How much trolling motor do i need?

D

dmoriarty51

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
305
I have a 95 crestliner proam 1650 sc, per iboats it weighs in at about 1000lbs plus motor fuel and gear so i guess 2000lbs loaded with 2 adults and the days goods. I am looking into adding a bow mount trolling motor so i can fish more creatively. My primary boating area is the mississsippi river at clinton ia current is generally 2-3 mph i believe. I would like to stay on a 12volt system In the interest of saving some money, space, weight and complexity. It looks like 55lb thrust is the best i can get on 12v.

Is that going to be enough to manuever the boat? My fishing is for pleasure only i have no intentions of doing so in tournaments or foul weather conditions. If you have any recomendations they would be appreciated.
 
fucawi

fucawi

Banned
Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
1,039
Re: How much trolling motor do i need?

the old american saying ...there is no substitute for cubes....get the biggest you can afford ..you can always turn it down but once its flat out thats it ...I have the 86 il 24v but run it on 12 v most of the time ..many use the 36 lb 12v ones and run on 24 v ...remember your top speed is determined by the prop pitch and rpm which give about 3-4 mph in my experience
 
NYBo

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: How much trolling motor do i need?

I would go with the 55# thrust model. It's going to be tough making headway against that current so you'll want all the thrust you can get.
 
J

John_S

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2004
Messages
4,269
Re: How much trolling motor do i need?

With that current, a 55lb will be borderline. Any wind in the same direcetion as the current, could bring you to a halt.
 
D

dlngr

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
547
Re: How much trolling motor do i need?

I used my 45# on the 14' Lund in the Illinois river. It did a great job,but never was out on a windy day. On a small lake,during a thunder storm,I could barely STEER the boat with the troller-moving forward wasn't possible.
 
fishingene

fishingene

Cadet
Joined
Dec 4, 2011
Messages
7
Re: How much trolling motor do i need?

I had a 54 pound on a 15' kingfisher. Some say it was to much power. My style of fishing is to slip down the rock River,
when we catch one i turn up the trolling motor and catch a few more. I personally dont like anchoring on rivers, so i am always
on the trolling motor. If you are casting lures and snagged you can turn up the trolling motor instead of firing the gas motor.
That said, I put an 80 pound 24volt on the 16' smokercraft i have now. But i am a casting fool.
tite lines
 
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