Re: Why do Trolling Motors Fail ?
I haven't had one fail where it was inoperable. Never had to open a motor up to see if it was brushes or water. I have bent a shaft on one, that makes using it a bit more "fun", and had corroaded battery connectors on another. My dad had an old Herter's trolling motor, about 15lb thrust. Used it when I was a kid, and was the locomotion we had for 17' canoes. The contoller wore out in the 90's and he replaced it with a switch. I got him a new 30lb in the late 90's. Knowing my dad, it is stored somewhere with a still operational motor.
We live in a disposable society. Few people take the time to figure out what is wrong, yet alone fix it. As soon as the prospect of shipping, diagnoising, fixing, has any likelyhood of reaching 40-50% the cost of new, its trashed. Some assume its broke, it WILL cost too much to fix.
From being here a number of years, the reported problems that make it to this forum, seem to be the digital controlled units. Much more than simple speed coil models. Even on digital controlled, the controllers, FETs, foot control failures seem to outnumber motor failures by far.
I'd want to see the amp reading at 4kts for both props. If I had electic only restrictions and had larger range needs, might be more interested. If I ever modify one to use on my kayak, and want to keep the battery size to a miminum, ie smaller battery but get same range, might be take another look.
