Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

BBogey · Jan 16, 2002

Guys, I searched back a few months so hopefully I wouldn't be asking the same question? I'm headed to the big sportsman show in two weeks, and HOPEFULLY talking my wife into a trolling motor. Before I have some smooth talker talk me into something, can I get your opinion on: BRAND, pounds of thrust, length of shaft, features etc for a: 17' aluminum flat bottom w/semi V, 24" sides, total weight (w/people) 1,200-1,400 pounds, fishing mostly in lakes, some bigger bodies of water and quite often windy in my area. I know very LITTLE about these. THANKS!!

DJ · Jan 17, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Fist make the following decisions. 1. Do I want to carry TWO trolling batteries-24 volt models? 2. Do I want a foot control or hand control? 3. Do I want cables for the control or a single wire-power drive. My preference is: Minn-Kota, Power Drive. For a boat your size, I would look at something in the 40 lb. thrust area-12 volt. The more expensive models have circuitry that greatly improves battery life. I would go with a 12 volt and save some money to buy an on board battery charger.

JB · Jan 17, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

I agree with DJohns, BBogey. I have a Minn-Kota power drive, 48lb, 12v on one boat and the same motor in 55lb with Auto Pilot on the other. They do well on our 17' Boston Whalers. For working straight banks, bars and other structure the Auto Pilot is wonderful. I don't regret the extra bux a bit. Both of these motors have the high efficiency, modulated pulse width drive circuitry and will work intermittently all day without depleting your battery so much that it wont start your main engine. They have built in battery condition monitors so you can keep an eye on that. With the power drive you can control the motor from anywhere in your boat. For constant trolling I would recommend a seperate battery for the troller. Good Fishing! Red sky at night. . . JB

BBogey · Jan 17, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Guys, first of all thanks for your reply. 1) I would "prefer" to carry one trolling battery, but would do this "dual" thing if it was necessary, or even a MUCH better way to go? (right now I have a battery to start my boat and lights) AND I have a battery for my little transom electric. (which I will replace with my new bigger bow mounted motor) 2) I definately want foot controls 3)Cables or single wire?? You'll have to school me on that one!

JB, what's the auto pilot? I'll spend whatever I "need" to, or for that matter, more than I need to, as long as I'll use the features? I won't often flat out troll, but there will be times when I do? What's the deal with the On-board charger djohns19? If I sound like I know what I'm talking about, even a little, when my wife and I go looking, I don't think she'll question me "to much" when I say "Gee Honey, we really need ______ and ______" LOL THANKS!

JB · Jan 17, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Howdy Bogey. The Auto Pilot feature uses an internal compass to control the steering motor. You put it on the course you want and set it.. . it will steer on that course until you turn it off. You can then concentrate on your fishing. I love it. It adds about $100 to the price. The electric steered models, Power Drive and Auto Pilot, have an 18' flexible wire to the electric controller. The other foot steered models have a short, stiff, steel cable by which your foot supplies the power to turn the motor. You can get more at www.minnkota.com With either of these motors I suggest a single, dual purpose (start and troll) battery. That's what I use. Red sky at night. . . JB

BBogey · Jan 17, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Thank you JB, I most definately want the 18 flexible wire!!! Is the auto-pilot simple to use? (by now, you probably picked up on the fact I'm not the brightest bulb on the string when it comes to "mechanical" things

) Thanks as usual!

JB · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Ahoy, Bogey. Easier than cruise control. Point it, push a button on the head. Change anything else, it turns off automatically. Red sky at night.. . JB

BBogey · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Thanks for all the help, you've educated me!! Hopefully, I'll go to the sportsman show in two weeks and come home with my motor, or at least the motor WE'RE going to get? THANKS

KGC · Jan 19, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

BBogey, Lots of good advise, I have 44lb thrust on my 14' boat and 2 batteries. One main, one accessory (trolling motor etc.) Since you already have 2 on board, KEEP them. The last thing you want to do is drain a single battery. Others may say they have never had a problem with just one, but everyones use, battery, etc is different. Better safe than sorry. On board chargers are great. They are not expensive and will keep your batteries fully charged. Check out Guest, but there are other good ones too. Good luck with the wife....LOL

