advice please on setting up

[CapeCod569]

Greetings,

     I am new and in need of some advice. I have inherited an old 12 ft craftsman aluminum boat...even water tight. It used to have a small outboard that we'd load on the back of my Dad's pickup and take to local ponds for day fishing (when I was a kid)... My Dad has passed on and it is time to try to resurrect it for myself and the visiting grandkids (I'm a 63 yr old teacher). I am lucky enough to be on a 200 acre pond that is great for fishing. The outboard is long gone and I'm wondering what you all think about an electric trolling motor. We have been limited to dock and kayak fishing. The grandkids (14 of them) are growing up ...getting to be tweens and all are comfortable on the water and confident swimmers. I'd like them to be able to take out the old boat, but not be limited to rowing. I'd like the same. With Dad gone, I have no idea how to go about this. As far as I have gotten in researching this is  that a 50 lb thrust motor and a good marine 12 volt might work. We would not be out on windy days. We would not be out for hours at a time. Any thoughts and feedback would be much appreciated. 

[Jig Man]

You might be surprised as to how long you can be out with a good battery.

 

You will need a battery with lots of reserve capacity (rc)  don't look at mca or cca.  The larger the number the longer it will last.  I would get no less than 180 rc.  Batteries come in series size.  Go for at least a 27 series, 29 or 31 would be better.  You will need a charger for the battery.  It needs to be recharged after every day's use.

[fishnkamp]

MY suggestion is to add two batteries probably group 27 or 30. The best choice is an AGM type battery. These will cost about $250 each, but these are your gas tank. Depending on how big your lake is, this setup will work well. I would look at a transom mount trolling motor around 30 # thrust but 55 # is better.  There is a Prowler line at Bass pro and there is the Minn Kota line. The Minn Kota Endura is a good unit. I assembled an electric only rig for fishing bir reservoirs.  In the picture you will see I have two of the 55 Enduras.  These can often be found for sale used cheaper.

For a charger just go to Walmart and get this charger, they work well and they charge lead acid and AGM batteries. One of the nicest thing about the AGM batteries is they are sealed and require no fluid level maintenance. Hech they can be mounter upside down or on their side, but I would not suggest it.

 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ship-N-Shore-SSC1000A-Automatic-Speed-Battery-Charger/21659513

 

Here is the boat I had been running.

 

[TimberTodd]

I use to run a 55# Minn Kota  on a 12' drift boat. It pushed that boat around with no problem.

[BrianSnat]

A 50 to 55 lb thrust motor will push a 12 ft jon boat around quite briskly. No need to go crazy  with expensive batteries.  I buy deep cycle marine batteries at BJs or Walmart.  They are  LT than $100 and they last me about 4-5 years.   I like to  have two on my boat just in case, because I don't have oars or a seat to row from should the battery die.  

Since your lake is relatively small, you can get away easily with one battery.  Unless you are trolling with it constantly, it should last for an entire day of fishing and if it does die, rowing back is no big deal.  If you will  be doing a lot of trolling then a 2nd battery might be a good idea.

Add a few Berkley or Cabelas rod holders and you will have a nice fishing machine.

 

[CapeCod569]

You are all very helpful. I was thinking 55 lb thrust as well. I have seen them on Craigslist, but hesitate to buy used when new isn't that bad and gives me a warranty. Speaking of warranty, I imagine that would just cover  the motor? (I am thinking of the props that I chipped up as a kid). I am leaning toward the 36" 55 lb thrust. My transom height is 19"...so is my thinking right? 

 

The battery charger looks good and is less expensive than the one I was looking at. I have no idea what mca means, but will look for the numbers that you say. I am hoping to start  with one  that weighs 50 lbs or so as that is about how much this grandmother can lug up the hill to the shed for charging. Then, if the battery use and time on pond warrant it, figure I will pick up a second battery.

 

I had been wondering if I was crazy to want to set up something to get out on the water asap. Now I feel better/excited about it. The weather here was so nice this weekend that I took out the kayak, but boat would be better.

 

I like the seat that you show, fishnkamp. It might allow my husband to join in the adventure. He is a stroke survivor and would need the back support to feel solid and balanced in the boat. Might I ask how it is secured to the bench?

 

Finally, I need to pick up new oars and reading up on it seem 7ft would be best. (48" between oarlocks) I like the idea of light aluminum oars ...which seem to have a wider blade (vs oak). As I don't plan on being out in any wind or whitecaps, wonder if you all think that this makes sense?

 

Thanks again for all of your info. Very Helpful!

[fishnkamp]

First how far a run is it between the boat and your shed?  You might consider either running a long extension cord down to the boat or having an electrician run an A/C outlet somewhere down towards the boat.  It is much easier to have to just hook a charger to the battery, and plug it in, then carting the batteries. If you go the electrician route, have him put a pole in down there, along with a light you would have an outlet there.  Something like this from Home Depot. That style light Home Depot sells for $40 plus a pole.  Just an idea.

As for the seats, those came from Cabelas.  My rear bench had a mount built in by the factory. However there are clamp on swivel mounts that you can get. Our seats were installed on the factory stuff, but here is an example of a seat and clamp on swivel bracket combo. The high back seats are more comfortable to me.They come in different colors.