You need a new bow mount motor!

[Bigchunk]

Ok so if you have a 16' aluminum flat bottom boat, and need a new bow mount trolling motor, do you wait for a good sale, buy used, or what ?!? This will be my first non knee knocker of my own, thanks !

[slonezp]

universalmania.com

[Bigchunk]

10 minutes ago, slonezp said:

universalmaniaDOTcom

Thank you! Ok so it's just a basic rig, 35 mercy on it, what would you recommend for thrust ? 55 or 70 ? 

[riverbasser]

I happen to have a 42lb thrust I want to get rid of. Idk what the shipping would be like but if your interested let me know. Should push that tin boat easily

[Gundog]

1 hour ago, Bigchunk said:

Ok so if you have a 16' aluminum flat bottom boat, and need a new bow mount trolling motor, do you wait for a good sale, buy used, or what ?!? This will be my first non knee knocker of my own, thanks !

You need to answer a few questions to find out how much thrust you need. Do you fish mostly by yourself or with a partner? Do you carry a ton of gear with you (like me) or are you just gonna bring the bare minimum? Do you expect to fish in rough weather and strong wind? Are you the type of person that expects to fish mostly by running the TM or are you moving from spot to spot with the outboard? Are you going to be fishing rivers?  

45 minutes ago, Bigchunk said:

Thank you! Ok so it's just a basic rig, 35 mercy on it, what would you recommend for thrust ? 55 or 70 ? 

 

[EvanT123]

3 hours ago, Bigchunk said:

Ok so if you have a 16' aluminum flat bottom boat, and need a new bow mount trolling motor, do you wait for a good sale, buy used, or what ?!? This will be my first non knee knocker of my own, thanks !

That's up to you and your budget and patience. Me; I would buy on sale or used. I did the later a minn kota edge 45 basically brand new for two bills. 

Remanufactured are about the same.

 http://www.boatersmarinesupply.com/m7/50838--minn-kota-edge-45-latch-door-foot-control-12v-45lb-36-remanufactured.html?gclid=CJOV2-HF5tACFUmHswodg_gCWQ

more power in a tm is always better but this model has served me well on the river. 

[Hez]

3 hours ago, EvanT123 said:

That's up to you and your budget and patience. Me; I would buy on sale or used. I did the later a minn kota edge 45 basically brand new for two bills. 

Remanufactured are about the same.

 http://www.boatersmarinesupply.com/m7/50838--minn-kota-edge-45-latch-door-foot-control-12v-45lb-36-remanufactured.html?gclid=CJOV2-HF5tACFUmHswodg_gCWQ

more power in a tm is always better but this model has served me well on the river. 

It may be an optical illusion...but where are your blades on that TM?

[slonezp]

10 hours ago, Bigchunk said:

Thank you! Ok so it's just a basic rig, 35 mercy on it, what would you recommend for thrust ? 55 or 70 ? 

You can never have too much power. If you jump from 55 to 70 you are also jumping from 12v to 24v which means an extra battery which will add weight and take up space. Is that an issue? I used to own a 17ft v hull and 70 was plenty of power. If you find yourself fighting current and wind a lot, the 70 would be my choice. If not, it's a toss up

[Fishes in trees]

If you can swing the 36 Volt Fortrex 101 (or the Motor Guide equivalent) get that.   There isn' any substitute for trolling motor power.  Compromise, and go for the lower power motor and the first time you get blown around by the wind it will bug you and it will continue to bug you as long as you own the boat.   Back in 2002 when I purchased my current boat, I bought the highest power trolling motor that you fit in my boat.  It was at a boat show, and it took some convincing from the boat dealer and the trolling motor rep that with a 36 volt 101 trolling motor, the 4th battery (which was absolutely necessary) absolutely would not fit in the compartment.

If yo jump to 24 volt, there is a weight difference, but IMO it isn't significant.  While you're at it, go with the on board charger, which makes long term battery maintenance and overnight charging MUCH easier.  JMO

[A-Jay]

5 hours ago, Hez said:

It may be an optical illusion...but where are your blades on that TM?

There are none ~

The unit lacks a little in the way of thrust but it's very quiet & wicked weedless . . .

A-Jay

[Ohio Archer]

6 hours ago, Hez said:

It may be an optical illusion...but where are your blades on that TM?

It's a new MK prototype. Has a catapillar drive like "Red October". Fish can't hear it. Unfortunately, it uses the same battery packs that come in a Tesla. 

[BradGinKC]

13 hours ago, Bigchunk said:

do you wait for a good sale, buy used, or what ?!?

