minn Kota's GPS trolling motors, and it receives another upgrade with the new generation.

Minn Kota says the latest version of Spot-Lock can hold a boat up to 50% tighter than previous Minn Kota trolling motor models.

Spot-Lock automatically uses the trolling motor to maintain the boat's position around a selected GPS location, compensating for wind and current. The improved accuracy should be particularly useful when fishing small pieces of structure, offshore spots or other situations where precise boat positioning matters.

Draw & Navigate

Draw & Navigate™ takes advantage of the connection between the trolling motor and Minn Kota's new fish finders.

Instead of manually creating a series of waypoints or continuously steering the trolling motor, an angler can simply draw a route on the fish finder's touchscreen. The trolling motor then automatically follows the selected course.

This provides another way to automate boat control when fishing shorelines, structure, weed lines and other areas where anglers want the boat to follow a specific path.

Intelligent Depth Control

Another new navigation feature is Intelligent Depth Control™.

The integrated system can monitor changing water depth and use that information when navigating the boat. This helps keep the boat and trolling motor from traveling into water that is shallower than the angler intends.

Rather than the fish finder simply displaying depth information, the trolling motor can now use that information as part of its navigation decisions.

It's a good example of the direction Minn Kota is taking with the new system: allowing information collected by one piece of equipment to automatically influence another.

Instant Response Steering

Compatible brushless electric-steer trolling motors also receive Instant Response Steering.

The system is designed to provide quicker and more responsive steering along with a redesigned foot pedal, giving anglers a more immediate steering feel while retaining the advantages of an electric-steer trolling motor.

This will be especially interesting for anglers accustomed to cable-steer trolling motors who prefer immediate feedback from the foot pedal.

Minn Kota and Humminbird Become One Integrated Fishing Brand

The biggest change announced for 2027 actually extends far beyond trolling motors.

Minn Kota and Humminbird have worked together for decades through Johnson Outdoors' One-Boat Network. Going forward, those technologies are being brought together under the Minn Kota brand.

Humminbird isn't simply disappearing. Its sonar and imaging technology will continue as Humminbird Imaging™, which will power Minn Kota's new generation of fish finders and sonar products.

That creates a single Minn Kota fishing ecosystem encompassing:

• Trolling motors
• Fish finders
• Sonar and imaging
• GPS navigation
• Mapping
• Shallow water anchors
• Mobile device control

Existing Humminbird owners aren't being left behind either. Compatible XPLORE, APEX and SOLIX G3 fish finders will receive software updates enabling new capabilities including wireless trolling motor connectivity, Draw & Navigate and Intelligent Depth Control.

New Minn Kota X Series Fish Finders

The first major electronics introduction under the expanded Minn Kota brand is the new Minn Kota X Series™.

Powered by Humminbird Imaging, X Series fish finders will be available in 7-, 9-, 10-, 12- and 16-inch screen sizes.

The units combine Humminbird sonar and imaging technology with Minn Kota navigation and boat-control functionality. Compatible X Series units can communicate wirelessly with the trolling motor, allowing the fish finder to serve as a central control point for navigation and boat positioning.

Additional Minn Kota A Series fish finders are scheduled to arrive beginning in early 2027.

Minn Kota Maps

Humminbird's mapping technology is also becoming part of the expanded Minn Kota system.

Minn Kota Maps builds on LakeMaster mapping data and provides freshwater and coastal mapping, waypoints and navigation information within the new Minn Kota ecosystem.

Depending on available coverage, advanced mapping features can include detailed contours, aerial imagery and shaded relief.

The New Minn Kota Fishing App

Minn Kota is also replacing the One-Boat Network App with the new Minn Kota Fishing App.

The app becomes the mobile control center for the Minn Kota ecosystem, allowing anglers to manage compatible:

• Trolling motors
• Fish finders
• Shallow water anchors
• Maps
• Waypoints
• Software updates

Existing One-Boat Network App users will be prompted to update to the Minn Kota Fishing App, and existing account information and settings can carry over.

More Minn Kota Electronics Are Coming in 2027

Today's announcement is only the first stage of Minn Kota's expanded electronics lineup.

Beginning in early 2027, Minn Kota plans to introduce additional products including:

• Minn Kota Terrova QUEST
• Minn Kota Riptide Terrova QUEST
• Minn Kota A Series fish finders
• Minn Kota Live Sonar
• Minn Kota 360 Imaging

The addition of Live Sonar and 360 Imaging is particularly significant because it confirms that the sonar technologies previously associated with Humminbird will continue to be developed as part of the expanded Minn Kota ecosystem.

What Does This Mean for Current Minn Kota Owners?

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the announcement is what hasn't changed.

Minn Kota hasn't abandoned the trolling motors anglers already know. Terrova is still Terrova. Ulterra still provides automatic stow and deploy. Ultrex remains Minn Kota's premium freshwater trolling motor platform, while Riptide Terrova and Riptide Instinct continue serving saltwater anglers.

Instead, Minn Kota has focused this generation heavily on electronics, wireless integration and smarter boat control.

