Trolling motor installation on Long Island — Minn Kota and Garmin Force.
LIME supplies and installs Minn Kota and Garmin Force trolling motors on boats across Nassau County and Suffolk County. We handle the motor, the battery bank, the wiring, and the electronics integration — everything in one visit.
A trolling motor is only as good as the power behind it. We supply LiTime LiFePO4 batteries sized for your motor's thrust rating and run time needs, and handle all wiring, fusing, and charging system integration. Clean install, properly done.
Brands We Install
Minn Kota and Garmin Force — the two best trolling motors for Long Island fishing boats.
Both brands lead the market in GPS-integrated trolling motors. We supply and install both, and can advise which is the better fit for your boat, your fishing style, and your existing electronics.
Minn Kota is the most widely used trolling motor brand on Long Island fishing boats. The Riptide series is built specifically for saltwater — stainless hardware, sealed components, and corrosion-resistant construction. Terrova and Ulterra models add i-Pilot GPS with spot-lock anchoring, autopilot, and route recording. We supply and mount all Minn Kota models — bow mount, transom mount, and engine mount configurations.
The Garmin Force trolling motor integrates natively with Garmin GPSMAP and ECHOMAP chartplotters — one screen controls the motor, sonar, and navigation together. If your boat already runs Garmin electronics, Force is the natural choice. We install Force motors and wire the network connection to your existing Garmin display so everything works as a single system from the first cast.
The Installation
What LIME handles — motor, battery, wiring, and integration.
Trolling motor installations go wrong when the power system is undersized, wiring is undersized for the current draw, or the motor isn't integrated with the fishfinder. We handle all of it.
We advise on the right thrust rating for your boat size and typical fishing conditions in Nassau County and Suffolk County waters. Bow mount motors are installed with correct motor mount hardware, cable routing, and foot pedal placement. Transom and engine mounts are secured and leveled to the right deployment depth.
Trolling motors draw 30–100A at full throttle depending on thrust rating. Undersized wire and improperly rated fusing are the most common causes of poor performance and premature motor failure. We run the correct wire gauge — typically 4 or 6 AWG tinned marine wire — with proper in-line fusing at the battery and clean connections throughout.
Garmin Force connects to your Garmin chartplotter via a single network cable. Minn Kota i-Pilot Link pairs with select Humminbird units. We handle the network wiring and configuration so your motor, fishfinder, and GPS all communicate correctly. No separate foot pedal required when i-Pilot or Force is integrated with your helm display.
Battery and Power
The right battery makes or breaks a trolling motor setup.
Most trolling motor issues on Long Island boats come down to undersized or undercharged battery banks. We supply LiTime LiFePO4 batteries sized to your motor's thrust and your typical run time — and handle charging system integration so the bank is always full when you leave the dock.
We supply LiTime LiFePO4 batteries for trolling motor use. A 100Ah 12V LiTime battery weighs about 24 lbs vs 60 lbs for an AGM equivalent, delivers full rated thrust down to 20% state of charge, and accepts fast recharge from your onboard charger. Lithium holds voltage flat across the entire discharge — no gradual power fade as the bank depletes.
A 55 lb thrust motor at full throttle draws about 52A. Running at typical 50–60% throttle draws 20–30A. A 100Ah LiFePO4 bank gives 3–4 hours of fishing at moderate trolling speeds. For full-day use or high-thrust motors, a 200Ah bank or two 100Ah batteries in parallel are the right call. We size it for your actual use pattern.
We install dedicated onboard chargers for trolling motor batteries — a separate charge circuit from the starting battery so the trolling bank is always full when you leave the dock. For boats that stay on the water between trips, we pair the trolling battery with a small solar panel and Victron MPPT so it charges itself. See our lithium battery installation page for full details.
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Our Work
Trolling motor installs on Long Island boats.
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Customer Reviews
Five-star reviews from Long Island boat owners.
