Minn Kota Terrova

MINN KOTA TERROVA: INTRO

Who isn’t looking for a better way to power their fishing kayaks through the water? I know that we are! Well, luckily for you and your fellow kayak fishing enthusiasts, there is a way! A trolling motor! Before you get into this article, we would suggest that you take a look at KFC’s Kayak Trolling Motor Ultimate Guide. Our Ultimate Guide contains everything you need to know about kayak trolling motors. We have even ranked The 5 Best Kayak Trolling Motors! After that, you can see whether a particular type of trolling motor, the Minn Kota Terrova (pictured below), is right for you. Let’s dive in!

Minn Kota Terrova: Guide

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We’d like to be the first to welcome you to KFC’s article about the Minn Kota Terrova kayak trolling motor! We wrote this post after receiving a number of questions about this particular model of trolling motor. We wanted to conduct a little research to make sure that we could provide a resource that would contain all of the important information about this product – you are reading the result! We start by providing a little bit of information about the basics of the Minn Kota Terrova – What is it? How is it installed? What kind of watercraft is it best suited for? How to power it? And much more!

After reading about the basics, you’ll benefit from taking a look at the “how to” checklist where we have authored an easy to follow guide that will walk you through how to use the Minn Kota Terrova. If you’re not familiar with trolling motors (or even if you are a seasoned pro) you’ll want to read the owner’s manual as each trolling motor is just a little different than the next (even if the manufacturer is the same)! That said, our list will help shed some light on some helpful areas!

After getting up to speed on some of the “how to” instructions, we thought it would be worthwhile to highlight three features that set the Minn Kota Terrova apart from other kayak trolling motors. In our research, we found that a number of trolling motors can provide one or two of these most critical features. In this case, one or two simply isn’t enough.

For something as important and, in some cases, expensive as a trolling motor, you need to make sure you are buying the total package! We’ve also included a link to the Minn Kota website so that you can learn more information straight from the horse’s mouth! Finally, we’ve included a short narrative about our own experience using this model of kayak trolling motor. We like learning from personal experiences and we hope that you benefit from seeing some of our own mistakes (and successes) with this product!

Minn Kota Terrova: The Basics

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Shortcut to the Minn Kota Terrova Review

The Minn Kota Terrova (pictured above) is one of the best models of bow mount trolling motor on the market today. What is “bow mount”. Remember that the “bow” is the front of a particular watercraft while the “stern” is the rear. A “bow mount” trolling motor is simply one that mounts to the front of the kayak, as opposed to one that mounts along the “side” (also known as a transom mount). See an example of a transom mount kayak trolling motor here.

This model delivers an impressive 80 pounds of thrust. Remember, the word “thrust” is often used as the unit of measurement when a system or device pushes, moves or accelerates a substance in a particular direction. Here, the Minn Kota Terrova is the “system or device” and the water is the “substance”. OK, so is 80 pounds of thrust a lot? It is! Typically a kayak motor will put out between 25 and 55 pounds of thrust – 80 is quite powerful! This comes from the 24 volt motor.

Often times you’ll find that these kind of kayak fishing accessories come with extra features (there are even GPS Trolling Motors). The Minn Kota Terrova is no exception. Among other features, it comes with a GPS package (iPilot) and even a spring powered lift assist that helps a kayak fisherman deploy, direct and lift the trolling motor up out of the water with ease. Trust us, trolling motors (especially bow mount models) can be heavy! You’ll always wan’t to find a model that features a spring lift design! Your back will thank you!

How to Use Properly

We were pleased to discover that the Minn Kota Terrova comes with a very easy to follow user’s guide. Your user’s guide should be your first step in learning how to use the product. After all, manufacturer knows best!

That said, we do think that it helps to add a little “color” by providing you with some of the tricks of the trade. It is important to mention that most trolling motors are used in substantially similar ways towards one common goal: to help you navigate your kayak in the water. This is the case for both transom mount and bow-mount kayak trolling motors. There are, however, some key differences. We’ll mention some of these differences in the list below. Let’s do it!

