Starting to look at trolling motors

[Shamster]

I want to put a trolling motor on my boat once I have the cash, but I don't have the slightest clue what to be looking for. Can someone give me a rough idea of what kind I should be looking at for my boat?  Bow mount?  How much thrust? etc.

The boat is a 1975 wellcraft Airslot 165. Its a tri-hull design. This is the best picture I have at the moment to give an idea of hull design:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Is bow mount an option for this? What are the advantages of having a trolling motor bow mounted vs transom mounted? I don't think there is even room on the transom at the moment to fit a trolling motor.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Grey Wolf]

You might consider building a front deck for your bow mounted trolling motor then get yourself a 55# thrust motor.

[Shamster]

You might consider building a front deck for your bow mounted trolling motor then get yourself a 55# thrust motor.

I've restored this boat from the ground up! Just finished replacing the ENTIRE deck and transom.  Its very likely that at some point this fall/winter(once my finances recover from the restore) That I will build a removable front casting deck. I have bow cushions that I just had recovered, but I think this winter I'm going to get some wood and build a deck that fits over the front section and I can swap between the cushions/deck when taking it out skiing etc.

The deck should be pretty simple really, get a nice template made and some exterior ply and I'll be well on my way.

[Goose52]

Nice boat...

You probably want the most thrust you can afford. A bow-mounted, foot-controlled TM is the way to go. You have a lot better control of the boat by pulling it, than pushing it. Also, consider the digital TMs - these give much better run-time than the 5-speed designs, and give more speed options than just having 5-speeds.

[cart7t]

I RARELY ever suggest the power drive style TM's due to their inadequacies when it comes to bass fishing but due to the layout of your boat I'd have to say one of those, with at least 55lb's thrust, though 74 would be better, is the best bet for you. You can get a removable mount for them and they come with remote control.

Note: I am in no way suggesting that anyone should purchase any power drive motor. They Sux big time and are a poor alternative to a good TM, a cable drive.

[Shamster]

I RARELY ever suggest the power drive style TM's due to their inadequacies when it comes to bass fishing but due to the layout of your boat I'd have to say one of those, with at least 55lb's thrust, though 74 would be better, is the best bet for you. You can get a removable mount for them and they come with remote control.

Note: I am in no way suggesting that anyone should purchase any power drive motor. They Sux big time and are a poor alternative to a good TM, a cable drive.

When you say power drive style, what are you referring to?  The ones that mount on the outboard itself?

[cart7t]

I RARELY ever suggest the power drive style TM's due to their inadequacies when it comes to bass fishing but due to the layout of your boat I'd have to say one of those, with at least 55lb's thrust, though 74 would be better, is the best bet for you. You can get a removable mount for them and they come with remote control.

Note: I am in no way suggesting that anyone should purchase any power drive motor. They Sux big time and are a poor alternative to a good TM, a cable drive.

When you say power drive style, what are you referring to? The ones that mount on the outboard itself?

I'm referring to the Minn Kota line, the Terrova is one model. Often with auto pilot and gps steering. There is no solid steering cable linked from the foot pedal to the actual TM like in a cable drive trolling motor. Instead, steering is handled within the head unit of the TM itself. They take up less of a footprint on the bow deck itself and like I mentioned, there are a couple different removable mounts available for them that let you take the TM off completely if you wanted to use the boat for pleasure purposes. Many of the Power drive type TM's have a remote control unit that allows you to control the TM from any position in the boat. The foot control is also flat and has a rather long, thin electrical cable that controls the boat. That can also be positioned anywhere in the boat to achieve TM control,.

[Long Mike]

Glen, could you please explain what personal experience(s) you have with the remote controlled models that lead you to say that they suck?

[Wayne P.]

I'll help you out Cart7t on this subject, the electric steer models are OK for trolling or open water manuvering. They are not suitable for precise boat control for bass fishing around surface cover especially docks and during windy conditions.

I get the opportunity to fish with many persons around the country and I've spent many days operating those clumbsy motors on other persons boats and no way would I buy one for bass fishing.

