MINN KOTA VANTAGE Manual

INTRODUCTION

Please thoroughly read this user manual. Follow all instructions and heed all safety and cautionary notices below. Use of this motor is only permitted for persons that have read and understood these user instructions. Minors may use this motor only under adult supervision.

ATTENTION: Never run the motor out of the water, as this may result in injuries from the rotating propeller. The motor should be disconnected from the power source when it is not in use or is off the water. When connecting the power-supply cables of the motor to the battery, ensure that they are not kinked or subject to chafe and route them in such a way that persons cannot trip over them. Before using the motor make sure that the insulation of the power cables is not damaged. Disregarding these safety precautions may result in electric shorts of battery(s) and/or motor. Always disconnect motor from battery(s) before cleaning or checking the propeller. Avoid submerging the complete motor as water may enter the lower unit through control head and shaft. If the motor is used while water is present in the lower unit considerable damage to the motor can occur. This damage will not be covered by warranty.

Take care that neither you nor other persons approach the turning propeller too closely, neither with body parts nor with objects. The motor is powerful and may endanger or injure you or others. While the motor is running watch out for persons swimming and for floating objects. Persons whose ability to run the motor or whose reactions are impaired by alcohol, drugs, medication, or other substances are not permitted to use this motor. This motor is not suitable for use in strong currents. The constant noise pressure level of the motor during use is less than 70dB(A). The overall vibration level does not exceed 2,5m/sec2.

LOCATING YOUR SERIAL NUMBER
Your Minn Kota 11-character serial number is very important. It helps to determine the specific model and year of manufacture. When contacting Consumer Service or registering your product, you will need to know your product's serial number. We recommend that you write the serial number down in the space provided below so that you have it available for future reference.

The serial number on your Vantage is located on the inside of the main transom bracket

FEATURES

Specifications subject to change without notice.
*This diagram is for reference only and may differ from your actual motor.

INSTALLATION

MOTOR INSTALLATION

With its variable shaft length, the Vantage will fit on most transoms between 14 and 28 inches high.

1. Trailer the boat and park it on a level surface.
2. Locate the Vantage on the boat transom where it will be mounted. The location choice is important. The Vantage motor lower unit rotates 400°. It must, therefore, be positioned far enough to the side of the outboard engine along the transom so that during rotation it will not strike the outboard engine. With the 36V 101 version, you should install the transom extrusion (provided) before you secure the Vantage to the transom.
   
   TRANSOM EXTRUSION INSTALLATION (101 MODELS ONLY)
   1. Set Vantage on transom with clamp screws backed out.
   2. Slide extrusion between inside of transom and the clamp screw washers and tighten clamp screws.
   3. Attach extrusion to transom with two screws provided. This will require drilling two appropriate sized pilot holes for the self tapping screws.
3. Set the angle adjustment/tensioning screws (located on the sides of transom bracket) so the motor is perpendicular to the ground. Hand tighten the screws.
4. Measure from the ground to the bottom of the hull. Measure from ground to the bottom of the Vantage skeg. Secure the unit so the bottom of the skeg is at one inch above the bottom of the hull, directly in front of the Vantage (accounting for the v-shape of the boat hull). Use a 1/2 inch open-end wrench to loosen the four transom bracket nuts/bolts between the body of Vantage and the transom bracket. Adjust the body of Vantage to a one-inch level above the transom and secure. This will position the Vantage lower unit and prop so that, when retracted, they will clear the bottom of the boat. It may take several attempts to achieve correct placement.
   
5. Adjust the handle to a comfortable position.

NOTE: When mounted properly, the Vantage motor lower unit will be out of the water when the boat is on plane. If lower unit creates water spray when on plane, slightly re-adjust it higher until there is no more water spray.

• Never operate your motor when it is out of the water.
• Over-tightening the clamp screws can damage the bracket.

When raising/lowering motor or operating the tilt mechanism, keep fingers clear of all hinge and pivot points and all moving parts.

