12 volts versus 24 volts

[usedcarman]

Hi everyone,

Last spring I purchased a Lund Angler 1700 with a 70hp Suzuki 4 stroke tiller, it didn't have a trolling motor on it, so I e-mailed Minnkota and asked what would be the adequate bow mount trolling motor for my boat, it weighs about 1300 lbs with engine, full tank of gas and all my gear plus we usually are two adults of roughly 210lbs in it. They suggested I get a Terrova 55lbs 12 volts motor, (big mistake!!! Won't ask them anymore!!) which I did with the I-pilot and all that, it works fine on a lake with no wind or current but will not work good at all where I usually fish on the St-Lawrence river, too much current, the anchor mode on the I-pilot won't even hold me in place! now I know I have to upgrade to an 80 lbs thrust motor. But my question is do I go 12 volts system or 24 volts system? I already have two batteries for it that I have hooked up to a Perko selector switch (which would become obsolete with 24 volts). Does the 24 volts motor have more thrust than the 12 volts motor? Both having 80lbs of thrust? I'm also concerned about battery life when I go fishing where there's no power outlet to plug in my onboard battery charger.

Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

Anything over 55 lbs of thrust will be 24 volt. 36 volts starts about 100 lbs.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

As pointed out, if you need more than 55# of thrust you are forced into 24 volts. And if you are fighting so much current that 55 won't do the job, 80# will likely be marginal. If you did not explain fully to Minnkota what conditions you dealt with you can hardly blame them for their recommendation. I used a 55# Minnkota on my pontoon and except for extreme wind it did an excellent job.

 

[usedcarman]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

There is a 12 volts with 80lbs of thrust available here in Canada. And yes i did explain my exact situation with the people at Minnkota before purchasing the unit. My question now is which has more thrust in an 80lbs, 12 volts or 24 volts, cuz both are available in the Terrova with i-pilot. Because i think it would be more suitable for the size of boat i have.

 

[usedcarman]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

Under normal conditions the current on the river runs between 1.5 to 3 mph, but when the wind kicks in that's when the motor won't keep up. It barely keeps up at 2.5mph trolling up river it's at full power then.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

80 lbs thrust is 80 lbs thrust no matter the voltage. 24v can use smaller dia wires since they carry less current

 

[Bondo]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

Under normal conditions the current on the river runs between 1.5 to 3 mph, but when the wind kicks in that's when the motor won't keep up. It barely keeps up at 2.5mph trolling up river it's at full power then.

Ayuh,... If yer actually Trollin', switch to the gas motor,...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

Ayuh,... If yer actually Trollin', switch to the gas motor,...

I think his issue is that he needs to "hold" the boat against both wind and current. But I now question whether the original motor was rigged correctly. My walleye boat (Alumacraft Navigator 165CS) with a 50# Minnkota Power Drive is routinely used in river currents the same as yours. Again, it would easily hold position. Perhaps you need to have the battery(ies) load tested and to inspect the wiring to ensure that's proper. Very long runs of wire to a troller require heavier wire due to the current draw. A 55# motor will draw around 46 Amps max worst case. Pulling that much current through wires that are too small creates heat which is wasted energy. As was pointed out -- 80# of thrust is not dependent on voltage. At 12 volts, a 45% increase in thrust will likely result in approximately the same percentage increase in current draw. That means you would suck a 12 volt battery down in a hurry. Which is why there are 24, 36 and 48 volt motors as current consumption at those voltages would be less for the same thrust.

 

[usedcarman]

Re: 12 volts versus 24 volts

Thanks Silvertip,

I'll switch to 24 volts, seems the best way to go.