Which Trolling Motor? 5 To Choose From.

[BassChump]

Hi everyone.

I'm in an enviable position. I just bought a 1995 Spectrum Pro Avenger. A 17 footer with a 90 hp on the back. I took this out on the water last week and I absolutely love the boat. It's perfect for my situation.

I have a question about the trolling motor. It has an old MotorGuide on there. 37 lb. thrust. I've got several other trolling motors around so I get to pick which one I want.

I have

12 volt 40 lb.

12 volt 50 lb.

24 volt 54 lb.

24 volt 70 lb.

I kind of just picked these up over time. Long story. Anyway, the Spectrum has a spot for one trolly battery up in the bow but I have some room in the back for 2 batteries if I choose one of the 24 volt trolly's.

The boat only weighs 840 pounds dry and with the battery up front, that extra weight really keeps the front down in the hole shot but once on plane, it makes it a little nose heavy.

I've always heard that bigger is better when it comes to a trolling motor but with the boat so light, even a smaller trolly does just fine. The 37 pounder that is on it now does surprisingly well.

I'm leaning on moving the battery from the front to the rear, adding another battery and installing the 70 lb. up front. Is that overkill? Is the extra battery worth the penalty in weight?

What are you're thoughts?

[Wayne P.]

A battery at the bow is not a good application due to shock from boat wakes and waves.

A 24V setup will give you more pulling power and longer battery life.

"Just fine" doesn't work very well when the wind is blowing or in current. You can't have too much trolling motor power.

[slonezp]

^^^^

This

[aavery2]

Go with the 24V, you never know when you will need the extended battery life or the additional thrust.

[jkarol24]

Put on the biggest one (24 V 70 lb). Its always better to have more when it comes to trolling motors.

[MarkH024]

I agree with the rest. Put the biggest your boat and pocket will allow you too.

[K_Mac]

Yes the extra battery is worth the extra weight! Go with the 70# 24V and thank us later.

[Long Mike]

Move the bow battery to the stern and install the 70#. You won't regret it.

[KevO]

Go with the 24v 70# it was one of the best investments I've ever made for my boat.

[tnriverluver]

I have an 16ft Alumicraft Angler that the previous owner put a 24 volt Johnson trolling motor on off of a 19ft Stratos. Not sure of the lb thrust. He wired it so that it only works on 24 volt and even on the lowest setting it is way to fast. Make sure if you go 24 volt you have the 12-24 option. Most of the time more is better but if you need to fish slow it is nice to be able to.

[BassChump]

I'm thinking I'll go with the 24 volt 54 lb. because it's a Minkota. The Motorguide foot pedals drive me crazy. I find it easier to tip my foot to the left on the ball of my foot rather than try to tip my foot to the right. I took my new boat out this morning using the old Motorguide and I just didn't like it. The 70 lb. that I have is a motorguide and I think the smaller pedal would bother me but just in case, I'm going to keep the 70 in the garage as a spare.

[K_Mac]

BC that is a valid reason for the smaller motor IMO. I have a 24V MK Fortrex on my boat. I regularly fish with a friend who has a 36V MG on his. The foot control on the MG is very awkward for me to use, since I've spent far more time with my MK. The tension adjustment on the MK control seems much simpler as well. Good luck!

[J Francho]

I have a 70 on my 18' Xpress, and it's perfect. If I've ever needed more power, I probably shouldn't be on the water.

[Wayne P.]

I have an 16ft Alumicraft Angler that the previous owner put a 24 volt Johnson trolling motor on off of a 19ft Stratos. Not sure of the lb thrust. He wired it so that it only works on 24 volt and even on the lowest setting it is way to fast. Make sure if you go 24 volt you have the 12-24 option. Most of the time more is better but if you need to fish slow it is nice to be able to.

I doubt you will find any 12/24V current models.

You can easily connect your motor for the 12V side just by adding another wire between the battery jumper and the white wire on the motor power cable so you have both 12V and 24V operation.

If your prop is the larger size one, about 12", the motor is a 56# thrust HO model. If it has the small prop about 1/2 that size, it is the 41# thrust model.

[BassChump]

UPDATE:

I installed the 40 lb. 12 volt on there and when I took it on the water, that was actually plenty. It moved the boat quite well. Unfortunately I came across a problem that I hadn't anticipated. The shaft is too short so if there is any wakes that come my way, even small ones, or if there is just a little chop on the water, the prop comes out of the water and spits water everywhere.

I have one trolly that is a long shaft. That's the 24 volt 70 lb Motorguide but I don't have any room for an additional battery.

Do they make much smaller batteries that can do the job? I have the depth for two batteries but not much width. The worst case scenario is that I can reconfigure how the rear deck is supported but that would take some work.

Any suggestions?

[K_Mac]

I can't really say if there are smaller batteries available. Even if there is, the problem with smaller is less capacity. I think putting in the work to modify the boat so that you have room for two TM batteries will be a better long term solution all around.

[ww2farmer]

I run 2 group 24's on my 24V 70lb Thrust MK Maxxum because of space issues. It's more than enough. I have (not on purpose, I charge them every time I get off the water) gone 2 full 8-10 hour days with out charging them, fishng in wind, thick weeds, and on and off the motor all the time. Now I have the variable speed motor, so it might be different with a 5 speed, but I had as much power when i pulled the motor out of the water for the last time on day two, as I did the first time I dropped it in on day one. I am only pulling around a 17' aluminum bass tracker, so it's way more motor than I need, but IMHO thats a good thing.