BATTERY WIRING & INSTALLATION

BOAT RIGGING & PRODUCT INSTALLATION

For safety and compliance reasons, we recommend that you follow American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards when rigging your boat. Altering boat wiring should be completed by a qualified marine technician. The following specifications are for general guidelines only:

These guidelines apply to general rigging to support your Minn Kota motor. Powering multiple motors or additional electrical devices from the same power circuit may impact the recommended conductor gauge and circuit breaker size. If you are using wire longer than that provided with your unit, follow the conductor gauge and circuit breaker sizing table below. If your wire extension length is more than 25 feet, we recommend that you contact a qualified marine technician.

An over-current protection device (circuit breaker or fuse) must be used. Coast Guard requirements dictate that each ungrounded current-carrying conductor must be protected by a manually reset, trip-free circuit breaker or fuse. The type (voltage and current rating) of the fuse or circuit breaker must be sized accordingly to the trolling motor used. The table below gives recommended guidelines for circuit breaker sizing.

Reference:
United States Code of Federal Regulations: 33 CFR 183 – Boats and Associated Equipment ABYC E-11: AC and DC Electrical Systems on Boats

CONDUCTOR GAUGE AND CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZING TABLE

This conductor and circuit breaker sizing table is only valid for the following assumptions:

1. No more than 3 conductors are bundled together inside of a sheath or conduit outside of engine spaces.
2. Each conductor has 105°C temp rated insulation.
3. No more than 5% voltage drop allowed at full motor power based on published product power requirements.

*Wire Extension Length refers to the distance from the batteries to the trolling motor leads.

SELECTING THE CORRECT BATTERIES

The motor will operate with any lead acid, deep cycle marine 12 volt battery/batteries. For best results, use a deep cycle, marine battery with at least a 105 ampere hour rating. Maintain battery at full charge. Proper care will ensure having battery power when you need it, and will significantly improve the battery life. Failure to recharge lead-acid batteries (within 12-24 hours) is the leading cause of premature battery failure. Use a multi-stage charger to avoid overcharging. We offer a wide selection of chargers to fit your charging needs. If you are using a crank battery to start a gasoline outboard, we recommend that you use a separate deep cycle marine battery/ batteries for your Minn Kota trolling motor.

Advice Regarding Batteries:

• Never connect the (+) and the (–) terminals of the battery together. Take care that no metal object can fall onto the battery and short the terminals. This would immediately lead to a short and extreme fire danger.
• It is highly recommended that a circuit breaker or fuse be used with this trolling motor. Refer to "Conductor Gauge and Circuit Breaker Sizing Table" in the previous section to find the appropriate circuit breaker or fuse for your motor. For motors requiring a 60-amp breaker, the Minn Kota MKR-19 60-amp circuit breaker is recommended.

CONNECTING THE BATTERIES IN SERIES (IF REQUIRED FOR YOUR MOTOR)

24 VOLT SYSTEMS:

24 Volt Series Connection

1. Make sure that the motor is switched off (speed selector on "0").
2. Two 12 volt batteries are required.
3. The batteries must be wired in series, only as directed in wiring diagram, to provide 24 volts.
   1. Connect the connector cable supplied with the motor to positive (+) terminal of battery 1 and to negative (–) terminal of battery 2.
   2. Connect positive (+) red lead to positive (+) terminal on battery 2.
   3. Connect the yellow (+) lead to positive (+) terminal on battery 1.
   4. Connect negative (–) black lead to negative (–) terminal of battery 1.
4. For safety reasons do not switch the motor on until the propeller is in the water. If installing a leadwire plug, observe proper polarity and follow instructions in your boat owner's manual. See wiring diagram below.

36 VOLT SYSTEMS:

36 Volt Series Connection

1. Make sure that the motor is switched off (speed selector on "0").
2. Three 12 volt batteries are required.
3. The batteries must be wired in series, only as directed in wiring diagram, to provide 36 volts.
   1. Connect the connector cable supplied with the motor to positive (+) terminal of battery 1 and to negative (–) terminal of battery 2.
   2. Connect positive (+) red lead to positive (+) terminal on battery 3.
   3. Connect the yellow (+) lead to positive (+) terminal on battery 1.
   4. Connect negative (–) black lead to negative (–) terminal of battery 1.
4. For safety reasons do not switch the motor on until the propeller is in the water. If installing a leadwire plug, observe proper polarity and follow instructions in your boat owner's manual. See wiring diagram below.