• Take the Minn Kota Terrova out of the box and make sure all of the components are present and accounted for.
• The Terrova will include some small pieces (like the iPilot remote control, for example) and you don’t want to inadvertently lose or misplace these!
• Once you’ve installed the Terrova on your kayak, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with its foot control ruddering system.
• The foot control is different from a hand held throttle control like you would find on most transom mounted trolling motors.
• In fact, the foot control is one of the distinguishing features of this style of trolling motor and is one of the things that makes it so great!
• Become acquainted with the “circle mode” (you’ll see this button on the Terrova’s remote control).
• The circle mode will allow you to set the trolling motor to automatically travel in wide circles around the school of fish you are targeting.
• Also, you’ll want to learn how to use Spot-Lock.
• Spot-Lock functions as an electronic anchor, causing for the Terrova to “anchor” you in one spot, automatically returning your kayak to the designated location once you’ve drifted only a handful of feet away.
• Another feature that you’ll want to learn how to use is the iTrack feature.
• iTrack allows you to designate certain waypoints (like along a shoreline, for instance) that you want to direct your Terrova to automatically travel while kayak fishing.
• Finally, be sure to master the Lift-Assist, as the Terrova can be rather heavy and somewhat cumbersome.
• The Lift-Assist will help you raise and lower the Terrova from the water with ease.
• We should all mention that the Terrova is comparable with Minn Kota’s fish finder (the Humminbird) those it is not included unless you buy a package deal!

Minn Kota Terrova: Important Features

We mentioned it before, but it is worth repeating that there are two different types of trolling motors. The first kind is known as a “bow mount” trolling motor. The second is known as a “transom mount” trolling motor. Luckily for us, both can be used on fishing kayaks. Even luckier? There are actually several high quality models of each kind of kayak on the market today!

Despite the presence of the high quality models on the market, you still need to choose wisely to ensure that your kayak trolling motor doesn’t leave you high and dry when you are relying on it the most! In this section, KFC’s has listed the top 3 most important features to find in any trolling motor that you are giving serious consideration to buying. While it is true that many models have one or maybe two of these features, it is the combination of the three that you are after! Let’s take a look at each top feature in greater detail!

Capacity of Motor. This is a very important consideration. Earlier we mentioned that transom mounted kayak trolling motors are typically found in sizes 25 to 55. Remember, this measurement refers to pounds of thrust. While not necessary to properly power most fishing kayaks, some of us like to go bigger….especially those who like to kayak fishi in tandem (learn more about the Best Tandem Fishing Kayak). That is why we encourage you to consider looking for bow mount kayak trolling motors.

The bow-mounted style of kayak trolling motor (like the Minn Kota Terrova) is typically able to deliver more power than its transom mounted cousins. In fact, we’ve recently used one such model that puts out 80 pounds of thrust! This power is pushed to the unit with a 24 volt battery. If you need a little extra power to move you upstream against a swift current or to navigate resistance caused by a strong wind, you’ll be well suited to opt for a similar 80 pound model!

Technology. Transom motors aren’t an overwhelmingly new pieces of fishing gear. However, their application to fishing kayaks is relatively new. Even newer are the great technological strides that these type of trolling motors are making! For that reason, it is very important that you take advantage of a trolling motor that has been outfitted with the latest technology, especially if you are relying on your trolling motor to gain an edge over your fellow kayak fisherman!

There are many examples of the latest and greatest technological features. One of these includes the presence of handheld remote controls that can control the entirety of your trolling motor with just the push of a button. Others include the “foot control” ruddering system that allows for you to be totally “hands free”, instead focusing your hands on more important matters – like reeling in a big catch. Still another great example is integration with fish finders. Yes, the top of the line kayak trolling motors (like the Minn Kota Terrova) are compatible with certain fish finders, combining two of your most important pieces of kayak fishing gear into one (and saving a little space too)!

