Opinions wanted: Minn Kota questions

[SeaEagle]

I've been doing a lot of research on which Minn Kota motor to buy and am down to the following questions. Any input in regard to these questions or input in general is very much appreciated.<br /><br />I have a Sea Eagle SE-9 inflatable boat. It's 11' long and weighs 75# with the floorboards and motor mount installed. I live on the coast of WA state, so there is salt in the air always. I will be using the boat in a freshwater lake, not in the ocean. Most often there will be two people aboard, occasionally 3-4. I don't plan to fish (sorry!) , but may someday. I just want to motor around on the lake for the day.<br /><br />Here are my questions:<br /><br />1. Should I definitely buy the Riptide series, made for saltwater, since I live in a marine environment?<br /><br />2. I'm used to a Suzuki 2hp outboard. What thrust size would be similar? I want to be able to get back to the dock if a headwind should happen to come up.<br /><br />3. Do you think a 36" or 42" length shaft would be better, or would this not matter all that much?<br /><br />4. Does anyone have an opinion on whether the Weedless Wedge 2 prop is much better than the former Weedless Wedge prop? There are a lot of weeds in the lake.<br /><br />5. I am talking myself out of buying a model that has the Maximizer option. It's a lot more money and I will probably only use the boat 2-3 times per month. Will I be sorry if I don't get it?<br /><br />Any and all input is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Opinions wanted: Minn Kota questions

Welcome Aboard!<br /><br /><br />1. I have a MK Riptide 24V 74# thrust w/ maximizer, autopilot, & copilot and find each of the features very useful under different prevailing circumstances. I also use my boat mostly in fresh water but make vacation trips to the shore where it gets an occasional dosing of salt H20. In theory, you could probably expect to see more milage out of something made for saltwater and used in freshwater; however, that may not even matter 10 yrs. from now.<br /><br />2. 3 people + battery + fishing gear + other stuff on an 11 ft inflatable seems a little overloaded to me so you will need to move more water than normal use. 40# thrust moves many aluminum boats around your size and although you won't win any races, it should be adequate.<br /><br />3. You boat sits much lower to the water and the 36" should be adequate.<br /><br />4. I have not tried the Wedge 2 prop yet but I can't say I have had any real problems going through normal weeds with the factory installed weedles wedge.<br /><br />5. Although I have a 24V system, I have NEVER ran out of battery power. I fished a walleye tournament last night from 6PM to 3AM which involved a lot of trolling and then took my kids out fishing on the lake today and still have plenty of power to spare. For what my experience is worth, I would say the maximizer works. <br /><br />Good Luck and keep posting.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Opinions wanted: Minn Kota questions

Hi SeaEagle<br /><br />1. No<br /><br />2. I would go with a 30 to 35 lb. thrust motor. A strong headwind may be too much for any trolling motor on that boat. The 30 lb. motor will get that boat to it's max. hull speed same as the 2 hp Suzuki.<br /><br />3. Get the 36" shaft.<br /><br />4. Either one will work fine.<br /><br />5. Keep talking yourself out of it. You'll probably be motoring around at full speed all the time anyway and at full speed the Maximizer gives you no advantage.<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br />

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Opinions wanted: Minn Kota questions

I had a Riptide, great motors. Get the biggest 12v one they sell, the 65 maybe?, the bigger they are the less juice they draw on like half setting or something. Why are you doing this anyways? Is it a no motor lake? You're gonna miss that 30 pound gas engine that will run all day when you start lugging batteries that weigh twice the outboad, that only work for a couple hours, then lug the trolling motor.....

 

[SeaEagle]

Re: Opinions wanted: Minn Kota questions

You know, I too have realized that I just may be better off sticking with my Suzuki 2hp. The electric motor sounded so nice and quiet and lightweight, etc.... But then I began to realize that there was a huge battery that needed to be lugged around with the motor, and that the battery had to be maintained during all of the time I wouldn't be using the motor. It's been interesting researching this subject, but I think my conclusion is that I will stay with my smelly and noisy gas motor. <br /><br />Thanks very much to all who responded.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Opinions wanted: Minn Kota questions

SeaEagle,<br /><br />You may be better off. I started out researching kicker/trolling motors 2 years ago. I ended up with the big 3 battery one (101 lb/36 volt)It was a very nice unit, but I had kind of hoped it would also get me home if I broke down a mile or two from home. Very disapointed to always run out of juice just short of my destination. With the gas motor you can just carry a littly gas can and, we,, you know the rest.