Trolling Motor Size

[bassboy33]

Hey guys here is the question. I have a 18 foot crestliner multi-species boat, with no trolling motor. I am wanting to buy a trolling motor, I just don't know what lb thrust is needed for a boat like mine. Thanks any advice is helpful! 

[Comfortably Numb]

24v 70+ # thrust

[bassboy33]

Thanks thats sounds good!

[Bluebasser86]

24v 70+ # thrust

You'll want a 24V system for sure and a 70lb should work just fine for a boat your size. 

[Topwaterspook]

I agree. I have an 18 foot Lund and am replacing a 55# thrust with a 70#.

[Jig Man]

You also need to be sure to get a shaft long enough to keep the prop in the water when it is windy or the thrust won't mean a thing.

[ww2farmer]

The biggest you can afford. There is no such thing as "too much" trolling motor. If it were me, and you had room for the all the batteries, and money wasn't an issue, I would go with a 36v,  101lb thrust. I am going to agree with everyone else though, and your going to want AT LEAST the 24v, 70lb thrust motor.

[geo g]

I agree with Farmer.  Get the biggest you can afford, and can fit in your boat.  Remember you may be squeezing three batteries in that little storage space.  The extra weight may change the dynamics of the boat.  Make sure the wirering can handle the juice.  So give all this consideration.

[ColdSVT]

The biggest you can afford. There is no such thing as "too much" trolling motor. If it were me, and you had room for the all the batteries, and money wasn't an issue, I would go with a 36v, 101lb thrust. I am going to agree with everyone else though, and your going to want AT LEAST the 24v, 70lb thrust motor.

This!

As much as i love my 80# fortrex there are times when i wish i had more

[WIGuide]

I'll echo what ww2 and geo said. By the biggest baddest you can afford. I had a 16 foot Ranger and the hull weight was only about 760lbs, but I still went with an 80# Motorguide. It didn't get run on high too often, but there were days I was sure glad I had the extra power when I needed it. 

[Sam]

82 or higher.

 

Contact the boat's manufacturer and ask them.

 

You can go as high as 105 if you want to spend the money or need the power.

 

24-volt is the way to go.

 

Let us know what you decide to purchase.

[bassboy33]

Hey thanks guys I am listening!

[K_Mac]

Hey thanks guys I am listening!

Good man! There is little more aggravating than having a trolling motor that doesn't have enough power to allow you to fish where or as long as you want to. 80 and 24v would be my minimum.

[tcbass]

I have a 18' Crestliner Fishawk and have a 80lbs. Terrova which works well.

 

 

 

Trolling motors and motors are like boats, you'll never regret getting the biggest one you can afford.

[Sam]

Remember, with trolling motors size does count!!!

[Fishes in trees]

If you decide to go 36 volts and 100+ pounds of thrust ( which is a good idea ) just be sure you've got room for the batteries you will need.  4 is a minimum - 3 for the trolling motor and one for starting/electronics.

If you are going crazy on your electronics separating the starting battery from the electronics isn't a bad idea, not necessary, but not a bad idea either.  Just depends on if you've got room for all those batteries where they are out of the way.

 

I knew a guy who was sloppy about battery placement and security.  He mounted them underneath a bench seat (cut away a little bit of flotation to make them fit and secured them with bungee straps.

Time goes by - bungee straps get a little weak -boat takes a wake sideways - battery tips over - and this leads to a battery acid hole in his year old Guide wear set.  He was steamed.  I didn't have a lot of sympathy.  Bad choice of battery location + poor choice of fasteners = unnecessarily torn up gear.  If it would have gotten on my gore tex, I'd have been steamed.  Just a cautionary tale - moral of the story is be conscious of where you locate your batteries and how you tie them down.

[scrutch]

Another vote for "biggest you can afford".  I have an 18' bass boat and I have a Minn Kota 101 Terrova on it.  It was a great decision to go that big.  I fish some rivers that have current and I never run out of thrust.  Other guys I know with bigger boats and smaller thrusts struggle in that current.

 

As far as batteries go, the same applies.  Get the biggest you have room for and can afford.  My group 31's have NEVER let me down.  They take up a bunch of space, but it is worth it.

 

Another consideration (not sure what your budget is)  is an on-board charger.  With that many batteries it is REALLY nice to pull in the garage, open the battery compartment and just plug in my boat.  One plug takes care of all the batteries.

[tcbass]

Another vote for "biggest you can afford".  I have an 18' bass boat and I have a Minn Kota 101 Terrova on it.  It was a great decision to go that big.  I fish some rivers that have current and I never run out of thrust.  Other guys I know with bigger boats and smaller thrusts struggle in that current.

 

As far as batteries go, the same applies.  Get the biggest you have room for and can afford.  My group 31's have NEVER let me down.  They take up a bunch of space, but it is worth it.

 

Another consideration (not sure what your budget is)  is an on-board charger.  With that many batteries it is REALLY nice to pull in the garage, open the battery compartment and just plug in my boat.  One plug takes care of all the batteries.

 

 

+1 on the best charger you can get.

 

 

 I researched all of the big brands, Minn Kota, Dual Pro, Pro Mariner, and ended up with a Dual Pro. I got the most expensive one. I have screwed up batteries and it never fails to charge them quickly.

 

A quicker charging charger also helps if you forget to plug in your boat and have only a short time to charge it before you go fish or you are fishing one trip after another.

[kjfishman]

You probably have room on the transom to add one in back also.  I have both on my deep V and found the transmount motor comes in handy once in awhile