BurrStone Posted January 15, 2020 Posted January 15, 2020 Thinking of getting a boat and have my eyes on a new Ranger RT178 w/60 hp Merc. The trolling motor is a minn kota edge 70 w/45# thrust, 12v. Will I end up wishing I had more trolling motor? Quote
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted January 15, 2020 Super User Posted January 15, 2020 3 hours ago, BurrStone said: Thinking of getting a boat and have my eyes on a new Ranger RT178 w/60 hp Merc. The trolling motor is a minn kota edge 70 w/45# thrust, 12v. Will I end up wishing I had more trolling motor? You always will until you buy the biggest available lol I just bought a boat and got to pick my TM and went with 80 lb, wish I would have went with the 112 lb after just a few trips. The only reason I didn't, was I would be going up to 36v, but if it would have just been a little extra to go up to the 112 and stay with a 24v I would have. Of course it is a little more complicated than that when it comes to shaft length, model etc. 1 Quote
RichF Posted January 15, 2020 Posted January 15, 2020 You definitely will. If you can swing a 24v 70lb thrust motor, you'll be glad you did. I've been running a 46lb thrust motor guide on my tracker pro team 170 for years and it ticks me off when the wind picks up. If I had room in the battery compartment, I would've put a 70 on it a long time ago. 3 Quote
BurrStone Posted January 15, 2020 Author Posted January 15, 2020 Thanks for the responses. I'm going to see if I can do a swap out w/the dealer before delivery ... if I proceed. 1 Quote
Alex from GA Posted January 15, 2020 Posted January 15, 2020 If you don't want to go to a 24 volt model MinnKota has a 55 lb 12 volt Edge. I'm using a 45 on my 16' Grumman Renegade and it's plenty in the lakes even in the wind. It'll go 2.5 mph. In the rivers it's just OK, it could be larger. 1 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 Under rigging boats is a classic Johnny Morris sales tactic to keep pricing low. 1 Quote
Super User Angry John Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 A 12v trawling motor is for a kayak or 10' jon boat. When i was tournament fishing all day, we watched people kill 12v cells after only a few hours. 24V is way more powerful, has much longer run time and the motorcontrolers are better not wasting power. I would say its more important than a big motor because its in use most of the time unless you fish big waters. In smaller lakes in CT we never even started the big motor, and in some lakes gas motors are not allowed. I dont know what your situation is, but if it was me i would pick the best TM you can afford. Do you want spot lock?? Fishing in the wind and want to land a fish, spot lock is sooooo nice. Drilling more holes in the boat when you upgrade sucks if the motors are a lot different in the mounting configuration. If you can work it, have them leave off the Junk sonar that is part of the package. I would finance a top of the line TM but not a sonar unit. Good Sonars can be had for a couple hundred, not so with a good TM. 2 Quote
Super User GreenPig Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 I upgraded from a 40 lb to a 80 lb on my 14 x 48 jon. The days of the wind forcing me to hide in a cove or leave are done. Having it and not needing it is better than needing it and not having it. 1 Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 16 hours ago, RichF said: You definitely will. If you can swing a 24v 70lb thrust motor, you'll be glad you did. I've been running a 46lb thrust motor guide on my tracker pro team 170 for years and it ticks me off when the wind picks up. If I had room in the battery compartment, I would've put a 70 on it a long time ago. This is my thinking also with my Tracker! I am thinking of taking the gas tank out of there and putting a smaller one in to make room for another battery. My boat only has a 9.9 on it so I really don't need the 18 gallon tank in my boat! Quote
Super User Log Catcher Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 I won't comment on which TM to go with. You will need to find out if the wiring needs to be a bigger size to handle the load of a larger trolling motor. Quote
Super User Fishes in trees Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 You might/maybe probably/ ned to re-wire for a 24 volt trolling motor and I'd do it. On second thought, I can't see Ranger marketing a new boat and the wiring not being able to accommodate a 24 volt trolling motor. That boat will be kinda heavy for its size, as aluminum boats go. If it is at all possible, go with a 36 volt system, you won't regret it. Buy right - cry once . . . buy wrong, cry many times. 1 Quote
