size of trolling motor

[Jenkins]

I'm wondering what size trolling motor I would need for a 20ft Bentley 204 4pt with 60 horse bigfoot. There will be about 2-4 people average. 1000 acre lake. Thanks for any help Jenkins

 

[5150abf]

Re: size of trolling motor

Unless you want to go to 2 batteries to get 24 volts you are kind of limited in what you can get.
From what I have seen flipping through a Cabelas 55lbs thrust is about it but that should be more than enough for a 20' foot toon.
Get the longest shaft you can and the more thrust it makes the more battery it will eat so if you are wanting go trolling all day maybe shoot the middle on thrust, ample power and long battery life.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: size of trolling motor

A MinnKota or MotorGuide 55# thrust will do just fine on your pontoon. I disagree that going to a smaller motor will save battery power. The MinnKota PD and MotorGuide equivalents are very energy efficient motors. At anything less than full power they conserve electrical energy because they use pulse technology rather than straight DC and do not use the energy wasting dropping resistors (speed coils). Any motor regardless of size running wide open will use the most power. Therefore, a modern troller of 55# thrust will be more efficient than a smaller motor that must run wide open to achieve the same speed. I fish all day with a MinnKota 55 PD but it rarely needs to be on anything near wide open unless its a very windy day and I'm trying to stay on one spot. Pontoons are like a big barn door in the wind so on those days the extra power is needed. Use a Group 27 or 31 deep cycle battery and go fishing.