How fast will a 50# motor push me?

[Number21]

I have an older 16' Glastron, not a deep vee, but not really a shallow hull either. It weighs about 2000lbs. I was wondering if anybody could tell me how fast a 50# trolling motor could push that boat in the water? Let's say it's a calm lake with little or no current for arguements sake. Would I need two of them to get any kind of real speed? (10mph?)

I'm basically just looking for something electric I can use to cruise around and save some of that gold...I mean gas in my tank. Is it realistic to get more than 3-4mph out of a trolling motor on this boat?

 

[jtexas]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

probably could get 5, maybe 6 MPH.

2 x 50# motors would be way less efficient than a single 101lb 36volt motor.

 

[Number21]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

Hmmm....I'd like to stay with 12 volts. Is 50# about the highest you can get at 12v? How fast would it go with a 101# motor?

 

[Tarpon828]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

1975 Glastron V-158 Beau Jack
Motorguide 50lbs thrust bow mounted trolling motor
I can get about 5 MPH on Rabbit 5 (Highest setting). I usually use Turtle 3 and will get about 2-3 MPH.
52lbs of thrust is the biggest trolling motor that I have seen in 12 volt.

 

[jtexas]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

If you're 12V preference is due to wanting only one battery - you're going to drain it in no time flat running two motors off it. General rule, higher voltage motor uses less current than lower voltage motor to do the same amount of work.

max 12V is 54 (motorguide) or 55 (minn kota)

24V motors are 70 to 80 lbs.

I guess they stopped making the 12/24V motors.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

Big difference when pushing from the rear versus working from the bow.
From the transom, I find 55 lbs. thrust, next to an outboard motor, ok for
maneuverability, but tedious to go straight. The electric is not in a straight
line with the boat, so corrections are often needed. Plus efficiency is much
less than when using a bow mounted motor. Look at what is taking place
if and when you need to go in reverse. Pulling the transom through the water!

For control and power transfer, the bow mount has it. I have both, but I very
much prefer using the bow mount.

 

[zibzer]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

I have a hard time seeing a 50 Electric Motor going much over 5mph. You might get 6 or 7... but likely only at full charge. And when the wind picks up youll be crawling along.

Anything over 14ft I would suggest 24v in 70-100. 16ft is kind of borderline 55 would work for most circumstances but 70 would be better in waves in in wind.

That all being said, if 10mph is your goal, you want more than 55

 

[sar3195]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

Minn Kota has a 55lb at 12 volts. If you have the Maximizer on the Minn Kota it will run a long time on 1 12 volt. If you get 5mph with that boat it would be about tops for a 12 volt motor.
If you want a longer run time hook up 2 12 volt batteries in parallel. Make sure that both batteries are equal in every respect.
Now if you get a 24 volt motor at a higher thrust you will get more mph but not as long a running time as the 2 12 volts hooked in parallel.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

I have a 55# ATV Minn Kota on a 20' LARSON 204 Escape Deck boat. Don't know about speed, but it moves it well.

(12 volt) with a on board charger. Never have run it for long periods, so not sure about longivity.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How fast will a 50# motor push me?

I have a Minnkota 55# Power Drive V2 on an 18 foot pontoon and it jerks it around pretty well. The Maximizer is of no value running at the wide open setting as the motor is getting straight DC just like it's less expensive bretheren. Where the Maximizer comes into play is at speed setting less than wide open. A 55# motor will draw about 43 - 45 Amps running wide open so it will suck a single 12V deep cycle battery flat in a couple hours. This is not the way to save money on gas. A 55#PD is Around $500, the quick release plate is about $40. The wiring, breaker, battery and on-board charger are another couple hundred. For $800 bucks you can buy 200 gallons of $4.00 fuel. The long and short of this is that trolling motors are not intended for continuous high speed operation. They simply are not efficient. If you want to just putt around, strap on a 6, 7.5, 8, or 9.9 HP four stroke kicker. They will run for a week on a tank of fuel and push you faster than the troller.