LIME installed a Minn Kota Riptide Terrova with a dedicated LiTime 100Ah lithium battery. Clean wiring job, foot pedal positioned perfectly, i-Pilot paired with my Humminbird on the first try. Ran the whole day on one charge. Best upgrade I've made to this boat.
Had LIME wire the Garmin Force motor into my GPSMAP 923. One screen controls everything now — motor speed, direction, spot-lock, all of it. The wiring is clean and concealed. These guys know electronics. Not just swapping parts — they understand systems.
Needed a bow mount trolling motor with the right battery setup for fluke fishing in Great South Bay. LIME spec'd the right thrust, sized the battery for a full day out, and handled everything in one visit. Motor works perfectly, no voltage issues at all.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
What thrust rating do I need for my boat?
The general rule is 2 lbs of thrust per 100 lbs of boat weight, fully loaded. A 2,000 lb boat needs 40 lbs of thrust minimum. For Long Island waters — South Bay, North Shore, and offshore — we recommend sizing up by 20–30% for current, wind, and chop. Most center consoles in the 18–26 foot range run best with 55–80 lb thrust motors. We assess your boat during the site visit and give you a specific recommendation.
Should I get Minn Kota or Garmin Force?
If your helm already runs Garmin electronics — GPSMAP or ECHOMAP chartplotters — the Garmin Force integrates directly and gives you single-screen control of the motor, sonar, and navigation. If you're running Humminbird, Lowrance, or no chartplotter, Minn Kota i-Pilot is the more flexible choice and is the most installed motor on Long Island fishing boats. We carry both — call 516-448-6221 and we'll walk you through the right fit.
What battery should I use for a trolling motor?
We recommend LiTime LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) for dedicated trolling motor banks. Lithium maintains flat voltage at full thrust down to 20% state of charge — unlike AGM, which loses power noticeably as it discharges. A 100Ah 12V LiTime weighs about 24 lbs vs 60 lbs for AGM equivalent. For motors above 80 lbs thrust, a 200Ah bank or parallel 100Ah setup keeps you running all day. We supply and install the battery as part of every trolling motor job.
Are these motors rated for saltwater use?
Minn Kota's Riptide series is built specifically for saltwater — sealed and stainless hardware throughout. The standard Terrova and Ultrex motors are freshwater models and should not be used in saltwater without the Riptide saltwater version. Garmin Force uses fully sealed electronics and is rated for both fresh and saltwater use. LIME only installs the correct saltwater-rated models for Nassau County and Suffolk County boats.
Can the trolling motor connect to my fishfinder?
Yes — both Garmin Force and Minn Kota i-Pilot Link support integration with compatible chartplotters and fishfinders. Garmin Force connects to GPSMAP and ECHOMAP units via a network cable. Minn Kota i-Pilot Link works with select Humminbird units. LIME handles the network wiring and unit configuration as part of the installation — this is the part most DIY installs get wrong.
What does a trolling motor installation cost?
LIME charges $140/hr portal-to-portal with a 4-hour minimum. A bow mount motor installation with battery and wiring typically runs 4–6 hours. If you also need a dedicated charge circuit or solar panel for the trolling battery, add another hour. We provide a written estimate before starting. Motor and battery supply pricing depends on the model — call 516-448-6221 for a quote specific to your boat and setup.
What marinas and areas do you serve?
LIME serves all of Long Island — Nassau County marinas from Manhasset Bay east to Oyster Bay and the South Shore, and Suffolk County from Babylon and Islip all the way to the East End. Portal-to-portal billing means travel time is included in the hourly rate. Most Long Island locations are within our normal service range. Call 516-448-6221 to confirm your marina.
Get Started
Ready to add a trolling motor to your Long Island boat?
NMEA certified. ABYC electrical standards. Serving Nassau County and Suffolk County marinas. When you call LIME, you're calling the person doing the work.
Portal-to-portal billing · $140/hr · 4-hour minimum · Written estimate before we start