Trolling motor efficiency

[jasoutside]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

A 40# transom mount with a group 27 deep cell batt will be totally fine for your intended purposes kfa

 

[JEBar]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

as with others above, I don't know (that all things being equal) bow or transom mounting makes much difference in performance and I don't believe there is a universally right or wrong choice .... I've had both and found they both have advantages and disadvantages .... for me it is much easier to keep the boat on track with a hand controlled motor than with a foot control .... a foot control does leave hands free for fishing but I find that I'm more prone to over corrections which can kill momentum .... if I have a tiller steer outboard a hand controlled transom mounted unit doesn't seem to get as much in my way in landing a fish as can be the case with a bow mounted hand controlled motor .... basically, whatever works best for you is the way you ought to go

Jim

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

I got it. Means they are headed straight for me.

"By the way, if you do ever see both red and green at the same time and they are moving fast, your in BIG trouble." most people didnt get that joke :facepalm:.

bow mount turns 360? where a transom mount only gets maybe 180? then uses reverse to get the other 180?. bow is better to use but it takes some getting use to with a foot peddle. in the beginning you may run in to more things till you learn how to control the pedal but once you get the hang of it then its easy as your hands are free.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

Roman candle meaning extremely bright lights, like daylight. Didn't hurt me or the motor but given how bad my transom and stringers were I'm surprised the transom didn't rip off. Ruined my night I was mad for hours. Went and saw the game warden the next day with a registration number and wrote a statement with my fishing buddy. I think he needed a roll of toilet paper, he was on the bow as a lookout so he got a close up view of the boat. Them old Johnson 70's can really take abuse when you need emergency power in the opposite direction.

YIKERS! Glad you dodged that one. Did it hurt you, or the motor? It's scary what folks will/won't do out on the water during the day, never mind a night. Although, Roman Candles is a new one to me :/ I'm not a big fan of being on the water at night either, but I don't want to be caught unprepared if the sun should slip away on me, and as you stated, it's really more of a courtesy to your fellow boaters. They're not headlights, "boat blinkers", directional indicators for oncoming traffic, or anything of the sort. They simply identify the bow/stern of a vessel as well as the starboard/port sides.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

Now back to trolling motors I think it depends on how you are using the trolling moter; if you are trolling up and down a lake or river I think a transom mount would be best. If you are trying to stay in one spot or get up in the weed near shore then I would think a bow mount would be best.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

As soon as the wind picks up a little bit you will ALWAYS wish the motors are all in the bow. FACT FACT

Any off center motor is less efficient because of the offset. It will always turn one way better than the other.

Bow TM pulls the boat on center line. the OB in back becomes the keel to a large degree. Best setup.

Agreed.Calm fishing. TM in back. Wind comes up & O B dead ? Put the T M in front. Buy a mounting plate or make up your own plate for the bow mount. Best of all conditions.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

FYI, Yes I am currently landlocked, I'm also retired US Navy. I did stand many hours as topside watch reporting AOB (angle on bow) to the OOD at night using the nav lights of other craft as my only reference. This was during transit to and from the 100 fathom curve out of New London CT on surfaced fast attack subs. Yes, we had RADAR, Though visual sighting is much quicker to pick up the course and course changes of other craft. Pretty sure I still remember why proper nav lights are important.

 

[jsimms724]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

Are trolling motors more efficient when mounted on the bow or stern of a typical 14' semi-V hull tinny? In other words, is it better to push or pull the boat through the water? Just curious. Thanks.

This is kinda like the zillions of post in auto forumns is rear wheel drive (push) or front wheel drive better (pull) they dont agree either ,same as here lots of variables

.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

Huh?

Every single approved fixture I've seen will show red and green from straight ahead to maybe 15 degrees to the off side for each color. Both colors are clearly visible. Also take a look at this diagram, which was originally borrowed from a USCG pdf. (the boat on the left in particular)

It shows a fairly large angle in front of the boat in which both red and green would be visible. I personally would have no issues with the lighting above, its better than many USCG approved lighting! The other thing to keep in mind that the camera doesn't show is that LED's are directional.

I am not sure what the picture is on the left is showing, but all that really matters is what is in the regulations.

"Sidelights" means a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side each showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 112.5 degrees and so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on its respective side. In a vessel of less than 20 meters in length the sidelights may be combined in one lantern carried on the fore and aft centerline of the vessel, except that on a vessel of less than 12 meters in length the sidelights when combined in one lantern shall be placed as nearly as practicable to the fore and aft centerline of the vessel.

Yes! There will be some cross bow visibility of the lights, but it must be kept as small as practicable.
If the LEDs are directional then they will not be able to be seen equally through the full 112.5 degree ARC.
There are plenty of places to customize your boat, but the NAV lights are not one of them.

A lot of goofy thing go on on smaller inland lakes that are overlooked because the audience is small.
That doesn't make it legal, it only makes it acceptable to the local audience.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

This is kinda like the zillions of post in auto forums is rear wheel drive (push) or front wheel drive better (pull) they don't agree either ,same as here lots of variables.

That's Not comparing Apples to Apples.

A Boat is more like driving a car on wet ice.
Front wheel drive will be a lot easier to control.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

So if you see a red light on the left and a green light on the right, what are you looking at and what should you do? No it's not a capsized boat.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

If you see BOTH red and green the boat is headed straight at you. If its far enough away stop and asses the situation. If its real close and moving fast,,,,PRAY.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

If you see BOTH red and green the boat is headed straight at you. If its far enough away stop and asses the situation. If its real close and moving fast,,,,PRAY.

In either case, space permitting, turning left or right to place the Red/Green Boat more to your beam and powering up will cause him to pass aft.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

In either case, space permitting, turning left or right to place the Red/Green Boat more to your beam and powering up will cause him to pass aft.

I'd turn right but which ever way I'd turn it would be full power. Hard to manuaver a boat without power. Last but not least Praying never hurts:facepalm:

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

Here is the nav light set up I'm thinking of stealing. I think I could make a stern light with some white LEDs too. They're made from cut-to-length LED strips mounted on the forward rub rail. I like how the don't sit proud of the deck. Keeps things nice and tidy.

View attachment 172344View attachment 172345

I'd go with the conventional NAV lighting first and then add the rope lights as a secondary "for show and dress" accessory.

As stated earlier, the white rope lighting won't comply with stern/anchor lighting requirements.

 

[pootnic]

Re: Trolling motor efficiency

I wouldn't worry about your bow nav lights.

They sell these,yours seem fine to me....real bright...

As to your question;it's easier to control your boat from the bow.
On a small aluminum boat,any wind and your going to be fighting the boat.On calm days the stern will be fine but the weather can change pretty quick and it's no fun when your stern wants to become the bow.