55 pound thrust Minnkota on 20 foot bow rider.

[Addicted2fishing84]

Hi folks. I was wondering if a 55 pound Minnkota would suffice on a 20 foot bow rider. No major currents, smaller lakes and mostly calmer waters. Boat, motor and passengers I’d say 2800 total ? I would get two 12V batteries so there is more battery capacity.

any experience ?

the model I’m looking at is the powerdrive V2

 

[CincyGus]

I've got a 45 lb thrust minn kota edge on a tracker 17'7" bass boat (shorter, lower profile, catching less wind than your bow rider would). I run it on 1-2 on low wind days (5 mph or less) and kick it up to 3-5 on windy days with two batteries. It does pretty well up to about 15-20 mph winds. I spent a week on Lake Vermillion in northeast MN about 2 weeks ago and did about 4-5 hours fishing on it in the 15-20 mph stuff and did okay although I have no idea how much battery power I had left in my 2 12v group 27's.

So the question is on a higher profile, slightly larger and much heavier boat is an extra 10 lbs of thrust going to be enough. I'd say if you can protect yourself from big winds by fishing mostly coves or drifting with the wind on the windy days, your likely going to be okay. Hopefully someone with a closer sized boat to yours can answer for you but thought I'd share my experience with my boat.

 

[Texasmark]

I have a a 70# Motor guide on a Crestliner 1750 Fish Hawk I bought used last year. Way too much thrust. So I paralleled the batteries rather than seriesed, dropping down to 12v from 24. Didn't measure the amperage draw and attempt to calculate thrust but more than enough. Gut feel....you'd be fine.

Big thing about small motors is that they can pull where they can't push. Pulling lets the boat follow the motor and winds and cross currents may swing the transom about, but the boat continues on coarse when it's led.