I’ve just purchased a Skeeter SX-220 (‘16) which has a MK Riptide 60” shaft and is 36 volts. We were wanting to upgrade the entire boat’s electronic with Garmins throughout including two 12” charts, LiveScope and a Force. We can run the Riptide well with only 45” being needed but when we asked a Garmin rep thru our dealer about the length of the shaft on a bay boat, he said we won’t be happy. Our boat is really a low bow boat, not one of those ocean going tugboat bows. Any ideas? I’d really like to stay all Garmin but can’t deal with the riptide. May have to go with an Ulterra. I need something easier to deploy as I’m almost hanging on the very edge of the bow and we’ve heard the Force can deploy with two fingers.

Whatever you pick stay with a 60". While not needed on calm days if the wind picks up you'll definitely need it.

Ok thanks. The head of maintenance says that we should do the same. It kind of limits our choice down to the Ulterra right now. We were just thinking 60” vs 57” isn’t that much. I’m sure there some new stuff coming down the line. Essentially what we’re wanting is a white painted, 60”, brushless motor, self deploying TM that’s compatible with Garmin. I guess I’m looking for a Unicorn. We may install the electronics and just wait for a year or so for the TM when new models actually come out.

this is my 95 champion 202 with a 57" force.
you can run the force on that bow. had the fortrex 112/52" this one is longer but not by much, your bow sits about the same as mine, champions ride low in back when sitting.

I have 2 93sv plus on the bow and one on console, livescope on tm shaft (look behind the strap).

https://g.factoryoutletstore.com/content/images/fos/garmin/flypage/force/v1/force_trolling_popup.png

I was going by this graph. My boat sits 24" from the top of the bow to the water. That's only 2" to the maximum recommended even on the longer version. He said when the water was rough or a wave goes by, we'd be coming out of the water

White trolling motors are generally salt water versions. As for self deploying the only one on the market that has that is the Ulterra. The salt water version is called the Riptide Ulterra which doesn't come with a foot control and no transducer option.

We have the Riptide and the dealer modified it with an Ultrex transducer on the nose making it black and white motor. Only reason asking for the white is it’s a bay boat and may someday go down to the coast

Here’s a picture of my boat and how it sits in the water. I’m starting to leans towards old school and going back to Minn Kota and Humminbird on the console. Use a LiveScope/Garmin on the bow.

I don't have one of my 57" on the water but the bow of my champion 202 rides higher than your bow is, I keep it as low as it will go and have never come out of the water. depth is super easy to adjust. I don't think you would have a problem with a force.
rollers in a bay boat and about any tm could surface on ya.

I had a SX220, and I can say from experience, if you ever fish a lake like Tawakoni, you would be looking at a 72” shaft, or you would be out of the water a lot. The 60” would be the minimum I would put on that boat.