Best trolling motor location and battery question for 14 foot V boat

[Robert Batista]

Hi,

Just picked up my first boat yesterday. It's a 14 foot aluminum  1966 Starcraft. I'll be using it to fish with my 12 and 7 year old in Harriman state park, NY. 

 

Boat came with a front and rear deck, two swivel fishing chairs, a fish finder, and bilge. The previous owner mounted the fish finder to the front deck (see pic)and ran the wires via PVC conduit pipe to a small battery in compartment under the rear deck (see pic). 

 

I told him I would likely put a small electric trolling motor on the boat. He recommended I mount it to the bow and utilize the 4 prong connection he installed next to the fish finder.

 

My Questions:

1) Is there a reason I wouldn't mount the electric trolling motor to the back of the boat? This seems more intuitive to me...as a newbie. I would just put another battery (12V marine) in the compartment to power the trolling motor.

 

2) If I did utilize the 4 prong connection on the bow, would I need to fish another power line back through the conduit to a second battery? or would I just upgrade the battery he had there (in pic). 

 

Just starting out and have been really inspired by all the build potentials. At the moment, I'm just trying to get the fundamentals down. 

 

Thanks in advance for any replies

 

[slonezp]

What is the weight limit on the boat. It will tell you on the coast guard placard. You need to know this to determine whos all going on the boat and how much weight you can add

[Robert Batista]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

What is the weight limit on the boat. It will tell you on the coast guard placard. You need to know this to determine whos all going on the boat and how much weight you can add

It has a 650lb weight capacity so fine for myself and kids.  Any insights regarding trolling motor?

[slonezp]

Wherever you feel most comfortable. That being said, it you mount it on the transom, you will always have your eyes on the kids. Might be the right choice. You can but a battery box and connect the trolling motor to the battery with alligator clips. A more permanent mount would include a circuit breaker and ring connectors.

[IndianaOutdoors]

I think you would do best sitting in the back so you can watch the kids.  Throw a tiller trolling motor on the back. Move the fish finder back there and connect em to the same battery. Looks like you'd need to wire up the bilge pump too.  You could reverse the wiring, put the battery up front and the plug in the back. This would help keep some won't up front.  Just make sure the kids stay safe.  Life jackets are a must.

[Robert Batista]

You guys had me at "Keeping eyes on the kids". Thanks for the quick responses.  I'll run two batteries for  now and reverse the wiring for next season.  

[Further North]

"Keeping eyes on the kids" is the most important thing you'll be doing until the kids are older.

 

...that said, pulling a boat with a trolling motor is infinitely better than pushing it.  A transom mount will have you spending 3x the time on boat control and that much less time fishing...To illustrate this, cut an 18" piece of string, lay it on your table, place your finger on one end and use it to pull the string around....now do the same...but try to push the string from the back end...it's a Cap'n Obvious thing...but it gets the message across fast.

 

But with a 12 year old and 7 year old on board, we're kidding ourselves if we think you're gonna be doing any fishing...

 

Here's the deal: when the lids get older...or you run out of patience...take the screw that holds the head of the trolling motor out, rotate the head 180° and put the screw back in...it'll be backwards to the lower unit and can now be mounted at the bow.

[Robert Batista]

On 9/13/2017 at 9:44 PM, Further North said:

"Keeping eyes on the kids" is the most important thing you'll be doing until the kids are older.

 

...that said, pulling a boat with a trolling motor is infinitely better than pushing it.  A transom mount will have you spending 3x the time on boat control and that much less time fishing...To illustrate this, cut an 18" piece of string, lay it on your table, place your finger on one end and use it to pull the string around....now do the same...but try to push the string from the back end...it's a Cap'n Obvious thing...but it gets the message across fast.

 

But with a 12 year old and 7 year old on board, we're kidding ourselves if we think you're gonna be doing any fishing...

 

Here's the deal: when the lids get older...or you run out of patience...take the screw that holds the head of the trolling motor out, rotate the head 180° and put the screw back in...it'll be backwards to the lower unit and can now be mounted at the bow.

Thanks for this great post! I'll rough it pushing vs pulling till the kids are a bit older.

[WRB]

You need to lower the seat pedistals so your feet reach the boats floor boards, center of gravity is above the original boat seat plate forms the pedistals are mount on.

Most bass anglers fish from the front seat, if you plan to fish from the back seat move the sonar unit back where you can watch it and the kids.

Tom

[Bass Turd]

You will want to put the trolling motor on a different battery than the fish finder. The trolling motor causes all kinds of interference with the sonar.

[Further North]

3 hours ago, Robert Batista said:

I'll rough it pushing vs pulling till the kids are a bit older.

That's what I'd do.