12V/24V Trolling Motors. Pros, Cons???

[RLinNH]

In a few weeks I will be having a Minn Kota trolling motor installed on my boat. I was sold on the 24 Volt 70 LB Thrust Model, but now I am not so sure. I have a 16 ft. Deep Vee Aluminum Boat with a 40 HP O/B Motor. I think that the Minn Kota Maxum 55 LB Thrust (12V) would be plenty for my boat. As a matter of fact, I think that the 70 LB Motor is overkill for my boat. I would be saving money all around as I would only have to buy one battery, and the onboard charging station will only need 2 bays instead of 3. What are your opinions on the matter? 24v 70lb Motor or the 12v 55 lb motor?

[Ben]

To my notion that way overkill.  That's all I run on my 20' Javeilin with a 225 on back and have no problems hauling butt in high with it.  I think a 50, no more than 60 would be more than plenty.

As for a 12/24, theu aree a cheap way to get bow mount TM.  Spend the extra bucks you will save by getting a smaller TM than the 70 and get the 24 volt digital or fully variable speed with mosfet control.  At middle speeds the run time on the batteries will be about twice that of a 12/24 motor.

[Skwerl]

For a 16' Aluminum I'd think the 55 lb would be more than enough. But I'd get a second trolling battery anyway in case you plan on running the troller all day long. I'm going to be adding a second trolling battery on my bote this season.

edited to add: Ben, I'd like to hear more details about the digital/ 24 volt models. Cost, advantages, specifics, etc. The trolling motor that came on my (new to me) 8 year old bote fried out on my 3rd trip out and I'll be replacing it very soon.

[Ben]

There is no cost advantage, they are not cheap.  http://www.motorguide.com/index.pl/digital

The advantage is how well they work, how much longer the batteries will run and being able to dial in the exact speed you want to go so you're working a bank with a spinner bait, you can set it and go, the only time you have to let up is if you hit a spot you want to make a number of cast to.  Constantaly Stopping and starting a TM can spook every fish in 50 feet.

Any of the fully variable speed motors are better than the 12/24.   MinnKota and MotorGuide make them.  When looking at TM's, if they have a set number of speeds they are not varialbe speed.

[Muddpuppy]

I have a 50 on my 16' alum and I do wish it was just a little larger some days. For the most part it more then does the trick, but a 55 or 60 might be better on rough windy days.

[Madhouse27]

I've always subscribed to the "go as big as you can afford" theory when it comes to trolling motors. In this case I'd probably go with the 24v 70 thrust choice. I tend to use my trolling motor as much to stay where I am, as to get where I'm going. As I'm learning aluminum boats are lighter and get moved around in the wind much more than fiberglass. A breeze that I could maintain position on speed 1 or 2 in my fiberglass requires 3 or 4 in my aluminum. The Skeeter I bought came with a Motorguide 43 12v trolling motor. After one windy day I couldn't wait to get my Minn Kota 65 24v from the other boat moved over to it. My boat is 17 feet, 40hp Yamaha just for reference. One other thing to do your homework on it the tm shaft length that will be best for your boat. The 52 inch that worked great on my other boat is a bit long for this one. I think a 48 inch would have been perfect.

[Skwerl]

Madhouse, what did you do with the 43 Motorguide you took off the skeeter?

[Madhouse27]

Sorry Skwerl I already said I'd give it to my brother in law. It may not work on his boat though. He's got a semi-v style aluminum so I really don't think there is enough room on that front deck cover to mount the thing.  If he can't use it I'll drop you a pm.

[Boo]

:-?I would definitely go with the 70lb thruster! I owned a Alum. Deep-V boat, 17 ft. These boats catch a lot of wind because they have a higher profile and are lighter. In my neck of the woods the wind is usually blowing at least 15mph most of the time and I used the motorguide  72lb thruster all the time.

[snowpawn]

i just upgraded from a 43# motorguide to a 70# minkota pd. haven't even finished hooking it up cuz the mount is different, and on my glass boat, it has to hang over the edge so i had to get a quick release mount to slide it back. the 43 just didn't get it done on a 16' bayliner. it was ok for still water if you're not in a hurry, but wind was tough, current killed me, and an electric only lake was a waste of time. i can't imagine wishing i had gotten a smaller motor, but i know i wish the boat came with a bigger one. i'd go with 24v if you can swing it. i bet you'll wish you had if you don't. you'll never wish you hadn't if you do... well not after you forget the sting of spending the extra $.