Trolling motor recommendations

[mountbkr]

I am ready to buy a trolling motor to install on a '89 Stratos 285. I am fishing in East Tn. on local lakes. Maybe some tournaments in the future. Will be bow mounted and foot controlled. Give me your thoughts and preferences on brands, models and  torque. Thanks in advance

Tim

[scbassin]

I have had both Motor Guide & Minn Kota trolling motors. I like the Minn Kota better. It's not as hard on your batteries. I would also get the most thrust I could afford. It is always better to have to much than not enough.

[Ben]

I run a Motor Guide 60 lb thrust with variable speed on my 89 285 Pro and it does just fine, plenty of speed and power. Just be sure you get the biggest, baddest mount you can get with a 42" shaft. If you fish a lot of big water with big waves, you might want to get a 50" shaft, but you will have the head pulled up in your way most of the time in shallow water. If the water gets pretty rough from boat wakes etc, the 42 pops out a lot.

As for battery life, if you get the variable speed, there's no difference between brands.

I guess I should have mentioned, if you have the original circuit breakers you will need to change them.  They are too small and will trip out when running on high for any length of time.  Also don't recommend using that plug/receptical deal up front, it will overheat, won't handle the load.

[Rattlinrogue]

I'm fishing a Minn Kota All Terrain.I'm using 40 lb. thrust(15 ft boat)and it gets me around great.It comes in a lot more powerful models also.

[Smib]

I've had the same motorguide since '92. All I've replaced is the 12/24 volt switch.  Motorguide is fine by me  

[jbh3]

Minn Kota Maxxum 80# would be my choice.

[Madhouse27]

I've been happy with my Minn Kota All Terrain 65 lb thrust with a 52" shaft. The thing is tough and has performed flawlessly. The foot pedal is a bit clunky but I've gotten used to it. Do you guys prefer the cable based foot pedal steering system or the electric motor style? The cable seems tougher and there is one less thing to break but the pedal and cable are large and a bit cumbersome. The electric motor ones seem to have a compact little foot pedal and small cord but I wonder about durability.

[mountbkr]

Thanks for the replies. I have decided to go with the Maxxum Pro 80 with 42" shaft. What type of plug do you recommend up front ? Just a new replacement or the Ranger style?

[Ben]

I removed the recepticale in front, stuck my TM cable through the hole and hard wired it with large crimp connectors, soldered them after crimping and put heat shrink of the connection.   I also connected both red cables together and both black cables together (the one going from back to front), connected my TM batteries in series and installed a 50 amp breaker on the positive terminal.  I installed a 24V Battery Charge Indicator (BCI) in the front.

If you feel you need to use a connector, get two of the flat gray 75 amp connectors like they use on golf cart chargers.  Grainger's and BPS sells them.  These don't work for 12/24 volt motors, you only have two terminals and need three with 12/24V motors.  These connectors are the same, no male and female, one just flips over and plugs into the other.  Crimp and then solder the lugs.

[Rattlinrogue]

I've been happy with my Minn Kota All Terrain 65 lb thrust with a 52" shaft. The thing is tough and has performed flawlessly. The foot pedal is a bit clunky but I've gotten used to it. Do you guys prefer the cable based foot pedal steering system or the electric motor style? The cable seems tougher and there is one less thing to break but the pedal and cable are large and a bit cumbersome. The electric motor ones seem to have a compact little foot pedal and small cord but I wonder about durability.

I like the cable. Just one less thing to go wrong.