• Improper wiring of 24/36 volt systems could cause battery explosion!
• Keep leadwire wing nut connection tight and solid to battery terminals.
• Locate battery in a ventilated compartment.
• For safety reasons, disconnect the motor from the battery or batteries when the motor is not in use or while the battery/batteries are being charged.

MOTOR WIRING DIAGRAM

24 VOLT SYSTEM

36 VOLT SYSTEM

USING & ADJUSTING THE MOTOR

ADJUSTING THE DEPTH OF THE MOTOR

To position the lower unit, press and release the DOWN button on the tiller to automatically lower the motor into the water. To adjust for shallow water, deploy the motor and hit the DOWN button a second time and the motor will stop at that point. Use the UP button to adjust depth if still necessary. When the DOWN button is pushed, the motor down LED will illuminate and stay lit until the motor is retracted back to its stowed position. The motor is only designed to deploy a certain distance. Pushing the DOWN button when the motor is fully deployed or UP button when the motor is fully stowed may result in lift motor damage.

NOTE: If the UP button is pushed while the lower unit is running, the power will shut off to protect the lift system.

Never operate your motor when it is out of the water.

CONTROLLING SPEED AND DIRECTION WITH THE TILLER

Locate the ON/OFF switch located at the end of the control handle. Push the switch in to power on, and push the switch again to power off. The LED indicator will illuminate when power is on. This motor offers a choice of infinitely variable speeds. Turn the control button on the tiller counterclockwise to decrease speed and clockwise to increase speed.

ARTICULATED STEERING

The tiller has a 4-to-1 steering ration which enables you to rotate the lower unit 180° by moving the tiller just 45°.

BACKTROLLING

The orientation of the lower unit can be changed for backtrolling. Set your speed to 0 and trim the lower unit down to the fully deployed position. Slide the latch knob to the front and hold. Align the directional indicator with the tiller handle and slightly twist the indicator knob left or right while pulling up with slight force until the alignment is achieved and the indicator knob is free. Lift and turn the indicator knob counterclockwise 180°, then align the indicator in its new position with the tiller handle and press down to re-seat it. Release the latch knob.

ADJUSTING THE TILLER

Pull the tiller handle to extend the tiller an additional 7 inches.

The handle can be positioned at an angle using the large clamp screw. Loosen the screw located at the base of the handle, adjust the handle to a comfortable position then hand-tighten the screw.

Over-tightening the clamp screw, or adjusting the handle angle without loosening clamp screw, can damage the bracket.

NOTE: Always loosen clamp before adjusting angle and retighten when desired angle is achieved.

SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

PROPELLER REPLACEMENT

TOOLS AND RESOURCES REQUIRED:

• Box End Wrench
  • 1/2" for motors with 70 lbs thrust or lower.
  • 9/16" for motors with 80 lbs thrust or higher.
• Screwdriver (optional)

Disconnect the motor from the battery before beginning any prop work or maintenance.

NOTE: The propeller on your motor may differ from the one pictured.

1. Disconnect the motor from all sources of power prior to changing the propeller.
2. Hold the propeller and loosen the prop nut with pliers or a wrench.
3. Remove the prop nut and washer. If the drive pin is sheared or broken, you will need to hold the shaft stationary with a blade screwdriver pressed into the slot on the end of the shaft.
4. Turn the old prop to horizontal (as illustrated) and pull it straight off.
   If drive pin falls out, push it back in.
5. Align the new propeller with the drive pin.
6. Install the prop washer and prop nut.
7. Tighten the prop nut 1/4 turn past snug [25-35 inch lbs.] Do not over tighten as this can damage the prop.

