Trolling motor Question

[jaymasta]

hey guys Iam probobly going to buy a trolling motor tomorow Iam looking at the 36lb minn kota endura, basically one of the most basic ones you can buy, I have a 14ft F/G boat and I am just curious about run time for trolling, generally when I go out I troll for 3-6 hours depending how the day is going and I troll for salmon so a fairly slow speed is fine 2-4mph or so seems to be the norm...I would be able to afford a very heavy duty battery by getting this motor, I have found a battery that sounds promising 850 mca and 225 minutes of reserve capacity, with one of the best batteries I could find and that motor Iam still cheaper then the price of the cheapest maximizer motor, so please don't recomend that motors because it is just a little far out of my range and that is without a battery. so anyways just wondering if there is a way to calculate how long the battery will actually last me based on MCA and reserve time, and or your personal experiance with this or the more basic minn kota motors for run time thanks again guys.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Trolling motor Question

What you really want is a deep cycle battery with the most reserve minutes(Amp Hours) you can get. I don't know what the amp draw on that motor is, but if you divide that number into the reserve minutes, you will get an idea of how long it will run on the high setting. Of course, if you run half speed, then it will run considerably longer...And you never want to run it completely down. Not good for the battery...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor Question

Trolling at 4 MPH is really moving along which means the trolling motor is going to be running either at max or very close to it. You will very likely not make six hours without a maximizer type motor. Most outboards will idle at 1 - 1.5 MPH so you are asking a lot from this motor. However, if that's what you have to work with, by all means get the largest pure deep cycle battery you can afford or have room for. You will need it. An automotive starting battery will not work well on a trolling motor.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Trolling motor Question

Yea I will definatly be getting a good deep cycle marine battery, and as I said 4mph is the fastest that ppl troll for salmon out here and 6 hours is the longest I have ever stayed out fishing, so those together would be a very unlikly story, I don't mind trolling a little slower for longer run times, (2mph) and I dont mind cutting it down to 4hours either, but as long as Iam in my range thats fine, I don't want to buy the battery and motor and find that on a middle setting I only get 2 hours or something like that you know what I mean

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor Question

What type of motor are people using that troll at 2 - 4 MPH for six hours and what size boat are they using. I can't believe they are doing that with a trolling motor (at least a 36#). You said you have a 14 ft glass boat. That boat is probably on the heavy side and as such I think the 36# motor would simply not get the speed you are after - even at 2 MPH as that's even a pretty good clip. I'm thinking you need like a five or ten horse outboard. Admittedly, I'm not a salmon fisherman but from what you describe, I question your choices.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Trolling motor Question

Reserve capacity means how long it takes at 25 amps to drain the battery to 10.5 volts. My 36lb motor, has never thrown the 30 amp circuit breaker so I assume the steady-state draw is much less than 30. At 20 amps the 225 RC battery mentioned above would take about 5 hours to completely drain the battery. But you wouldn't drain it to 10.5 volts; by the time it got down to around, say 12.2 or 12.3 it would have slowed considerably. I use mine for repositioning and fighting the wind, so can't really say how good it is for actual "trolling"...too many variables to give a reliable estimate [maybe 2.5 hours].

Two deepcycle batteries with a parallel connection will more than double your run time because each would be discharged more slowly.

I agree w/silvertip, you might see 4mph + on hi-speed, when the batteries are fresh...if you lighten your load much as possible...and no headwind...

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Trolling motor Question

I have the same motor and I use it with my canoe. The canoe is LOADED. I use an old car battery with this setup because I already had it. I don't know the specs on it offhand but it's not a big battery and being a car starting battery, it's not a deep cycle. I've been using this battery for 3 years now. I always recharge immediately after use.

We go out for entire days and use the motor almost constantly while on the water. It pushes the canoe fast enough in highest speed to have a wake (did I mention it's LOADED too). It has never once ran out of "gas" during fishing.

I doubt you'll get 4mph out of it pushing a less efficient hull around but I think you'll be satisfied with the performance. I am.

