40# thrust enough?

[karrick]

I have a 16' Starcraft with a 60hp Johnson hanging off the back and would like to use my 1 year old 40# MK on the bow. Would this be a big enough troller to use the boat on lakes? I'm planning on buying a 48" shaft to replace the 36" which will cost approximatley $70 P&L. Would you see it sensible to pay and have the current one lengthened or buy a new one, on a limited budget. Any help/advice would be welcomed. <br />Thx<br />Karrick

 

[OBJ]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

Hey karrick...I have a 16ft StarCraft also. Mine is a SuperSport. Open bow with front platform and pedistal seat. Fish and Ski type thing. I run a 86' 90hp Rude on the back. I use a 24V 52# thrust OMC trolling motor. In calm waters it's OK. I got five speeds on the foot control.<br /><br />But if it gets windy, I sometimes have to kick the speed up to 3 or 4 just to keep the boat straight. <br /><br />If yours is a different model and low profile, you might be OK with 40#. But if yours is a highsider like mine, might not git it.

 

[jsfinn]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

my boat is a lot smaller than yours - it's a 12 foot aluminum and I have a 40# MK mounted on the bow. It's foot controlled and I love it. It moves my little boat around very well, and is more than I need. It's got 10 speeds and I almost never put it up more than 3 or 4. <br /><br />I also use it as my backup motor incase my OB won't start.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

Mine is simular to OBJ's...Starcraft 18ft supersport, and I use a 62", 74lb. 24volt. I want positive control when the wind blows, which is ALWAYS in Kansas.<br /><br />EDIT: I've got a 17ft Basstracker, low profile with a 42lb thrust, and wish I had 52lb. or higher on it...A higher thrust model run at a lower setting is much more efficient battery-wise than a low thruster on high all the time.

 

[karrick]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

OBJ, <br />What is the shaft length of your troller?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

This may help:<br /><br /> web page Scroll down a bit..

 

[karrick]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

thx for the link Rick!

 

[OBJ]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

Karrick...believe it's a 42" shaft. I needed a long shaft to get in the water. I'll check and let ya' know.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

42" shaft should do it. 36" would not be long enough. Remember, you can adjust the height with a longer shaft, but you cannot make a shorter shaft longer!! Also, buy the new one instead of jerry rigging the old one. Don't want a broken shaft when you need it most.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: 40# thrust enough?

Gotta stupid question here Rick...Do you feel the link information is close to what you've experienced in choosing a unit?????<br />Only reason I ask is in the midwest, some of the smaller (2000 acre) impoundments I fish, I've found by trial and error that the thrust listed per weight of boat is about half of what is required to fish our often windy lakes, and in the same token, I see the length of shaft is considerably shorter (recommendation-wise) than what we usually end up using for the same reasons-wind.<br />When I set in my bow seat, I'm about 18" from water-line, and I went with a 62" shaft and on "slightly" windier days than average, I can still clear the water with the prop with the unit slid clear down....takes about 3ft waves, but that's not uncommon when hunting Wallys when the bites' on.<br />I think it's close "in my opinion" for near no-wind situations, but I feel it's a little shy for most other applications in my experience.<br />We're just out here in the great wide-open flats of the U.S., I guess??????