mini pontoon boat - convert to electric?

[mgrmx]

I have acquired an '88 Sweetwater Fisherman 16' pontoon boat (6x12' deck) with a Mariner 9.9 two stroke motor. I will use it only on a neighborhood lake, maybe 30 acres. I currently have the boat disasembled to replace the deck and I'm wondering if I could get away with using a transom mount trolling motor rather than the smoker. That would let me eliminate the console and generally simplify the thing. Easier for my wife to operate and for me to maintain.
Any opinions? If it's a workable idea, what sort of trolling motor should I get, thrust/shaft length/etc.?

 

[coolguy147]

Re: mini pontoon boat - convert to electric?

just remember u will have to have a bunch of batterys to run that thing.

id pefer the motor if i were u

and synthetic oil smokes less

 

[5150abf]

Re: mini pontoon boat - convert to electric?

New trolling motors are extremely efficent and you should be okay with a 12 volt motor on 2 batterries, just hook the batteries together but only hook the motor to one of them, it in effect just give you 1 ginormous battery.

I would also stick with a bow mount and just not put the motor on, reason being they are readily available to mount on the bow but to get one on the back you would have to go with a hand controlled one or modify your transom.

You could also mount the motor and just not use it.

A pontoon troller is generally about a 54'' shaft and you can get a wireless one that can be run from anywhere on the boat.

They can get a little pricey, a Motorguide/Minn-Kota 55 lb wireless is in the $650 range

 

[5150abf]

Re: mini pontoon boat - convert to electric?

Oh, and if you really want to go green they have an electric outboard called a Torqeto(sp) they have a ton of thrust and shoul dactually get you some decent speed but they are alot more than a standerd toller and would require several batteries.