which trolling motor?

[cathunter21]

i have a 70 pound thrust minn kota trolling motor, and i also have a 40 pound thrust johnson trolling motor, both foot controlled and would both be bow mounted. which would best suit my 14 ft ouchita boat?

 

[russ010]

I can tell you know that you will last a lot longer and go faster with the 24v 70lb vs. the 12volt system...

Just remember that you will need 2 batteries for the 24v.

I've got a 40lb foot controlled on the bow and I have it wired to 2 batteries in parallel.. I can last all day, but it does lose it's "umph" after a while.


24v systems are kinda like trolling motors on viagra - they last a lot longer and go stronger for more than 4 hours

 

[cathunter21]

the johnson is a 1989 it came off my dads bass boat, and the minn kota is fairly new probobly in better running shape but i didnt know if that was to much to put on the bow. but would the 2 batteries help level out the weight with the 115 pound 4 stroke hanging off the transsom

 

[russ010]

it would help some, but so would your body weight up front. I've got 4 29 series batteries in my 12' jon... 2 in the rear, and 2 in the middle bench up near the front and it leveled me off, but I don't have a motor on the back of mine

 

[redbug]

you can never have too much power whn it comes to a trolling motor... go with the 70lb thrust

 

[cathunter21]

can i directly wire the trolling motor to the batteries or do i need to buy one a plug to connect them? im completely incompetant with wiring

 

[russ010]

I have all of mine wired directly to the batteries.. some people use fuses or plugs, but I don't and I've had no problems.

 

[bassboy1]

Go for the 70. But, if you do go for the 40, make sure it isn't a 12/24 volt. Back in those times, the 12/24 OMC trolling motors were common, and while they were 40 (or 43 usually) pounds of thrust, that was at 24 volts. At 12 volts, about 24 pounds is all you will see.

 

[bhos]

More is better, just be careful since it's foot control and on the bow of a small boat (for 70 lbs of thrust.) Tighten the drag on the turn control and keep it on lower speed or you might be swimming in short order

 

[cathunter21]

i know im probobly driving yall nuts with questions but how could i build a level mount for the trolling motor

 

[daltonmcgill]

if you have a picture of your boat that would help but i just took a little piece of plywood and screwed it to the corner and the front of the boat and mounted the trolling motor on that

 

[veilside180sx]

This is what we made for mine.

 

[Zum]

Mine was just a small piece of aluminum and a down piece to the deck,welded to the gunnels.

 

[YamahaC40Guy]

I'm mounting a 65lb thrust, 24V Minn Kota right now and am curious about how the weight of the two batteries will impact the boats performance. I doubt it will (negatively at least) but opted to put them about 2/3 of the way back from the bow, forward of the rear bench. The motor itself has some weight, and by the time I stand up there and/or possibly spot for another angler, there would be TOO much weight in my estimation. BTW, the boat is an old 16' Crestliner.

Like many here have said, the 40 would probably do it....but I'd go for the 70. Battery life is a big factor, and 12V won't take you as far. Wiring~I have NO confidence in it myself, but our local Minn Kota sales/service shop STRONGLY recommended the Minn Kota MKR-19 60AMP circuit breaker be used. Considering everything else that's been invested, it seemed like a good idea.

 

[YamahaC40Guy]

whoops...posted this response in another thread by mistake.. :shock:

I'm mounting a 65lb thrust, 24V Minn Kota right now and am curious about how the weight of the two batteries will impact the boats performance. I doubt it will (negatively at least) but opted to put them about 2/3 of the way back from the bow, forward of the rear bench. The motor itself has some weight, and by the time I stand up there and/or possibly spot for another angler, there would be TOO much weight in my estimation. BTW, the boat is an old 16' Crestliner.

Like many here have said, the 40 would probably do it....but I'd go for the 70. Battery life is a big factor, and 12V won't take you as far. Wiring~I have NO confidence in it myself, but our local Minn Kota sales/service shop STRONGLY recommended the Minn Kota MKR-19 60AMP circuit breaker be used. Considering everything else that's been invested, it seemed like a good idea.


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[Brine]

whoops...posted this response in another thread by mistake.. :shock:

It's right above your last one.

 

[Andy]

More is better, just be careful since it's foot control and on the bow of a small boat (for 70 lbs of thrust.) Tighten the drag on the turn control and keep it on lower speed or you might be swimming in short order

LMAO!! I can tell you that one from experience...

Big thrust on 10' Basshound 54lb I think.... I was new to being on boats. I was standing up, I got my lure hung up, asked to move a little to retreive my plug, my friend running the TM done as I asked....

SPLASH..... I was swimming..... Lesson learned...
And to make it better, it was about 40 degree water temp. Didn't take me long to get out, strip naked and put on my dry coveralls....
My buddy bout died laughing at me, said I was the bluest live guy he'd ever seen...