And many relatively recent Minn Kota and Humminbird products can gain at least some of the new functionality through software updates.

For anglers already invested in Minn Kota equipment, that makes the transition considerably easier.

The Bottom Line

Minn Kota's 2027 launch represents less of a complete redesign of its trolling motors and more of a major expansion of what those trolling motors can do.

The biggest development is the creation of a unified fishing system that connects the trolling motor with sonar, mapping, navigation and boat control. By combining Minn Kota with Humminbird Imaging technology, Minn Kota is moving toward a system where the fish finder doesn't simply show an angler what's happening underwater—the trolling motor can actually respond to that information.

For anglers shopping specifically for a trolling motor, familiar models such as the Terrova, Ulterra, Ultrex, Riptide Terrova and Riptide Instinct QUEST remain at the heart of the lineup.

The motors aren't radically different. The system around them is.

We'll continue updating TrollingMotors.net as the new 2027 Minn Kota trolling motors, electronics and compatibility information become available.

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Minn Kota Lineup

What is new with Minn Kota trolling motors for 2027?

For 2027, Minn Kota has updated many of its most popular GPS trolling motors with new electronics, wireless connectivity and navigation capabilities. Most models retain their familiar designs and core functionality while gaining access to new technologies including improved Spot-Lock, wireless fish finder integration, Draw & Navigate and Intelligent Depth Control.

Which Minn Kota trolling motors are new or updated for 2027?

Updated models include the Minn Kota Ultrex, Terrova, Ulterra, PowerDrive, Riptide Terrova, Riptide Instinct QUEST and Riptide PowerDrive. Minn Kota has also introduced new Kayak Terrova and Riptide Kayak Terrova models designed specifically for kayak anglers. Additional Terrova QUEST and Riptide Terrova QUEST models are expected in early 2027.

What changed on the 2027 Minn Kota Riptide Terrova QUEST?

One of the most significant physical changes in the new lineup is a smaller mounting footprint for the updated Riptide Terrova QUEST. The more compact design should make installation easier on boats where bow space is limited, while the new generation also incorporates Minn Kota's latest electronics, wireless integration and navigation technologies.

What changed on the 2027 Minn Kota Terrova, Ulterra and Ultrex?

The biggest changes to these popular motors are electronic rather than major mechanical redesigns. The updated motors are designed to work with Minn Kota's new wireless fishing system and support the latest navigation and boat-control technologies while retaining the familiar features that distinguish the Terrova, Ulterra and Ultrex families.

Are any Minn Kota trolling motor models being discontinued for 2027?

Minn Kota has not eliminated its major trolling motor families as part of the 2027 launch. Instead, many existing models are transitioning to updated versions with new electronics and SKUs. Established models including Terrova, Ulterra, Ultrex, PowerDrive and their applicable Riptide counterparts remain part of the Minn Kota lineup.

Will older Minn Kota trolling motors work with the new wireless system?

Some will. Minn Kota says compatible 2024 and newer trolling motors equipped with Advanced GPS Navigation can gain wireless integration with compatible Minn Kota fish finders through a software update. This means many anglers will not need to replace a relatively new trolling motor simply to take advantage of the new wireless system.

What is Minn Kota's new wireless trolling motor integration?

The new system allows compatible Minn Kota trolling motors and fish finders to communicate wirelessly rather than requiring an Ethernet connection between them. This integration allows the trolling motor and fish finder to share navigation and boat-control information and enables features such as Draw & Navigate and Intelligent Depth Control.

What are Draw & Navigate and Intelligent Depth Control?

Draw & Navigate allows an angler to draw a desired route directly on a compatible fish finder's touchscreen and have the trolling motor automatically follow that route. Intelligent Depth Control allows the integrated system to use depth information when navigating, helping prevent the trolling motor from taking the boat into water shallower than the angler intends.

Is Humminbird being discontinued?

The Humminbird name is changing its role, but Humminbird's sonar and imaging technology is not going away. Minn Kota's new fish finders and electronics are Powered with Humminbird Imaging™, bringing trolling motors, fish finders, sonar, mapping and boat control together under the Minn Kota brand.

Will existing Humminbird fish finders work with the new Minn Kota trolling motors?

Compatible Humminbird XPLORE, APEX and SOLIX G3 fish finders are expected to receive software updates supporting new Minn Kota capabilities, including wireless trolling motor connectivity and selected navigation features. Compatibility will depend on the specific fish finder and trolling motor.

What are the new Minn Kota X Series fish finders?

Minn Kota X Series fish finders are a new family of marine electronics powered by Humminbird Imaging technology. They combine sonar, imaging, mapping and navigation with direct integration into compatible Minn Kota trolling motors and other components of the new Minn Kota fishing system.

Do I need to replace my current Minn Kota trolling motor?

For many anglers, no. If your existing trolling motor is working well, the introduction of the 2027 models doesn't automatically make it obsolete. In particular, compatible 2024 and newer motors with Advanced GPS Navigation may receive some of the new wireless capabilities through software updates, making it important to check compatibility before upgrading.