What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

[shingo]

What kind of trust do I need ? the boat is 14 feet, fully loaded it will weight 750# in the worst condition possible (2 people, all the equipment, engine and the weight of the boat)

Most of the time it will be around 550 total.

Is a 40# enough, will I have any performance improvment at all going from a 40# to 55#?

Thank you

 

[gm280]

Re: What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

I have a similar situation and decided that a 45 pound (or there about) trolling motor will work fine. More isn't always better some times. The more thrust the more amperage it takes as well. So you have to weigh the thrust you could need with the size of the battery you have (or will buy) to get to a sensible solution. I read a lot about trolling motor sizes and I think 40 to 50 pounds of thrust will be all you will ever need, unless you are going up a strong river current and against a very strong head wind... If you look at Tracker Pan Fish outfits, they also use a mid-forty pound thrust trolling motor and I don’t hear of anybody complaining. JMHO!

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

I totally agree with gm280. I have a 45 lb. thrust for my boat, and it works great. My buddy has a 75 lb thrust for his 15' john boat. Way way too much thrust. But he got it for a very good price so that's what he went with.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

Keep in mind that Tracker tends to install the lowest HP they can get away with on their package boats to keep the cost attractive. The difference in current draw between a 40 and 50# motor (at least in the Minnkota line is zero). Their catalog lists both of them as 42 amps. A 55# motor draws 50 amps. Those numbers happen to be under worst case (stalled rotor) conditions which rarely happens. The same logic regarding a big motor loafing is nearly as economical as a small motor working hard applies to electric motors as well. If you have to run a small motor at 1/2 speed for example where a bigger motor would be run at 1/3 the current draw would likely be nearly the same.

 

[shingo]

Re: What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

what battery size would you suggest, I will mostly use the battery for 8 hours fishing / trolling

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

To little data. You cannot get 8 hours run time with any battery if the motor runs at anything over 1/2 speed continuously. A group size 27 is the standard minimum size recommendation.

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: What thrust power do I need for a jon boat 1436?

Are you using it as an actual "trolling" motor? Are you looking to have the thing actually running for a solid 8 hrs? What kind of fishing situation are you talking about?