Trolling motor help

[FishOn!GetTheNet]

I'm trying to decide on what trolling motor im going to use I just bought a 78 ranger 350v it came with to trolling motors.a minn Kota edge 45 lb newer  and then a minn Kota all terrain 65 lb older with a broken steering cable.the previous owner had the 65 on it broke the cable got a new cable then changed his mind and bought the 45.he gave me both I fixed the cable but the steering is tighter than the new one.not sure what I should do.anyone have similar boat how much thrust do i need I know more is better but at the cost of ease of use and battery consumption 

[fishnkamp]

Part of my answer will depend on your answer to my question. What type of water do you fish? Do you intend to fish rivers, small to medium sized lakes with minimum current or big fast windy bodies of water. See I have a 17.5 foot long aluminum Lowe bass boat with a 1000 pound hull. This is my 11th boat, which also included a 20 foot fiberglass with a 200 on it.  I run a 24 volt 70 pound thrust trolling motor because I fish the Chesapeake Bay, Potomac river, and big lakes like Dale Hollow and Center hill or Lake Gaston and Lake Anna (in VA and NC).  I need that power often.  If you think you may need that power I would sell the Edge and look at a straight 24 volt trolling motor. Now there is some good news here. Because of the huge popularity of these new "electric steer" trolling motors there is a big dump of  good reliable used trolling motors all of the sudden. It is easy to find a very nice used 24 volt Maxxum or Fortrex ( 70 or 80 pound models) being sold for a reasonable cost. Many of the dealers are sitting on trade ins they would rather make a good deal to get rid of.

 

By the way, just for comparison I mentioned I have a 1000 pound hull that is heavily weighed down with a ton of stuff on it. Your hull weighs 1050 dry.  That means no engine no gas no equipment, for all intensive purposes you will be heavier than me because I have a 75 hp outboard and I bet you  have something over 100 hp. 

[FishOn!GetTheNet]

Yep 150 hp tank of a motor and lots of gear. I'll mostly be on smaller lakes/ponds but I do go to okoboji often as well it can get rough on windy days so do you think the 65lb is not enough either I'm planning on getting a new one next year with spotlock so I'm just trying to figure out what to do this summer thanks 

[fishnkamp]

I just looked that motor up and it is supposed to be a 24 volt 65 pound thrust motor. That is what I would use. 

What I would do is see if you have a local Minn Kota repair guy and let him do some adjustment/repairs to make it work better for you. Sometimes there are some internal adjustments or ones on the bottom of the pedal. If you do not have a guy near you give MK a call and ask what you can do to make it work better. 

[Further North]

I had to look the boat up; its a 17', 10" long by 82" wide glass hull...

 

Where I fish, most people would go with an 80# thrust, 24 volt trolling motor. 

 

12 volt is going to run out of power by the end of a day on the water, unless you don't use it much.

[TOXIC]

I’ve never heard of anyone saying that they wished they had a smaller trolling motor but plenty say they wished it was bigger.  I had a 67lb thrust MG on my guide boat that was a 20ft glass rig.  It was 24 volt.  I upgraded to an 80lb thrust and it was well worth it.  My current 21ft Ranger has a 112lb fortrex and is 36 volt.  Normally your biggest consideration is if you have room for the extra battery.  I would hold off until you replace and get the highest thrust your battery situation will allow.  

[FishOn!GetTheNet]

Thanks the 65lb 24 volt is going on today and going to have to work for now I have 3 batteries in it now with a selector switch but I can put in 2 more if needed 

[TOXIC]

Just to be clear, a 24 volt will have 2 batteries dedicated to the tm and 1 battery dedicated to the big motor and all accessories.  They should never be wired all together.  If you have a selector for the 2 tm dedicated batteries hopefully it is on the foot of the tm and not in the boat wiring.  My 67lb thrust was a 12/24.  Most of the new motors will not have that option.  They are straight 24 volt only.  

[Smalliefan2]

I agree with Toxic. Get the highest thrust you can have. If you are limited to two 12v batteries because of space, like my Ranger 175, get an 80lb. thrust. I ran at 80 to 100% in two tournaments on the Tennessee river in the last two weekends, in the current to fish cover or an eddy. That was just to hold my boat in position.

[Further North]

1 hour ago, Smalliefan2 said:

I agree with Toxic. Get the highest thrust you can have. If you are limited to two 12v batteries because of space, like my Ranger 175, get an 80lb. thrust. I ran at 80 to 100% in two tournaments on the Tennessee river in the last two weekends, in the current to fish cover or an eddy. That was just to hold my boat in position.

That's it, right there.

 

...I run a 112# thrust, 36 volt system in an 18 1/2 foot aluminum hull.

 

No way I'd ever go back to 80#, 24 volt...but I have the room...and the budget.

[Shimano_1]

I'd maybe check the shaft bearings on the 65lb. My tour 109 was hard to steer til I had those bearings replaced. One was completely seized up. Cost 70 bucks to have a shop do it. May help the steering on it. I would suggest always goin with the most thrust u can afford. Never heard anyone say they wish they had less trolling power. Good luck!