Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

[irvinparrett]

My son and nephew just purchased a 97 sea ray sundancer. They want to purchase a 25hp trolling motor. Is this practical?
The boat has the small swim deck on the stern.
Is there an electric trolling motor with enough thrust or do they need a gas.
What a pain it would be to fill the motor with gas from the swim deck, i would think.
Another question is if the motor is practical, is there a motor with a steering arm long enough so you don't have to steer on the swim deck? Maybe there is a extension available?
What type of mount would you use?
Thanks loads.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

1) You don't "fill" a 25 HP motor regardless where it is mounted. That size motor has a remote fuel tank. 25 HP motors are also NOT trolling motors by definition. They are simply 25 HP outboards. They would need a long shaft.
2) A 25 HP motor mounted on a swim platform is a very bad idea. They simply are not meant for that kind of service.
3) Kicker engine brackets are available that mount to the stern which allow raising and lowering the motor.
4) Steering linkages are available that links the small motor to the outdrive so you steer from the helm.
5) Just what are you planning to troll for and how fast?
6) Unless you had a boat load of batteries you would need the equivalent of that 25 HP gas motor in an electric. That simply is not practical.
7) Without more information on what they plan to troll for, how fast, where, water conditions, fresh/salt water, there isn't much we do to make specific recommendations.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

Wowzers.

 

[irvinparrett]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

If the swim deck is on the stern does the motor have some sort of extension so the prop reaches the the water?
I get it that a 25hp is not a trolling motor. But is there a trolling motor with enough thrust to drive the boat.
By the way they want to troll with cannon downriggers in puget sound for salmon and whatnot.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

By the way they want to troll with cannon downriggers in puget sound for salmon and whatnot.

That sounds awesome man! I would think that a 25hp would be plenty of motor for a troller and a backup motor on that big of a rig. Better to have a little too much engine than not enough! Send a pic of the back of the boat to give us some ideas.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

If the swim deck is on the stern does the motor have some sort of extension so the prop reaches the the water?
I get it that a 25hp is not a trolling motor. But is there a trolling motor with enough thrust to drive the boat.
By the way they want to troll with cannon downriggers in puget sound for salmon and whatnot.

Geez -- didn't you read my post? Your boat is not big enough to hold the number of batteries it would take to power a a 25 HP electric motor. The answer is NO. The answer is also NO you do not mount a 25 HP engine on the swim deck. That's what the kicker bracket is for. And yes -- there is a lnkage that ties the kicker to the outdrive. A much better, simpler, and less expensive solution to the apparent trolling speed problem is to install a trolling plate on the outdrive. Under way it is raised. For trolling it drops down behind the prop thus slowing boat speed.

 

[irvinparrett]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay


here is the boat
Is there a nice gas trolling motor to use.
Thanks again

I did see a trolling plate on cabela's website for $109. Since they are twin drives I take it they need 2. or can they get away with one. I am a newbie so I am going to ask probably a silly question but here goes. Can they troll with one drive only or would they just go in a circle?

 

[sasto]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

. Can they troll with one drive only or would they just go in a circle?

If she were mine.....I would troll with one engine without any problems. Done it many times. I really don't see a need for a "kicker", a third engine.

Good Luck!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

i think this boat needs to be taken out and operated to:
1) See if you really need a trolling motor
2) See if it tracks in a circle on one engine. (I think you will be surprised that it doesn't).
3) the boat doesn't care if you operate with either or both engines. It is simply a matter of how fast you want to go and how much fuel you want to burn.
4) Figure out what you actually "have" before you try to figure out what you actually "need".
5) A trolling plate on one engine may cause some unpredictable handling issues and two of them is a waste sinice you would need to operate on one engine only while trolling.

 

[irvinparrett]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

So, how or could a person install a trolling plate with a v drive. Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

Moving this over to Boat Topics. This isn't the forum for this type of trolling motor questions, it's for the electric trolling motors. Which won't even come close to working on that size boat.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

Lol, this is simply hilarious. Have they gone out at simply tried running it on one engine to see if that makes the trolling speed low enough? It seems like the kicker engine would be pretty complicated as opposed to not running one of the SeaRay's two engines.

 

[Don S]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

My son and nephew just purchased a 97 sea ray sundancer. They want to purchase a 25hp trolling motor. Is this practical?

Sounds like the best way to go to me, maybe you should let them worry about what to do with their boat. They seem to have a handle on the situation.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

Lol, this is simply hilarious. Have they gone out at simply tried running it on one engine to see if that makes the trolling speed low enough? It seems like the kicker engine would be pretty complicated as opposed to not running one of the SeaRay's two engines.

This is done with one of the main motors all the time here in Michigan, he doesnt need another motor for trolling and he doesnt even need a single trolling plate. Just run one of the twins and he will get the low speeds needed(1.9-2.9 mph). His bigger probelem will be all the holes he will need to drill in the glass to mount his down riggers/rod holders. That's one nice boat for fishing salmon.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

If they want to go fishing, they need to get a fishing boat. Using that boat would be like using a Winnebago for 4-wheeling.

The fact that they would screw up a boat like that by hanging a 25 off the back WAAAAYY out over the stern says it all. Especially since the boat ALREADY HAS A MOTOR. do they not understand that the swim deck is the only work space for landing the fish? And they want yet another motor there in the way? And why is it called a swim deck? they will soon find out!

We see this sort of thing around here when the stripers are running; anything that floats is out there, from tiny overlaoded jon boats to sofa boats to cabin cruisers--even the "sparkle boys" get into it. Out in big water in the winter at night. I once saw them trying to stand on the deck of a go-fast in 3' chop trying to cast for fish.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

That's a beautiful boat. No need to add a complicated kicker motor, it will only serve to ruin its appearance with a complex and unnecessary install. Like everyone else said, just run one engine. I do have to agree with greenbush future here and say that's its a damn shame to punch a bunch of holes in that Sundancer to install a rocket launcher/rod holder not to mention what it will do for its resale value. Its a pleasure cruiser not a fishing boat. Obviously its his boat to to will what he wishes but is so nice looking as is.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

you might be able to get a troling motor that mounts under the boat i think they attack to the out drive if not to the hull. that would work pricey but worth the money to keep the boat looking nice. also your better off just running one motor

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

the motors SBL (probably) refers to are electric motors that attach to lower units or trim tabs, and would not work on this large cabin cruiser.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/...lb-thrust-24volt-trolling-motor.aspx?a=322050 your boat is a bit over sized it might still work tho or they might have bigger models then shown

 

[JoLin]

Re: Is it possible to use a trolling motor on a 33' SeaRay

Just run one of the twins and he will get the low speeds needed(1.9-2.9 mph).

Exactly. Mounting a third engine just seems like a terrible way to achieve what the OP is trying to achieve.

My .02