If you're not in a hurry, you can find some really good deals on used motors. I bought a used motorguide 43lb bow mount tm for $100 on craigslist last month. It has a few scrapes and scuffs from being used, but it works great on my 14ft aluminum boat and was a lot cheaper than even a reconditioned unit. I saw several other motors posted in that price range while I was shopping, so the deals are out there.  There's definitely some risk buying anything used on CL, so bring a battery when you go look at it so you can hook it up and make sure everything works. And it's not cheap to ship these things so try to find something within driving distance. Good luck!

[WIGuide]

As with any tm, I recommending figuring how many batteries you can fit and run the max thrust you can buy for said voltage. If you can only fit 1 in there, that'd put you in the 55 lb thrust area. If you can fit two and can afford the charger and motor upgrades go for something in the 80's. Either way unless your rig is brand new, I'd be going for a used motor. Take you time and wait for the right one. There's a ton of people switching motor these days to go to electric steer so if you keep your eyes open on CL you can find a decent motor to buy a lot cheaper than new. I used to run an 82 lb thrust on a little 15'10" bass boat and I never second guessed my decision to do so. There were plenty of times I fished in wind that everyone else was coming in from because they couldn't control the boat. I'd just turn up the speed a bit and keep doing my thing. My time on the water is too valuable to lose just because the wind picked up a few miles per hour. 

[Robeng]

I have a 16ft aluminum that I load up.  I have the MotorGuide 55 lb thrust.  Cable control with foot pedal.  Works great except in strong winds.  I also use a windsock at times.

[Further North]

On 12/8/2016 at 10:23 PM, Bigchunk said:

Thank you! Ok so it's just a basic rig, 35 mercy on it, what would you recommend for thrust ? 55 or 70 ? 

70, every time.  Or more.  Can't have too much thrust.

7 hours ago, Robeng said:

I have the MotorGuide 55 lb thrust.  Cable control with foot pedal.  Works great except in strong winds

See above.  Can't have too much.

On 12/9/2016 at 11:23 AM, Ohio Archer said:

It's a new MK prototype. Has a catapillar drive like "Red October". Fish can't hear it. Unfortunately, it uses the same battery packs that come in a Tesla. 

Hey...what's a little fire among good friends?

[Further North]

On 12/12/2016 at 11:14 AM, WIGuide said:

As with any tm, I recommending figuring how many batteries you can fit and run the max thrust you can buy for said voltage. If you can only fit 1 in there, that'd put you in the 55 lb thrust area. If you can fit two and can afford the charger and motor upgrades go for something in the 80's. Either way unless your rig is brand new, I'd be going for a used motor. Take you time and wait for the right one. There's a ton of people switching motor these days to go to electric steer so if you keep your eyes open on CL you can find a decent motor to buy a lot cheaper than new. I used to run an 82 lb thrust on a little 15'10" bass boat and I never second guessed my decision to do so. There were plenty of times I fished in wind that everyone else was coming in from because they couldn't control the boat. I'd just turn up the speed a bit and keep doing my thing. My time on the water is too valuable to lose just because the wind picked up a few miles per hour. 

Really well said.

Here's my bet: with new versions of the Terrova, Ulterra hitting the market, and the new Ultrex on the market...there's going to be a ton of used Terrovas and Ulterras on the market between now and summer.  Stalk Craigslist, maybe E-Bay...move fast when what you want comes up for a good price.

I just bought a new Ulterra last spring...I will not be one of the Gomers selling this year (it works just fine and the improvements are not worth taking a beating for)...but you know how a lot of fishermen are...gotta have the newest/best.  Take advantage of that.

[Kris2016]

I run a 1973 Ouachita flat bottom, 16 foot in local reservoirs here in Maryland and Pennsylvania.  I am running Minn Kota at both ends and couldn't be happier at this point.  On the stern I run an MK Traxxis 70, 24 volt transom mount.  On the bow is a Minn Kota Edge, foot control, 12 volt, 55 lb thrust.  I use the transom mount to move from place to place and the bow mount to move around the place.  Battery power provided by Trojan SCS-225 batteries.  Hoping this year to change things around on the stern and maybe run two Traxxis 70s.  The bow mount now runs on two Trojans in parallel so it has the 12 volts and a lot of staying power.  I have not had a complaint with this setup since I completed it in the Spring of 2016.  If you are going to be fishing in tidal water, always windy or someplace with a lot of current to deal with. go as big as you can afford.  I that case I would say a minimum of a 24 volt TM.