I agree with you on the footprint of that type motor for that particular boat though. Actually a better application for that boat would be a bow mount hand contolled motor with the pontoon mount (Motor Guide FW V55 HP or FW V75HP)

[Long Mike]

Wayne, with all due respect to you and Glen, I disagree with you.  As I've said before, for you guys who have been using cable steer for umpteen years, the foot pedal is an extension of your body and steering is almost automatic, so any improvement in technology would be completely alien to you. 

For those of us who are relatively new to the sport, innovations such as the Minn Kota i-Pilot are a revelation.  Steering is as instantaneous as the push of a button. Way-points are entered at the push of a button.  At the push of a button you can "anchor" the boat to within a five foot radius, regardless of wind or current. At the push of a button you can have the boat maintain a course in wind or current.  At the push of a button you can have the boat log a trail and then re-track it.

The following is an example of why I love this technology.  A couple of weeks ago my buddy and I were fishing the rip-rap alongside of a road and bridge that crossed the lake.  We were on the upwind side with the wind at 10-15 mph blowing into us..  Not surprisingly, I got hung up and lost my lure.  Since I had the boat on autopilot I was able to re-tie without ever having to look up to see if we were being washed into the rocks.  Try that with cable steer.

[K_Mac]

Nice boat...

You probably want the most thrust you can afford. A bow-mounted, foot-controlled TM is the way to go. You have a lot better control of the boat by pulling it, than pushing it. Also, consider the digital TMs - these give much better run-time than the 5-speed designs, and give more speed options than just having 5-speeds.

I agree with Goose on this. Your boat sits fairly high in the water, and will be more effected by wind than a traditional bass boat. Get as much thrust as you can afford, and make sure the shaft is plenty long-to go at least 12" below the surface when fully lowered. The digital units are far more energy efficient.

I am in the cable steer camp. I have owned a powered steer unit, and tried several others. I did not like any of them. Since you do not have a traditional deck, a remote unit like Long Mike's may be a better option for you. It is worth taking a look at-on the water if possible. One of these days I'm going to drive over to Mike's house and go fishing with him to see how his works. It's probably no more than 500-600 miles. ;D Good luck.

[Long Mike]

Let's go, K-Mac!  I'll meet you half-way.  You name the lake.

[K_Mac]

Let's go, K-Mac! I'll meet you half-way. You name the lake.

I'll be in touch. 8-)

[CPT Scrap]

agree against the power drive, however you also gotta be careful with the cable drives. my motorguide (Freshwater 70 foot control) breaks the cable about once a year. Its not hard to replace, but its a pain when your on the lake and suddenly you have no feedback from the foot controller.

I recommend a tour series, if your leaning towards a motorguide. they have a two cables for their drive system, and never heard of anyone breaking those cables.

[Tpayneful]

It is a Ford / Chevy thing but having used both motors, I recommend a Minnkota because I like the foot pedal better and the composite shaft takes more of a beating than the stainless steel shaft of the Motorguide.  If you do break one, replacement shafts are less than $20. 

My first bow mounted trolling motor was an old cable steer motorguide.  I replaced it with a Minnkota Powerdrive.  I shortened the cable, shortened the shaft and ran the depthfinder cable through the shaft and mounted the transducer on the bottom of the motor.  I fished the boat everywhere.  I fished the stump fields of Stick Marsh in wind and survived. 

The power drive motors are slower to turn but bass fishing isn't racing at Infinion Raceway road course.  Anticipate where you are going and you will be fine 99% of the time.

I would really have liked to have one with an i-pilot.  I can see where that would be really nice to have!

My new boat has a Minnkota Maxxum 70.  It is cable steer and a really good motor.  It is a digital pulse motor and it runs all day on two batteries in the wind.  My partners Edge 70 will not with the same batteries. 

So my recommendation is to buy a Minnkota digital motor.  I think you will be fine with either a Power drive or cable steer.  Good luck and enjoy your trolling motor choice!