Trolling Motor Installations in NZ — Custom Setups for Minn Kota, Haswing, Garmin Force Kraken and Simrad RECON

At East Coast Marine Electronics, we specialise in trolling motor installations for all types of boats — alloy centre consoles and hardtops, lake boats and larger offshore rigs. Whether you’re upgrading to a Minn Kota Quest series, setting up a Haswing GPS motor (including the high-performance Haswing Cayman line), or going all-in with the Garmin Force Kraken (which integrates seamlessly with Garmin navigation and sonar technology) or Simrad RECON, we can customise your boat so everything fits and works perfectly. Haswing is rapidly expanding in the New Zealand market and offering competitive options alongside other leading brands and these models are now available in New Zealand. For custom setups we also offer a wide range of accessories to enhance functionality and tailor your trolling motor installation to your needs.

Why a Trolling Motor?

A trolling motor gives you boat control without touching the wheel — perfect for casting at structure, holding position over reefs or staying on schools of fish. With GPS Spot-Lock, heading hold and autopilot integration modern motors turn your boat into a hands-free fishing platform. Today’s trolling motors have wireless integration with chartplotters and smart devices for seamless control and more precise fishing.

Whether you’re fishing the Rotorua lakes, slow trolling the Tauranga Harbour channels or jigging deep water in the Bay Of Plenty, a properly installed trolling motor changes the way you fish. With wireless integration you can create and follow routes directly from your chartplotter or smart device and the motor will automatically navigate your chosen path for optimal boat positioning.

Minn Kota Instinct Quest Series

We supply and install the full range of Minn Kota trolling motors, including the Instinct Quest models with i-Pilot and Spot-Lock GPS anchoring.

Our installations include:

• Custom bow mounts or bracket fabrication for your hull type

• Wiring and circuit protection for your setup

• Integration with compatible headunits

• Battery system for 12V, 24V or 36V Minn Kota systems

We’ve fitted Minn Kota motors to Stabicraft 1550s to Surtees 650s, for clean installs that look factory made and perform in New Zealand conditions, and are compatible with boats that have high freeboards or limited bow space.

Haswing GPS Trolling Motors

Haswing motors are an affordable option for anglers who want GPS Spot-Lock performance without the price tag. We’ve installed Haswing units on many boats — small lake rigs to coastal setups — with great results. The Cayman line from Haswing is a high-performance option, offering value, power and upgrades for serious anglers. Haswing motors are built to last and suitable for a wide range of boats including high freeboard boats and deep V hulls.

We do:

• Custom mounting plates to suit bow shapes

• 12V, 24V and 36V lithium battery setups for extended runtime and longer run times

• Advanced corrosion protection and engineered design for saltwater use

If you want hands-free anchoring and quiet thrust without the big price tag a Haswing install might be the way to go.

Garmin Force Kraken

The new Garmin Force Kraken is designed for offshore and coastal use. The Force Kraken trolling motor, also known as the kraken trolling motor, is a powerful trolling motor with longer shaft options, perfect for boats with high freeboards. It delivers powerful thrust, exceptional efficiency and seamless integration with Garmin chartplotters like the GPSMAP and ECHOMAP series.

We can:

• Mount and align the Kraken for clean deployment and stowage, even on boats with limited bow space or high freeboards

• Wifi connect it to your Garmin network for control via your chartplotter or remote

• Set up lithium or AGM battery systems for maximum performance and longer run times

• Configure autopilot and heading integration for seamless boat control

• Add transducers for more sonar capabilities. If you already have Garmin electronics the Force Kraken is the ultimate upgrade.

Simrad RECON

The Simrad RECON Trolling Motor brings precision control and full integration with Simrad NSX and NSS evo4 displays. With sonar compatibility and robust construction it’s for serious anglers. The Simrad RECON is built to last and perform in demanding conditions using advanced technology like GPS and remote control to enhance your boating experience.

We can:

• Custom fit the motor mount to your hull type

• Connect it to your Simrad network for full touchscreen control

• Optimise your power system for performance and runtime

• Recommend and install accessories like mounting systems, remote controls and protective gear to add functionality

Custom Fitment & Boat Integration

No two boats are the same — that’s why every trolling motor install we do is fully customised. We’ll assess your bow layout, anchor well, rail positions and battery storage to design the perfect mount and wiring setup, accommodate limited bow space and ensure easy install regardless of your vessel’s configuration. We also do battery chargers and isolators so everything works seamlessly and safely.

Our goal is a tidy professional install that looks factory made and performs day in day out.

Ready to Upgrade?

Whether you want a Minn Kota, Haswing, Garmin Force Kraken or Simrad RECON we’ll help you choose the right model and fit it right the first time.

📍 Based in the Bay of Plenty we offer mobile installation across the region