Trolling motor advice

[EJ3]

I just bought a 15' boat. I am not sure the weight of the boat or even the make. It resembles an older bass boat. It had a trolling motor on the bow, so there's room, but I need a new one.

Who has something to say, good or bad, about particullar trolling motors? I plan on only using 12v for it and know nothing about them!!! PLEASE HELP!

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Trolling motor advice

To start with there are different brands and allot of different lbs of thrust to consider or to choose from. You can find trolling motors right here on Iboats I'll list the links here in a moment. Another thing to consider is what body of water you are going to be trolling on, a lake, a river, or the ocean. Take a river for instance you have the flow of the water (current) going against you at times so if you want to troll up the river while fishing (for example) you need a higher thrust trolling motor. It also depends on how fast you want to troll the way I see it. You also have foot controlled (witch sounds like you are looking for) or transom mounted styles, you have wireless Key Fob, remote activated styles with electric steering also. I see allot of people with Minn Kota brand trolling motors but in my eyes one brand is just as good as the other they all have the same abilities or options available it just depends on how much money you want to spend and what options you want. You don't want one with to long of a shaft either for your application. If I'm not mistaken really anything above a 50lb thrust comes in 24volt correct me if I'm wrong guys. Here are some links to browse for some of the trolling motors here on this site just in case you haven't made it this far, they have a bunch to choose from some maybe 12 or 24 volt options but they will list witch one it is.

http://www.iboats.com/Minn_Kota_Mot....361004--view_id.361004--search_type.category

http://www.iboats.com/Motorguide_Mo....361005--view_id.361005--search_type.category

For fresh water> http://www.iboats.com/Fresh_Water_T....368693--view_id.368693--search_type.category

For salt water> http://www.iboats.com/Salt_Water_Tr....368692--view_id.368692--search_type.category

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trolling motor advice

i have the W45 absolutely love it. worth every penny.
http://www.iboats.com/Motorguide_Wi....361005--list_time.1195560602--view_id.239783

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor advice

12V trollers are available up to 55# of thrust. If you spend a great deal of time on the water at each outing, you would be best served with a motor that has maximizer (Minnkota-speak) circuitry. These motors are very battery friendly at slower speed settings and therefore will run much longer than a conventional motor. The Minnkota and MotorGuide electric steer motors (corded or wireless) have that circuitry. If you are on a tight budget, consider a hand controlled bow mount. They are like a stern mounted motor with a tiller handle, but can be mounted in a bow mount. You control speed and direction with the twist grip handle. Even some of the tournament fisherpeople use them.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Trolling motor advice

Another thing to consider is how you fish. I'm a crappie fisherman and often like to troll very slow. A TM with just a few speed selections often does not allow me to go as slow as I'd like. So I use a Minn Kota with infinite settings.

 

[EJ3]

Re: Trolling motor advice

I went on a flats fishing charter not long ago, and seeing what the Capt. did with his trolling motor made me jelouse!!! I am a little price controlled on this purchase. But, I was looking at one with a tiller handle. I do see a need, in my case atleast, for a remote control or foot pedal. I will use it mostly for getting into the shallows of the flats, then it gets turned off until needed again!

I think what I am looking for, advice wise, is brand and amount of thrust. Ofcourse and advice is welcome and appreciated!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling motor advice

If you are using the motor simply to get into the shallows, then you certainly don't need a high-buck motor especially if you don't actually troll with it -- or at least not very much. My choice then would be a hand controlled bow mount. A foot controlled cable steer means the foot control and stiff, non-detachable cable are always in your way. Although electric steer (corded or wireless) are nice, I really feel this is overkill in your application.

 

[Grits]

Re: Trolling motor advice

DJ3

The Minn Kota site has a "Motor Selector" that will tell you what size you need.

Unless your boat is very heavy and has a whole lot of windage, a fifty five pound thrust model would be plenty.

I have a sixteen foot jon boat that I use fishing in small lakes but I have taken it on the Arkansas River. It has a basic forty five pound thrust Motor Guide on it and it is plenty and then some. I wish it had a variable speed rather than a five position switch. I use in in areas that has a lot of stumps and I am going on my third shaft. You may want to consider a flexible shaft.

For me, I would just as soon have a tiller control on the bow as a foot control. It is kind of six of one and a half dozen of the other; however, I have not used one of the new models that uses electric motor(s) to turn the foot and you operate it with a switch which could be a foot control or hand control. I think I am in the minority in that department. Some of the models even have a auto pilot.

Something to think about that relates to what I mentioned above, if you have a lot of power and a five position switch, you may not be able to slow the boat down enough for you application. I have that problem on my sixteen foot jon.

I was told by a tech in a repair shop that Motor Guide has problems with their remote control models. Minn Kota had it first and they seem to have it worked out. Take that for what it is worth. In all other categories, I think Motor Guide is comparable to Minn Kota.

If you will be using it a lot, I would get a model with what Minn Kota calls their digital maximiser. If thier clams are correct, it extends you battery life, as in charge, quite a bit.

Sorry for such a long post but I have just been through the same thing you are going through. I later found out there was no good way to mount a trolling motor on the bow of my boat.

Good Luck and I hope you catch a lot of fish and have a bunch of fun.

Please let us know what you come up with and how you like it and why.

Grits