Battery and Meter. You’ll want a battery that can keep up with the demands that you will place on your trolling motor. This doesn’t just mean extended battery life (though this is a critical consideration). You need to look for a battery that can perform equally well in a wide variety of temperatures. Remember, kayak fishing is a year round sport. I don’t know where you live, but it gets pretty cold here in the winter time. I have noticed that “cheaper” batteries can be severely impacted by colder weather, resulting in a shorter battery duration among many other performance problems.

Be sure that your manufacturer has built its product with an eye towards making its motor as battery efficient as possible. You’ll want the trolling motor to drain the battery as little as possible, all while generating the greatest amount of power!

Also, many of the best models of trolling motor feature easily located battery meters so that you can be absolutely certain of how much charge remains. This is the only sure fire way of ensuring that you don’t become stranded while out on the water. Remember never to “estimate” battery life by considering how long you’ve been on the water. Battery life is determined by too many factors for such a simply equation – better to rely upon a battery meter and avoid being stranded far from shore!

Buy the Minn Kota Terrova

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Perfect for Kayak Fishing!

While there are many great models on the market, we have experienced the Minn Kota Terrova on multiple occasions and are certain that it is truly the best of the best! Minn Kota is a well established manufacturer of all sorts of products for watercraft, and the Minn Kota Terrova is just another example of a great piece of boating (or kayaking) gear!

The Terrova features a “quiet” (but not silent) cool-running motor that boasts of the ability to deliver 5x the longevity of its competitors on just one charge. Just like we highlighted above, the unit has a “push-to-test” meter that is designed to give you immediate insight into the battery’s remaining charge! We’ve found that there was no ascertainable difference between the performance of the battery (or the trolling motor itself, for that matter) during periods of very cold or very warm weather.

The Terrova comes with nearly all of the latest technology, including Circle Mode, Spot-Lock and iTracks. These are truly unbelievable features that could only be dreamed of only a few years ago and each of them has an immediate positive impact upon your abilities as a kayak fisherman! The model is even bluetooth enabled! Where the Terrova doesn’t “come with” the technology (unless you buy a package deal) it is fully compatible with the newest models (Humminbird fish finders, for example).

My Experience

I had traditionally used transom mounted trolling motors on my fishing kayak. For some reason, I had long held the idea that a trolling motor needed to be ruddered “by hand” and I liked the idea of having the throttle located near my dominant arm. Once I became accustomed to the “foot control” ruddering and discovered the ease with which it allowed me to navigate the waters, all while keeping my hands free, I was hooked (and so were the fish)!

The 80 pounds of thrust provided by the Minn Kota Terrova most also be reiterated. I can’t tell you how many times I have needed “just a little bit more” to power upstream in a swift moving area of the lake or “just a little bit more push” to power me to the ideal fishing hole before my competitors beat me to the spot. The 80 pound Minn Kota Terrova delivers! Even a 55 pound transom mounted motor would have let me down, I fear. Not the Terrova!

MINN KOTA TEROVA: CONCLUSION

You made it to the end! Well, almost. It is our hope that this article has served as a useful guide from which to learn about the Minn Kota Terrova. I’m sure you can tell from our comments and reviews above that we feel like this is a really awesome kayak fishing accessory!

While we’ve made every effort to include all of the important details about the Terrova, we will be the first to tell you that we are certain to have omitted a thing or two. If you feel that we have or if you otherwise have questions about the Minn Kota Terrova, we would like to encourage you to post on the Comments board below. The KFC Comments board is a great way for the kayak fishing community to interact and to share helpful tips and tricks with one another.

Have you ever wanted to compete in a kayak fishing tournament? Take a look, here!

Comments

Had you ever heard of the Minn Kota Terrova before you read this article? Perhaps you have seen this trolling motor installed on a bass boat or a fishing kayak on your local lake? We’ve noticed that they have become more and more popular (particularly for fishing kayaks)!

What kind of experience have you had with bow mount trolling motors like the Minn Kota Terrova? Do you think they are easier to work with than the smaller transom mounted motors? Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and we hope that you will share yours with us!