Also, I built my own maximizer circuit because the slowest speed was sometimes too fast. $15 for a PWM motor speed control kit, why design your own? I haven't permanently installed it yet but it has been used a few times with great success.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor Question

I doubt your canoe fully loaded weighs as much as the 14 ft glass boat empty so this is not a realistic comparison by any means.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Trolling motor Question

What type of motor are people using that troll at 2 - 4 MPH for six hours and what size boat are they using. I can't believe they are doing that with a trolling motor (at least a 36#). You said you have a 14 ft glass boat. That boat is probably on the heavy side and as such I think the 36# motor would simply not get the speed you are after - even at 2 MPH as that's even a pretty good clip. I'm thinking you need like a five or ten horse outboard. Admittedly, I'm not a salmon fisherman but from what you describe, I question your choices.

well I highly disagree with your statment on a 5-10hp needed, I know that a 2hp would be more then enough for what Iam looking for, most people that go out that way have a 2-8hp as a kicker/troller, and most of the boats out there are between 17-21ft, and I would guess are well double the weight of my boat, and many of them use electric trolling motors, although Iam not familiar with there setups Iam sure they use the more expensive motors, but they are still used with success

 

[jtexas]

Re: Trolling motor Question

To move a 17 - 21 foot center console at sustained trolling speed takes a 24- or 36-volt motor. Probably same with a performance hull.

The 2hp motor would be lighter than electric t/m + batteries and take less space inside the boat. If you premix your main engine fuel or get a 4-stroke kicker they can share a fuel supply.

The 36lber meets MrBigStuff's needs but there really is a world of difference between your boat and a canoe. You really cannot extrapolate from his experience to yours...like comparing apples to truck tires.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor Question

2 HP, 5 HP, or 10 HP is a matter of choice, not a requirement. Just like your trolling motor, if you want to run the dickens out of it, use a 2 HP. 5 HP trolls very nice at a less RPM and a 10 HP would actually be usable as a backup if your main engine took a dump on you. It's your call. If you think a 36# motor will meet your needs go for it. But at least talk with someone that has a similar rig to see if they are happy with it.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Trolling motor Question

I would love to be able to get a small gas motor, 2hp or so but Iam trying to keep it under 300cnd and I need it really soon, the used motors around here are very slim pickins especially at this time, and I haven't seen many in my range at all and the ones that are are generally mid 70s and there is going to be maintance issues along with that, were as if I get a new one they come with a 2 year warranty and the battery a 5year, and I just got back from the store after looking at it, and they will take it back up to 15 days, so if it doesn't meet my standers I'll just send it back anyways thanks for your help guys any more input is appreciated!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor Question

Nothing wrong with a small 70's outboard. I have two late 40's Johnson 5 horse motors. Both run like the day were new. One was purchased new by my Dad. The other was bought for a song (bad coil). Those motors are now close to 60 years old and never been apart except for plugs, points, and the coil on the one motor.

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Trolling motor Question

well I went and bought it, the guy soldout on the 36lb ones, so he sold me a 40lb for the price a 36 which is good so now I have a 40lb one, and I got a really good marine battery and I will be taking it out later tonite so i'll let you guys know how it goes

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: Trolling motor Question

I doubt your canoe fully loaded weighs as much as the 14 ft glass boat empty so this is not a realistic comparison by any means.

That must be one heavy rowboat. My canoe plus gear and people weighs ~ 550lbs.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Trolling motor Question

Rowboat? This is a rowboat? That changes things. I had the impression that this would not be the primary means of propulsion. Trolling for salmon in Canada...I've been thinking ocean. If so, I'm guessing jaymasta outweighs ya by 1000, give or take.

8)

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Trolling motor Question

no no its not a row boat, it is a 14ft f/g boats, its main is a 65merc, and I want this motor for trolling for salmon in the ocean and I ended up getting the 40#, took it to the lake yesterday and FORGOT the dam key!!!!!!!!! stupid stupid me, anyways I'll be heading out there later today again and I'll let you guys know how it works out thanks again

 

[jaymasta]

Re: Trolling motor Question

well my apologies to everyone who said it wound't be enough to even troll, I went out on a lake today, almost no wind, and almost a glassy lake, and with the motor on MAX speed it got me to a total of 3.5 - 4 km/h, so I will be bringing it back tomorow, and going to be looking for an older lower hp gas motor, thanks for all your help, and for future advice to all of you, those electric motors are a joke for anything beyond a rowboat/canoe, and my boat isn't to big or heavy....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor Question

I disagree with your statement that electric motors are a joke. I have a 55# on a 17 foot walleye boat and troll with it for hours at a time. However, your type of trolling (4 MPH) is totally different than slow trolling for crappies and walleye (less than 1 mph) or for holding the boat when position fishing. There are times when I want to troll at 2.9 to 3.1 mph -- for those times I use my big motor. Electrics simply are not designed to troll for any length of time at 4 mph on any size boat.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Trolling motor Question

me, too. There are very few scenarios in which I could get by without my trolling motor, just for repositioning and holding against the wind. Not to mention which, it's my alternate means of propulsion - I don't ever intend to paddle my boat.

Sometimes you hear that kind of slow-trolling refered to as "strolling"....