Super User FryDog62 Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 In reality, I use my gas motor 10% of the time and 90% TM. I always max it the trolling motor and have never felt like overkill. Two batteries will last you all day where one may not only lack power but tap out prematurely... 1 Quote
BassNJake Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 I run a 101 Maxxum on my 16 foot crestliner and never wished for something smaller Quote
Super User Scott F Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 You might not be happy with the higher power if, you get the least expensive 24 volt motor that only has a 5 speed selector. On those, the lowest speed setting might be too fast to let you go slow enough. Be sure to get a motor with variable speed control. Quote
RichF Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 3 hours ago, FishinBuck07 said: This is my thinking also with my Tracker! I am thinking of taking the gas tank out of there and putting a smaller one in to make room for another battery. My boat only has a 9.9 on it so I really don't need the 18 gallon tank in my boat! That sounds like a good plan. I got the 50 on mine so I need the fuel. I have to replace my front deck so I may try to reconfigure some space up there for 2 batteries. I would lose storage space but it might be worth it. Quote
FishinBuck07 Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 2 minutes ago, RichF said: That sounds like a good plan. I got the 50 on mine so I need the fuel. I have to replace my front deck so I may try to reconfigure some space up there for 2 batteries. I would lose storage space but it might be worth it. I was also thinking that too. Like the rod locker space, most of my rods are too long for it anyways so it doesn't really get used, plus that would center the weight in the boat from the batteries. Haven't quite decided which I want to do probably the smaller tank on mine, think the batteries up front would be too much weight for the 9.9 to get up on plane! Quote
RichF Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 2 minutes ago, FishinBuck07 said: I was also thinking that too. Like the rod locker space, most of my rods are too long for it anyways so it doesn't really get used, plus that would center the weight in the boat from the batteries. Haven't quite decided which I want to do probably the smaller tank on mine, think the batteries up front would be too much weight for the 9.9 to get up on plane! Might actually help get you on plane with all the weight up front! But man, a 70lb thrust TM on that boat would be awesome. My buddy had one on his old 175. You never had to run it above a 2 which made the batteries last forever. Quote
Vilas15 Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 15 hours ago, GreenPig said: Having it and not needing it is better than needing it and not having it. You could say the same about the money it costs to upgrade depending on your financial situation. 1 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 16, 2020 Super User Posted January 16, 2020 22 hours ago, BurrStone said: Thinking of getting a boat and have my eyes on a new Ranger RT178 w/60 hp Merc. The trolling motor is a minn kota edge 70 w/45# thrust, 12v. Will I end up wishing I had more trolling motor? Burrstone, I have that boat. Mine's a 2015 Ranger RT178. They initially wanted to put that Edge on there but I paid extra to have them put in a Maxxum instead with more thrust (24 volts). Also, I would upgrade to the 75 hp outboard. That is the max hp rating for that boat. Don't under power yourself on the back end either. Quote
BurrStone Posted January 17, 2020 Author Posted January 17, 2020 Final disposition is a 70 lb 24v TM, 60 hp outboard. Can't get more than that with all the negotiating I did up to now ... and not with the dealer, either. ? Quote
Shimano_1 Posted January 18, 2020 Posted January 18, 2020 Good decision. 45 lb isnt nearly enough for that boat Quote
Goldstar225 Posted January 19, 2020 Posted January 19, 2020 On 1/17/2020 at 12:42 PM, BurrStone said: Final disposition is a 70 lb 24v TM, 60 hp outboard. Can't get more than that with all the negotiating I did up to now ... and not with the dealer, either. ? I think you'll be pleased with that 70# TM. If it's the Minn Kota, get the digital maximizer version. You'll have much longer run time and infinitely variable speed control. Quote
OnthePotomac Posted January 25, 2020 Posted January 25, 2020 Well, I will be different. On my Pro 175 with a 12V 43lb MG I upgraded to a 55lb digital variable speed 12V MG and a size 27 battery. Fishing the Tidal Potomac with river current, tide flow and wind and I do not need anything more to control the boat and stand on the TM all day. Summer is grass beds and that thing with the blade grinds right through it until I get to the stuff I can walk on LOL. 5-6 hours on the water and end of the day lots of battery left. Quote
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