How many lb. thrust will it take...

[MAXXIE]

How many lb. thrust troll motor will I need to push a Bayliner 17' bowrider in calm water?

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

How fast do you want to go? The smallest motor out there will move it but it might be so slow you barely notice you're moving.

 

[gm280]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

WOW that is a loaded question for sure. I have asked myself that same question to try and determine the correct size trolling motor for my boat setup as well. And I can tell you that the trolling motor companies have valid ideas that seem to match each other’s suggestions. But on here you will get numerous different suggestions I guarantee you. There are so many things to consider before arriving at your correct size. The length of your boat, the weight, the haul design, how you plan on using it (on calm lakes or rapid rivers), the voltage you have to operate it, the type of fishing you do, and it goes on and on. So one perfect answer is going to be difficult at best. My suggestion is to research the trolling motor company’s websites and use their suggestions. Like I stated they seem to have the same requirements and suggestions that seem very sensible...

 

[foodfisher]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

You'll be happy with a 55# 12volt system.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

You might want to move on to times other than optimum. What if... I have a 17' light boat with a 67 lb 12/24 TM. On high speed it moves out rapidly, so much so that I don't have the second battery any more and only use one, hence 12v. But I don't boat in large moving bodies of water. Makes a big difference.

Having the TM in the bow is the most important point. With light thrust, like with a TM, you cannot "push" a boat around in any kind of current or wind. You have to "pull" it, hence bow mount. If you can't/won't bow mount it forget it!!!!

Mark

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Thanks for the advice, I think the bow mounted would be best, but hate the fact that when not in use it's just there. Kind of takes away from the sleek look of a boat. I was looking around on this & other web site's & really like the idea of the TM that mounts on the lower unit of my motor, that way I could still use the steering wheel. The trade off there, I think, would be the drag it would add when not in use. Let me explain, sort of, one situation I do run into every now & then: Most of the time I'm on a smaller lake & drag my son & a friend around on the tube & just cruze around. Every now & then I go to the big lake, well big for around here at least, anyway, there are several "party coves" that everyone hangs out in tided up boat to boat & just sit there & swim/party/hook up with other friends, you get the idea. I for one don't like to just sit in the boat all day, I'd much rather be cruzing around, but when I do go to these coves I'd much rather have a trolling motor pushing &/or pulling the boat through while I check out what/who's hanging out there. I don't mind running thru with the O/B on super slow, it just smokes like a mother at that speed & I feel like a dork because my boat is older w/OB, Most have newer nice boats up there. I love my 1985 Bayliner & Force 85hp, runs perfect & fire's up first shot every time. Sorry, for dribbling on here, just kicked back a 5 hour energy. What's the general thoughts on the lower unit mounted TM's?

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Just did a bit more searching here & picked up an idea that I think I'm going to go with. A regular transom mount #55 or #60 thrust, whatever I can get my hands on cheap & fab up a bracket to attach to the O/B for steering. I can pull it out of the water when not using & it really won't be in the way for the most part. Again, like Texasmark said, the bow mount would be the best option, but I think I'm gonna give this transom mount idea a shot first. TANX Guy's, MAXX

 

[airshot]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Your OB being down in the water will cause extra drag for your elec troller. You may want to rethink and just add a transom bracket for the elec and tilt the big gas job up and out of the way. You might also consider a very small gas troll motor such as a little 3-4 hp as they will push it along quite nicely even at slow speed.

Airshot

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

The issue of having a bow mount on your "sleek" bow rider is easily solved with a quick release plate. Less than a minute the motor is off the boat and all that remains is the base plate. There are many types available. If you intend to actually fish with a stern mount, forget any semblance of boat control in a cross wind. Trollers work best when pulling the boat rather than pushing it. And with electric steer you can control the motor from anywhere in the boat. If you are intending the troller strictly for emergency propulsion, that would be a wrong choice except on smaller lakes. Why? Batteries are buckets of electricity and trollers empty them quickly.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Ya, I'm still deciding on what I want to do. I have quite a bit of time before I hit the water around here, still have ice on some water in the area. I'm just spending time now so I'll be ready when the time comes. Just fishing for info & ideas & getting plenty. Oh, by the way, not that my boat is "sleek" by any means, I just don't want that "fishing boat" look to it. Tons of people love to take shots at the Bayliner, not that you did, I'm just saying, but to have the TM stuck there on the front turns me off. But the base plate idea might work for me. Cool, thanks guy's.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Hey Maxxie, I'd highly recommend a bow mount with a quick release plate. Transom mounts are a pain and seem to require a lot more steering than a bow mount. I had a transom one on my last boat and it was so fiddly I spent more time steering than fishing. Got a bow mount on my current boat and it's fantastic. I have the same concerns as you and that's why I'm going to add the quick release mounting plate this year.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Since you have decided on a stern mount I have some help.

WHEN you get out, after you spent this time and money to make yourself a transom mount, and find your attempt to steer the boat futile, and moving the outdrive around not helping at all....better actually to have it out of the water, turn the TM around and pull the boat from the stern. Keep it in a circle until you have the bow just past where you want to go and spin it around rapidly and go on your way. Course if the wind and/or current are high enough this effort will be futile also.

Mark

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Or.... try a synthetic oil, they tend to smoke much less.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Or.... try a synthetic oil, they tend to smoke much less.

What?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Originally Posted by ondarvr

Or.... try a synthetic oil, they tend to smoke much less.

What?

It's all in the fine print.

"I don't mind running thru with the O/B on super slow, it just smokes like a mother at that speed & I feel like a dork because my boat is older w/OB, Most have newer nice boats up there."

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

To answer your original post, even a 40lb thrust will move your boat around in calm water just fine. The question is whether it will do it when needed. You might say that you'll never use it in more than calm weather situations. What about if your main motor dies on a windy day?

I've got a 40lb on my 16.5ft boat. It does fine in calm weather and struggles in a wind with waves, let alone white caps. At some point I will trade up to a 55lb thrust so that I'm not worried about surviving in a wind if necessary

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

Good advice ^^^^

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: How many lb. thrust will it take...

The 40lbs thrust pushed my old 16' Fisher around no problem, but my 2008 Alumacraft Navigator is much heavier. At the time of purchase, I didn't think much about upgrading the trolling motor. I get by okay with it but do wish that I had more. I'm just not the kind of person to ditch a perfectly good TM at this point. However, I also make sure that I know my options. If I lost power and the trolling motor didn't get me to shore, I can at least throw my anchor to keep me off of the rocks/shore and I've got an emergency paddle onboard for whatever it's worth!

Good luck Maxxie