New trolling motor installtion questions

[JSGOLD]

Replacing the old clamp hand controlled type 65MX Minn Kota with a larger MK Edge55 foot controlled (cable) motor. This motor is quite different than older motor and much larger. Since it bolts down to the front of the boat rather than using a clamp I had a couple of questions...Does it have to be perfectly level? My old Starcraft has a coupe of raised areas around 3/8" and 1/4" in the area I need to use. Would not be off much but can cut and fit some starboard I have if that sounds better....Also If I install in the best location to get near centerline my motor will hit my winch on the trailer when I got to set for depth etc. Better to offset enough to clear that or just keep it close to center and adjust on the ramp as needed? Not sure if that is important but want to install as best as can.
I currently have one large battery that I bought last year and will add a second one later this spring. Was going to simply hook them together for more capacity and charge together etc. Would it be better to use a switch instead? All opinions welcome......

 

[alldodge]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

Replacing the old clamp hand controlled type 65MX Minn Kota with a larger MK Edge55 foot controlled (cable) motor. This motor is quite different than older motor and much larger. Since it bolts down to the front of the boat rather than using a clamp I had a couple of questions...Does it have to be perfectly level? My old Starcraft has a coupe of raised areas around 3/8" and 1/4" in the area I need to use. Would not be off much but can cut and fit some starboard I have if that sounds better....Also If I install in the best location to get near centerline my motor will hit my winch on the trailer when I got to set for depth etc. Better to offset enough to clear that or just keep it close to center and adjust on the ramp as needed? Not sure if that is important but want to install as best as can.
I currently have one large battery that I bought last year and will add a second one later this spring. Was going to simply hook them together for more capacity and charge together etc. Would it be better to use a switch instead? All opinions welcome......

I'll give an opinion on the battery question and let others come in with location. Add the second battery and charge together during season. At end of season separate and maintain separately. Check charge state prior to next season and determine if a replacement is needed. It's usually best to replace batteries in sets, they a;; wear out and a bad one will damage a good one

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

Thanks....that is helpful. Guess I am on my own on the mounting....The old (76) StarCraft has a lip at the nose and a lip on the inside where the rear of the base would attach and that would cause the base to be elevated slightly upwards maybe 1/8" of an inch or so....Guess I can try and level it with the starboard and do the best I can with it as far as the positioning near the winch....

 

[gm280]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

Replacing the old clamp hand controlled type 65MX Minn Kota with a larger MK Edge55 foot controlled (cable) motor. This motor is quite different than older motor and much larger. Since it bolts down to the front of the boat rather than using a clamp I had a couple of questions...Does it have to be perfectly level? My old Starcraft has a coupe of raised areas around 3/8" and 1/4" in the area I need to use. Would not be off much but can cut and fit some starboard I have if that sounds better....Also If I install in the best location to get near centerline my motor will hit my winch on the trailer when I got to set for depth etc. Better to offset enough to clear that or just keep it close to center and adjust on the ramp as needed? Not sure if that is important but want to install as best as can.
I currently have one large battery that I bought last year and will add a second one later this spring. Was going to simply hook them together for more capacity and charge together etc. Would it be better to use a switch instead? All opinions welcome......

Not being able to see what you see and dealing with on your boat, I'd try everything I could to mount the trolling motor so that when it is lowered into the water, it sits on perfect center line of the boat (the motor and shaft that is). WHY? Because then either way you troll it will respond to your foot input the same. If you troll the banks for bass or crappie it will work the exact same from either side of the boat. Any little off center will require a little adjustment to keep it like you want it... But that is just my opinion.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

OK, will do, I am sure I can get the motor almost if not perfectly centered. My only concern there was that I can't adjust depth when on the trailer, as the motor will hit the winch when lowered into position. I'll just have to deal with that...maybe not a big deal. I'll cut a pc of the starboard to level it as best I can. If is cuts with a jigsaw OK I should be fine. Thanks!.

 

[bassman284]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

I don't see why you would want to adjust depth on the trailer. It's actually easier and more relevant when you're in the water. As to the second battery, I think I'd try it once or twice with the single battery to see if you really do run it hard enough to need an extra battery. Maybe you do, but that would be pretty heavy use, IMO.

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

One lake we plan on going to requires a lot of trolling motor use due to large amount of standing timber in and just under the water and the (only) entry to the lake is very difficult to navigate with my kicker gas motor until we are a good distance out...The lake is long and narrow and running the trolling motor quite a bit is just a needed thing. I have to run it for a while on one battery anyway due to budget...so I will see how long it lasts. Although I do run the gas motor some we are usually out 8-9 hours or more at a time on this lake when we go so additional battery is more for insurance in case of a breakdown with the gas motor or this newer motor using a lot more power. Old trolling motor was 28lb this is 55. My boat is 16' and fully loaded for all day use. On the depth adjustment I guess I am just confused a bit. I have to set this motor and bracket in place to get best mounting location set and the winch just seems like it is going to be in the way and I thought I had to do the initial adjustment when installing. Like I said that may have been a non issue....just never installed one of these before and it is a lot more bulkier than my old 65MX.

 

[gm280]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

JSGOLD, take the actual trolling motor head and shaft off and mount the bracket so that the opening for the shaft is aligned with the boat's center line. Then install the head and shaft unit back on, take it to a lake or such and lower it in the water and see how far it needs to go up or down. That adjustment should easy to do with the bracket/shaft clamp...

 

[JSGOLD]

Re: New trolling motor installtion questions

Will do.