Need help about trolling motor from the experts

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russelln114
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2010/01/24 11:25:55 (permalink)

Need help about trolling motor from the experts

Hello guys. I'm getting a boat off a friend. He sold me the boat(hard plastic Jon boat) the trolling motor, a fish finder, the trailer, and a mercury outboard(4hp) for 400. I plan using the boat in a lot of places where it's trolling motor only. The trolling motor he gave me is a minn kota 35 with 17lbs of thrust. I calculated the total weight it will be pushing to be between  450 and 500 lbs. That includes the weight of the boat and all its contents. Will this trolling motor be enough? If not what size do i need? I need all the help i can get.  Thanks.
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    davef
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    RE: Need help about trolling motor from the experts 2010/01/24 11:48:18 (permalink)
    I'm no expert but I think it would work but you would be better off with more thrust. I have a 14 foot sea nymph that is pretty wide. I have a 40 piund bow mount and it is more than enough for fishing purposes.

    I think that 17 pounds of thrust is enough for slow trolling if you will be fishing that way as long as there is not any wind. I generally run my minn kota at a speed on the dial of about 4. The speed control does go up to 10 if that gives you any idea.

    The main benefit of the extra thrust for me is if I want to get to the far side of the lake quickly after starting fishing or if I want to get off the lake quickly when lighting/storms are coming. You do not need the full power most days but when you do you will be glad it is there.

    I would keep an eye out for someone selling one on craigslist or at your local flea markets.
    #2
    dave15012
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    RE: Need help about trolling motor from the experts 2010/01/24 14:24:50 (permalink)
    LOOK ON PITTSBURGH CRAIGLIST 1-23-10, 76# MOTOR GUIDE TROLLING FOR $175.00, HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE 150. ITS IN UNIONTOWN
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    ShutUpNFish
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    RE: Need help about trolling motor from the experts 2010/01/24 16:16:54 (permalink)
    Its plenty if you plan on just using it to keep a drift in the right position.  However, on most "trolling motor only" lakes, you will want to travel around the lake a bit and/or do some trolling.  In this case, its nowhere near enough power for what you'd want.  The more thought I put into it, I'd actually suggest you get a more powerful motor.  I'd go 35-40lb thrust minimum.  You may even want to consider a 24 volt system.  Good Luck.
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    2dog
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    RE: Need help about trolling motor from the experts 2010/01/24 20:16:28 (permalink)
    Here is some comments that different website have on thrust to weight or thrust to boat lenghth.

    Generically speaking, every 400 pounds of your boat’s weight needs about 5 pounds of thrust from the trolling motor to move it.

    Determine how much you can afford to spend on a trolling motor. Buy one rated for as many pounds of thrust as you can afford; you'll need at least five pounds of thrust for every 350 pounds of weight moved, including the boat and everything in it. For a 12 foot boat, this means at least 30 pounds of thrust, while for a 20 foot boat, you'll need at least 74.

    While trolling motors are available as 12, 24, and even 36 volt units, you can get by with a good 12 volt motor for boats of 16 feet in length or less.

    http://www.trolling-motor.info/Motorguide/motorguide_FAQ.htm#1003 has a chart.

    USE THE FORCE
    Boat length in feet Pounds of thrust required
    12 30
    13 30
    14 32
    15 36
    16 40
    17 50
    18 55
    19 65
    20 74
    21 74
    22 101

    In general you want to have as much thrust as possible for the times when you run into wind and current. The rule of thumb in choosing thrust is to take the total weight of the loaded boat and divide it by 70. For example, if your boat with people and gear weighs a total of 3500 lbs you will then divide that by 70. That means that ideally you should have a motor with at least 50 lbs. of thrust.
    #5
    eyesandgillz
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    RE: Need help about trolling motor from the experts 2010/01/26 14:19:01 (permalink)
    I have a 30# 5 speed minn kota transom mount on my 14' aluminum boat that weighs north of 1200# (with full floor, 2 swivel seats, 4 batteries, homemade livewell, casting deck with 50# bow mount, 6 gal. gas can, 15 hp motor, and all my gear) and I can move my boat on a calm lake at 2.5-2.8 mph on the gps.  Throw in some wind or current and I am down around 2 mph.  My 50# bow mount can run at 12v or 24v and I literally get thrown from the platform if I put it on 24v and its highest speed.  Running just the bow mount in a fairly straight line (not so easy with my older Johnson bow mount) I can get 3.2-3.4 mph on full speed 12v.
     
    For your boat, 30# will be plenty for what you want to do with it but, bigger is always better, at least that's what she said!  17# will work (as long as the motor works ok) but you may be disappointed on windy days and may do better with oars. 
     
    You can usually get a brand new 30# minn kota 5 speed on sale at Gander Mtn./DicksSporting or online for $99 to $109.  Craigslist is hit or miss.  When they do come up, some guys seem to want new prices for used motors.  Just keep an eye out.
    #6
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