(='_'=) Posted June 22, 2014 Posted June 22, 2014 as i mentioned in another thread, a local lake is electric only. due to my current work schedule this year i will be limited mostly to fishing this lake during the weekends. using the trolling motor of the bassboat is not an option, any gas powered boat is not allowed. therefore this lake gets lots of bank fishermen but very few, if any, boat fishermen. i have an old tin boat, but its no good for standing up, its not stable enough, and its very small. besides, i dont have a truck and the boat has no trailer. i have been thinking of modifying this boat for fishing, installing a trolling motor on the transom, pontoons, and decking it as low as i can, in order to be able to stand up or install the bassboats pedestal seats. however i would need to get a trailer for it, or ask for a friend with a truck to come and fish with me, and some times he cant come. the other option is to purchase another boat. of course tin would be the first option but i have not found any tin boats in here. i did find a glass boat with trailer, with no motor, which i can have for $450. the boat is in very rough shape as can be seen in the pictures, but it would get me in the water and i think i can restore it without spending a ton, as i already restored the bassboat, we painted, carpeted and everything ourselves. what do you think?? i would remove the "console", and install a front trolling motor as it would serve for fishing and moving it around, and front and rear casting decks. that would cover the basic needs. Quote
Kevin22 Posted June 22, 2014 Posted June 22, 2014 Its going to be heavier than the tin which will be good and bad. Good, it wont be blown around all over the place. Bad, you are going to need a bigger electric to keep it powered all day. Quote
BassinBee Posted June 23, 2014 Posted June 23, 2014 I really like the stability of a glass bass boat. Where are you located? I've got a boat / trailer with no engine looking for a home. It needs the transom repaired but would work great for what you are looking for. It's an old Bumble Bee and provides a solid fishing platform. If you or anyone else is interested PM me. Quote
(='_'=) Posted June 23, 2014 Author Posted June 23, 2014 thats the main concern Kevin, however, 3 or 4 years ago when they still allowed gas engines in that lake, sometimes i would just use the trolling motor on the bassboat all morning. a lot of times i didnt even use the big engine. how many # do you think i would need to move the one pictured?? and BassinBee, thanx for the offer, but im a little too far away, south of the border, in Mexico... Quote
Super User Fishing Rhino Posted June 23, 2014 Super User Posted June 23, 2014 The boat looks like it would provide a stable platform. But when you add decks and other "improvements", you will be adding weight, and need more thrust to move it along. I don't know your budget, but I'd start with a digital 24 volt trolling motor. It should provide propulsion for a long day on the water. A digital is more efficient, and will use less battery power to do the same "work" as a non-digital. I have a 24 volt Motorguide on my Z-8, non-digital. I can fish all day and still have plenty of battery power in reserve. Most days the power control is set on "1". If it's breezy, I may need to up the setting to "2". To move a short distance, I may run it on "5", but that's rare. Something similar should provide you with enough "juice" for you to put in a long day's fishing, unless you do a lot of traveling on the higher speed settings. Quote
Kevin22 Posted June 23, 2014 Posted June 23, 2014 I would go no less than a 24V 70# for an electric only lake. Quote
(='_'=) Posted June 24, 2014 Author Posted June 24, 2014 thanx. i have not heard about the "digital" vs non-digital TM so ill check that out. the TM i have on the bassboat is very old, in fact it may get replaced this season. its 12V and i think its only like 30#, and with that one i would move the bassboat in this lake when they still allowed it. so, with 2 people, tackle, gas, and the 85 HP motor hanging on the back, sometimes that tiny TM was enough. this lake is really small, i can and have rowed from one side to the other in an inflatable kayak in 15 minutes. however i do want a boat because there are some parts that are impossible to reach from the bank, so i would be basically the only one fishing there, and those parts used to produce in the past. a kayak is another option but i normally dont like fishing alone.... thanx. Quote
Kevin22 Posted June 24, 2014 Posted June 24, 2014 Overpowered is better than underpowered. I wouldn't put a 30# on anything over a 12' jon. Quote
(='_'=) Posted June 24, 2014 Author Posted June 24, 2014 Overpowered is better than underpowered. I wouldn't put a 30# on anything over a 12' jon. i know, but that was the Tm that came with the boat (we got it basically for free), and since it worked, we didnt change it as we had to fix a lot of other things....now that we fixed the motor, painted, carpeted, and used the boat for a couple of seasons, i may change the TM... if i ever get a jon boat i may end up putting the 30# in it and get a bigger one for the bassboat... Quote
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