Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

[vasi19]

First I would like to introduce myself. I just joined the forum and my name is Marty and I'm from upstate NY.
Next, my question. I just purchased a 2003 sportfish 1750 with a 90 Mercury outboard. I plan to use the boat mostly for pleasure and fishing. No skiing or tube pulling. I would like to get a trolling motor for it and put it on the boat during the winter. Any recomendations for size and shaft length I need. Also do I need 12 or 24 volt. The seller said it can take either. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[joehult]

Re: Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

I have the same boat and went the cheap route, buying a 40 lb thrust 48" shft 12 volt minnkota powerdrive. And I have no problem controlling it in up to 25mph winds on ND large lakes. I usually have the controller set at 80% speed or less for trolling and it last at least 6 - 8 hours of continuous use. A 24 volt will give more speed if you want to use to do more than trolling, and going over 55 lb of thrust is unneeded for this boat.

 

[vasi19]

Re: Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

Joehult,
Thanks for your reply. I am going to look into a 12 volt for my boat too. I really wasn't sure of what shaft length I needed and you set me straight. I'm also thinking of maybe getting a saltwater version because I want to trailer to the saltwater fishing in New Hampshire too. Anyone have any preference of make? I would like to get hand steering and also variable speed or am I wrong in this thought.

 

[atticus3600s]

Re: Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

There are length charts available online but I have found that if you measure from the bow to the water and then add 20 inches you are fine unless you are in really rough water in which case add a few more inches.
In terms of 12 or 24 volt, the 12 volts are easier to rig (1 battery) but when you get up to 50-55 pounds thrust run time seriously goes down with a 12 volt.
With a 24 you can get a longer run time with a powerful motor.
The matter of hand/foot control is up to you and is a personal preference, I like foot because you do not have to take attention off your rod to make adjustments.
For a brand I would pick Minn Kota because of their exceptional customer service and their guarantee if you break the shaft on the motor they will replace it free.
Motor Guide shafts are aluminum and bend like pretzels if you hit a stump and they will not replace them.

Hope this helps.8)

 

[rndn]

Re: Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

I also like the Minn Kota but with the auto pilot. I fish the finger lakes in upstate New York and the feature is fantastic. Point the motor where you want it to go and it takes you there. Turn a corner and as the boat turns the motor self adjusts to straighten out the boat. The feature really allows a person to focus on fishing instead of steering the boat.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

I will disagree with the power choice. Go with a 50 or 55# MinnKota PD on that boat. The fact that you said you will be doing some saltwater fishing dictates more power period. My 55PD on a 17 fot walleye boat runs all day on a charge and rarely gets anywhere near the 1/2 discharged point. Using a smaller motor running at 80% will consume more power than a PD running a far lower setting. Maximizer circuitry has no benefit when running near full power. The gains are at lower power settings. Hand controlled motors use power wasting speed coils to control speed. Those coils merely bypass the motor to allow it to run slower and therefore turn that energy to heat which is simply wasted. Buy a Power Drive or a MotorGuide with the power saving circuitry. Foot control and cordless controllers are both available for those motors. Yes -- they cost more.

 

[rndn]

Re: Crestliner sportfish 1750 trolling motor help

Mine has a 36# 12 volt trolling motor and it works just fine and mine is pulling around a 20 foot boat.