perchjerker
Well-known member
Been keeping an eye on CL for about a month now for a electric troller. Transom or bowmount. Most likely transom just because of the price.
On an old 18ft Crestliner Sportfish I had, it had a Minn Kota AP 65 24 volt power drive with the co pilot remote on it.
Loved that motor. Would love to have something like that on my 14fter I am working on now, but in 12 volt.
But alas, money is limiting that choice.
I have considered a few 40 lb range transom mounts, but the good ones go fast, and the others are just overpriced junk
So yesterday, I see an ad that caught my eye for some reason. It was not for a motor, but a co pilot remote unit for $60
So I click on it. Turns out the guy is selling it because the motor he had it on died.
Died? Oh really..no description of the motor, he did not know the model, only that it was 12 volts.
The is a partial pic of it in the background in one of the pics. Has the universal transducer.
Hmmm...
On my AP65, it died once, it was just a bad solder joint on the motor. But I took the thing completely apart so I know the motor pretty good. Also broke the composite shaft once, and replaced that myself as it had a lifetime warranty but not on labor as it was getting older when that happened.
Maybe I can fix this motor? I know control boards are a common problem, so I look it and some other parts up, they are still available.
So I contact him. I tell him I only will buy the co pilot if he gives me the motor (and foot control)
I go look at it today, a real nice fellow, lives on a lake, has 3-4 different boats. Retired sheriff. The motor is on a deck boat. He tells me if it does not work out, he will buy it back.
So what do I have to lose? So I buy it
Turns out its 55lb thrust. Perfect! I do have a factory service manual for these motors and the troubleshooting it pretty straight forward. I just hope the motor did not get water in it and rust up, it prop spun freely, actually the entire motor is in real good shape for a 2004.
After a few minutes diagnosing, yep it the control board. $71 plus shipping. I will have it next week.
So I will have a 55lb bow mount power drive with wireless remote on the boat after all!!!
Now I just have to figure out how to mount it, when I built my front deck I was not really planning on putting a bow mount on it. But I will get it done!
On an old 18ft Crestliner Sportfish I had, it had a Minn Kota AP 65 24 volt power drive with the co pilot remote on it.
Loved that motor. Would love to have something like that on my 14fter I am working on now, but in 12 volt.
But alas, money is limiting that choice.
I have considered a few 40 lb range transom mounts, but the good ones go fast, and the others are just overpriced junk
So yesterday, I see an ad that caught my eye for some reason. It was not for a motor, but a co pilot remote unit for $60
So I click on it. Turns out the guy is selling it because the motor he had it on died.
Died? Oh really..no description of the motor, he did not know the model, only that it was 12 volts.
The is a partial pic of it in the background in one of the pics. Has the universal transducer.
Hmmm...
On my AP65, it died once, it was just a bad solder joint on the motor. But I took the thing completely apart so I know the motor pretty good. Also broke the composite shaft once, and replaced that myself as it had a lifetime warranty but not on labor as it was getting older when that happened.
Maybe I can fix this motor? I know control boards are a common problem, so I look it and some other parts up, they are still available.
So I contact him. I tell him I only will buy the co pilot if he gives me the motor (and foot control)
I go look at it today, a real nice fellow, lives on a lake, has 3-4 different boats. Retired sheriff. The motor is on a deck boat. He tells me if it does not work out, he will buy it back.
So what do I have to lose? So I buy it
Turns out its 55lb thrust. Perfect! I do have a factory service manual for these motors and the troubleshooting it pretty straight forward. I just hope the motor did not get water in it and rust up, it prop spun freely, actually the entire motor is in real good shape for a 2004.
After a few minutes diagnosing, yep it the control board. $71 plus shipping. I will have it next week.
So I will have a 55lb bow mount power drive with wireless remote on the boat after all!!!
Now I just have to figure out how to mount it, when I built my front deck I was not really planning on putting a bow mount on it. But I will get it done!