DJ · Jan 20, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Bbogey, KGC addressed the on board charger issue. I'll go a little further. There are now very small battery chargers on the market that are water and shock proof-ready for the marine environment. With these you can mount them in your boat and leave them hooked up to the battery all of the time. When you return home all you have to do is run an extension cord out to the boat and plug it in. Most of these chargers can be left plugged in all the time and will "maintain" the battery charge over long periods of time. There are many brands out there-Guest is one. Minn-Kota also has their own. Many can charge multiple batteries at once. Happy Hunting.

BBogey · Jan 20, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

Thanks for the charger update. I had never heard of such a beast until mentioned here in these posts. I was trying real hard to leave everyone alone with my questions on this topic, but since it doesn't appear I've worn out my welcome yet...

I've got two more... I was very interested in the charger "idea", but didn't quite understand how it worked? I thought by charger, it meant the battery would be charged while trolling and I couldn't figure out how the heck that would happen without running a gas motor??? If it's something I'll just plug in every time I bring my boat home and put in the shop, well that sounds simple!

I just happen to have spotted one in the Cabela's "inventory clearance $ale" catalog that just came out. There are two of them: "motorGuide" waterproof Max-Pro 30 Amp on board chargers 2-bank and 2-bank w/remote. $199 and $229. (i$ thi$ more than I would need?) Does this price seem right? What is the difference between a 2-bank and 2-bank w/remote? And what is the advantage to this over hooking up a battery charger each time? Is it simpler, and has some kind of built in thing where it can't be "over-charged"? Next. Some of you folks talked about 12 volt vs 24 volt and suggested I stick with a 12 volt. I'll have to show my stupidity once again here, but my boat came "pre-wired" for a bow mounted motor. It has a two prong outlet up front...does this have anything to do with a 12 volt vs 24 volt, or will that "outlet" handle either? Thanks very much guys! Since I bought my boat in Arkansas and live in Washington state, it makes it tough to ask the dealer a lot of this...We leave for the sportsman show this week and I'm really being a "good boy around here" (how can she tell me no??) LOL, Thanks!

DJ · Jan 20, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

BBogey, Don't sweat it. I've been laughed off of here plenty of times. Your boat is already pre rigged for 12 Volt. Congrat's that makes things simple. The 12 volt connection is already there, without modification. 24 V, would probably require extra wiring. 1. The onboard battery chargers are just small units that you attach to the boat and plug in the A/C power cord when you need a charge. They attach semi permanently to your battery and have an A/C plug for you to plug in the extension cord. It's nothing more than a convenience for those that use alot of trolling battery charge. Kind of like plugging in your cell phone at night. The neat thing is that it's all packaged in the boat-no external battery chargers, etc. The battery chargers that have a capacity for charging more than one battery can be used for multiple, seperate circuit batteries. Example: a two "pole" unit that offers 8 amps total, and 4 amps to two poles, can be used to supply 4 amps to two 12 V batteries. One battery could be your main engine starting battery and your other the trolling battery. The little charger would split the charge for you! These little devices are a real time and hassle saver. 2. Trolling Motors- My favorite, Minn-Kota. They're wired for tough use. Not always the fastest, but by far the toughest. The "premium" units offer battery saving technology. Options include: "power drive" and "auto pilot". The power drive system deletes the cable steering systems for a single cable that is up to 18' long. A motor steers the unit as opposed to cables. Less clutter and very easy to operate-a must. The auto pilot allows you to point the motor at an object in the direction you want to go, the motor follows that course-NEAT.

crab bait · Feb 25, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

i've used an autopilot an they work really well even in wind conditions. but you must have your o.b.motor down in the water somewhat so it acts like a rudder / stabilizer..

BBogey · Feb 27, 2002

Re: Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

thanks for the tip! I've only had it out once for about 15 minutes to test it, but I was real pleased with it. Thanks to everyone for the help. By the way, I did get that Guest charger, pretty slick!

Bow Mounted Electric trolling motor

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