Trolling Motor Snaffu

JamesCoste

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 15, 2003
Messages
595
My father in law (FIL), a retired game-warden here in Florida, took my oldest son fishing in his boat while I took my wife and two youngest kids in my boat. We got to the fishing spot right off the main river (which was flowing fast) shut down the big motor and eased into the spot with the trolling motor. The current was quite swift and it took me a minute to get up river and out of the current. We just started fishing and heard my FIL power down and put his trolling motor in the water. He was cussing about something (I couldn't hear what) as he floated down river out of sight. He powered his outboard up and approached the fishing spot again. Same thing happened: he floated down river cussing.<br /><br />He finally powered up and came charging into the fishing spot next to us. He said, "geez, that current is strong and it seems to pick up when I turn on the trolling motor. Also, my dang depth finder won't turn on!". <br /><br />I smiled :p and said, "check your cables, you're hooked up wrong". He gave me this blank stare :( and checked his battery. Sure enough, he hooked up the positive to the negative post and viceversa. He gave me this big grin :D and said that he had never done that before and he would never do it again.<br /><br />He switched the cables and all was well. I was his hero for the day!<br /><br />I would not have known that if it weren't for iboats!
 

jtexas

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 13, 2003
Messages
8,646
Re: Trolling Motor Snaffu

:D <br /><br />I've did that once before, makes you think you're crazy!
 

SoulWinner

Commander
Joined
Apr 16, 2002
Messages
2,423
Re: Trolling Motor Snaffu

The dumbest thing I ever did with my trolling motor was run over my cast net with it. I use it troll me up to bait fish, and then I throw the net and shut the trolling motor off. I forgot to kill the t/m and spent the next half hour trying to get the net out of the prop without resorting to using my knife.
 

JamesCoste

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 15, 2003
Messages
595
Re: Trolling Motor Snaffu

My first trolling motor came with my very first boat - a 16' Gheenoe. The guy I bought the boat and trailer from "threw in" the trolling motor.<br /><br />We finally saved up $50 for a small battery and headed across the lake. We were cruising! Our paddling days were OVER!!! <br /><br />About that time, the ancient looking trolling motor starts smoking and catches fire. Plastic was dripping everywhere before I finally managed to unhook the juice before it destroyed my boat.<br /><br />I looked at my buddy and he looked at me - "Where are the paddles?" :confused:
 

Straightup

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
317
Re: Trolling Motor Snaffu

Mine came off the transom of my 8' jonboat while it was running full power :eek: :eek: :eek: <br /><br />Fortunately not a busy lake, otherwise they would have had quite a laugh watching me try to get the motor in hanging onto the cables while it was still on full. Not much control to a trolling motor with just the cables :rolleyes: :cool: :) <br /><br />Motor still works great!
 

jtexas

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 13, 2003
Messages
8,646
Re: Trolling Motor Snaffu

"...hanging onto the cables while it was still on full..."<br /><br />LOL I'd love to see that...could you do it again, for those who missed it the first time around?<br /><br /> :D :D
 
Top