Need Help Picking an Electric Trolling Motor

[bman1bpm]

Hello, I've got a 17' fiberblass run about. I'd like to get an electric trolling motor to save on some gas this summer while running a trotline for crabs. How much thrust should I look for? Will a little cheap 30 lb motor work for me?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need Help Picking an Electric Trolling Motor

Not if you have any wind to contend with. A 45# would be minimum in my view but I would recommend at 55# as it wouldn't need to work so hard. 55# is the maximum thrust you can get with a single 12V deep cycle battery.

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: Need Help Picking an Electric Trolling Motor

Thanks, wow I was looking around at prices, cabella's looked to have good prices, but now that you said I should be looking for a bigger one, I was on walmart.com, they only sell the 50# and 55# models, but wow, I can get the 50# from walmart for the same that I'd pay for the 36 at cabella's!

The 55# model has a max current draw of 50, the 50# model's max is only 42, I'd rather have the lower current draw I think.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need Help Picking an Electric Trolling Motor

You will be fine with a 45# motor, 50# or 55#. I assume you are not looking at PowerDrive motors. PD's are far more efficient than the cheaper motors. Those cheaper motors use nearly as much power on slow speed as they do on high speed.

 

[bman1bpm]

Re: Need Help Picking an Electric Trolling Motor

Yeah I was lookin at the cheaper ones. The Maxxum models of Minn Kotas are pretty expensive. After the rebate on the cheap one the 50# model is going for $140

 

[shibby00]

Re: Need Help Picking an Electric Trolling Motor

Thanks, wow I was looking around at prices, cabella's looked to have good prices, but now that you said I should be looking for a bigger one, I was on walmart.com, they only sell the 50# and 55# models, but wow, I can get the 50# from walmart for the same that I'd pay for the 36 at cabella's!

The 55# model has a max current draw of 50, the 50# model's max is only 42, I'd rather have the lower current draw I think.

+ 1 on the 50# because of the lower draw.