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

1. After use, the entire motor should be rinsed with freshwater, then wiped down with a cloth dampened with an aqueous based silicone spray. This series of motors is not equipped for saltwater exposure.
2. The propeller must be inspected and cleaned from weeds and fishing line after every use. Fishing line and weeds can get behind the prop, damage the seals and allow water to enter the motor.
3. Verify the prop nut is secure each time the motor is used.
4. To prevent accidental damage during transportation or storage, disconnect the battery whenever the motor is off of the water. For prolonged storage, lightly coat all metal parts with an aqueous based silicone spray.
5. For maximum battery life recharge the battery(s) as soon as possible after use. For maximum motor performance restore battery to full charge prior to use.
6. Keep battery terminals clean with fine sandpaper or emery cloth.
7. The propeller is designed to provide weed free operation with very high efficiency. To maintain this top performance, the leading edge of the blades must be kept smooth. If they are rough or nicked from use, restore to smooth by sanding with fine sandpaper.

TROUBLESHOOTING & REPAIR

1. Motor fails to run or lacks power:
   • Check battery connections for proper polarity.
   • Make sure terminals are clean and corrosion free. Use fine sandpaper or emery cloth to clean terminals.
   • Check battery water level. Add water if needed.
2. Motor loses power after a short running time:
   • Check battery charge. If low, restore to full charge.
3. You experience prop vibration during normal operation:
   • Remove and rotate the prop 180°. See removal instructions in the Propeller Replacement section.
4. The lower unit does not fully deploy:
   • Check for shallow water or underwater obstructions.
5. The deployed lower unit does not fully retract:
   • Press the DOWN button so the lower unit returns to full deploy. Then press and hold the UP button until the unit is fully retracted.
6. Experiencing interference with your fishfinder:
   • You may, in some applications, experience interference in your depth finder display. We recommend that you use a separate deep cycle marine battery for your trolling motor and that you power the depth finder from the starting/cranking battery. If problems still persist, call our service department at 1-800-227-6433.

ATTENTION: The lift system of the Vantage motor can be affected by cold temperatures. At temperatures below 32 degrees Farenheit., (0 degrees Celsius.), the lubricant in the lift system can become viscous preventing stow/deploy. Also, if this motor is being used in open water areas at freezing temperatures, ice can form on the telescoping portion of the motor shaft preventing stow/deploy. In either case, placing the motor in a warm, heated area will restore the lift system to normal operation.

NOTE: For all other malfunctions, visit an Authorized Service Center. You can search for an Authorized Service Center in your area by visiting our Authorized Service Center page, found online at minnkotamotors.com, or by calling our customer service number, 800-227-6433.

FOR FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR

We offer several options to help you troubleshoot and/or repair your product. Please read through the options listed below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We have FAQs available on our website to help answer all of your Minn Kota questions. Visit minnkotamotors.com and click on "Frequently Asked Questions" to find an answer to your question.

CALL US (FOR U.S. AND CANADA)
Our consumer service representatives are available
Monday – Friday between 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST
at 800-227-6433.

If you are calling to order parts, please have the 11-character serial number from your product, specific part numbers, and credit card information available. This will help expedite your call and allow us to provide you with the best consumer service possible. You can reference the parts list located in your manual to identify the specific part numbers.

EMAIL US
You can email our consumer service department with questions regarding your Minn Kota products. To email your question, visit minnkotamotors.com and click on "Support".

AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS
Minn Kota has over 300 authorized service centers in the United States and Canada where you can purchase parts or get your products repaired. Please visit our Authorized Service Center page on our website to locate a service center in your area.

REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR RECEIPT AND IMMEDIATELY REGISTER YOUR TROLLING MOTOR.
A registration card is enclosed or you can complete registration on our website at minnkotamotors.com.

PARTS DIAGRAM

VANTAGE 80
80 LBS THRUST - 24 VOLT

VANTAGE 101
101 LBS THRUST - 36 VOLT

PARTS LIST

VANTAGE 80/101
80/101 LBS THRUST - 24/36 VOLT

Documents / Resources

References

• http://minnkotamotors.com

Download manual

Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.

Download MINN KOTA VANTAGE Manual