Outboard Restrictions

[2tall79]

I'm going to be moving soon to an area that is dotted with lakes that have public access but do not allow internal combustion engines. Can any body show me a rig they use in this situation?  I'm 75 YO so kayaks aren't an option. The lakes I'm most interested in do have concrete or gravel ramps.
Also, The house we rented is a member of an HOA that doesn't allow boats to be parked in the driveway and my Ranger won't fit in the garage. So whatever I come up with will probably become my primary bass fishing machine.
Thanks for any ideas.

BTW.........Our state record LM came out of one of these lakes a few years ago.

[Junger]

A 16’ bass tracker with an epropulsion electric motor would do you right. Bigger AH lifepo4 batteries are more affordable and lightweight.

[looking45]

Were you aware of these regulation and restrictions before you moved in?  I fish a couple of no gas engine lakes also and im allowed to use my boat as long as the big motor is trimmed Out of the the water. I talked to the warden and he said I could start the big engine long enough to put the boat back on the trailer. You might want to ask the appropriate person is this is allowed at your lake. 

[padlin]

Something along the lines of a Pelican Bass Raider w/trolling motor. Small so they are manageable, sturdy so you can easily stand, fairly light @ about 100 lbs.

 

Trolling motors are pretty slow, limits your range. Lithium batteries are light enough to move at about 30 lbs for a full size, about half a flooded.

[casts_by_fly]

Search for a ‘reservoir boat’. It’s a common thing for Georgia and Maryland for sure. Maybe others. Basically the same

rules you describe.  Any horsepower restrictions or just electric only?
 

in effect, how big and how much?  What level of refinement?  As noted, a smaller tiller aluminum with an epropulsion motor is a ready made solution. You could do the same with two transom mount trolling motors. If you’re not horsepower restricted then you could get into a 50 hp Elco.  
 

there are decent numbers of reservoir boats for sale on marketplace in the right areas. 

[MediumMouthBass]

Nucanoe kayak with an electric motor.

 

These are the boats of kayaks. Extremely wide, super stable, 360 degree swivel chair. Tons and tons of room on the deck. With no ramps this will be the best option as you can buy a kayak cart and just unload anywhere thats flat. Put the cart on the back of the kayak and strap it down until you leave.

And these kayaks arent hard to get in. The seat is very high, unlike most kayaks on the market.

 

Takes up very little room too.

 

Another option is a 10-14' Jon boat with a trolling motor.

[Darth-Baiter]

I kayak fish a couple of lakes w motor restrictions.  People launch full sized bass boats into them and just run the trolling motors.  
 

you have that option?

[gim]

Outboard restrictions here can vary. Lakes defined as electric only can still be used if there is an outboard, you just have to run around using the bow mount. It’s just that the outboard itself cannot be used. Even to load the boat. That must be done by hand with the crank.

[BrianMDTX]

@casts_by_fly Maryland for sure. I recall many moons ago seeing Jon boats on Loch Raven Reservoir with motors that used to be small gas outboards (up to 6 HP) that had the engine replaced with rewired washing machine motors hooked up to numerous deep-cycle batteries. They’d go pretty darned fast!

[2tall79]

"Internal Combustion Motors Prohibited Fishing
from a floating device with an internal combus-
tion motor attached is not allowed regardless of
whether the motor is in the water or not."

 

Statewide Regs

[casts_by_fly]

Then in that case vert to my prior questions. How big of a boat do you want and how much do you want to spend?  You say your ranger won’t fit the garage.  What will?  In my own case, it means a 16-17’ boat with a small motor. A tracker 175 txw with a 50hp elco electric and a good trolling motor would fish like any other bass boat. A used txw plus an elco would run you $15-20k depending on age of the boat and if you sell the motor that’s on it. 

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Outboard restrictions here can vary. Lakes defined as electric only can still be used if there is an outboard, you just have to run around using the bow mount. It’s just that the outboard itself cannot be used. Even to load the boat. That must be done by hand with the crank.

that’s how the electric only lakes are around here, but there are other lakes in Maryland and Georgia where you can’t have it on the boat. Or if you have it, you have to take the prop off.  It’s annoying for sure but I get it for water supply reservoirs. 

[BigAngus752]

My closest lake is electric only.  Fortunately they allow gas engines on the boat as long as they aren't used.  My point to this topic, however, is that one of the guys that lives on this lake has a good-size jon boat with an all electric outboard in 6 or 7hp.  I swear you could ski behind it.  This guy flies down the lake leaving a full wake behind him.  I've talked to him and he loves it.  Unfortunately I won't see him again until spring or I'd get the make/model for you.  

[Hoosierman]

In your situation I'd use my Bass Pro Bass Tender 10.2' on my 4X8 trailer.

55# trolling motor.

 

Basstender 10.2.

Small enough to be carried in the bed of a full-size pickup, Basstender comes equipped with features found on larger fishing boats. It’s outfitted with twin padded swivel fishing chairs, an aerated live well and navigation lights for nighttime outings. It also features a battery compartment, built-in 50-amp trolling motor plug and mounting platform, and rod and drink holder.

 

The Basstender is 55 inches wide and only 16.5 inches deep. It can take on up to 495 pounds of weight – three times the weight of the boat itself. Its trihedral hull provides a stable platform and enables the boat to plane quickly with a 7-hp outboard. Suggested retail price is $899.99.

 

[Hoosierman]

I put this on the front so I could drop the anchor from the back seat.

 

[Motoboss]

I fish several lakes with the electric only restriction.
 

https://www.meyersboat.com/sportspal/
 

Add a trolling motor of choice and a lithium battery and you’re good to go.

Mine is a 13’ square stern with a 55# thrust Newport trolling motor. Maybe in the future I might put a NK180 Pro 1.8hp motor on it. It’s rated for a 3hp motor.

 

[2tall79]

Thanks for all your suggestions.....much appreciated. I believe I'm going to order a Tracker Classic XL without the OB. I think it would be easier for my wife or son to sell after I kick. My question is.....if I put a 36V trolling motor on the bow and run it off of a single 36V lithium battery, should I run the Helix 10 (just one), Live Well, lights, bilge pump etc., off that battery or should I have a second 12V lithium for those? If the latter, what charger. Thanks Again.

[casts_by_fly]

You’ll want a house battery for the fish finder. The helix draws about 2 amps. Unless you’re running pumps all day, that’s your biggest draw. For a 10 hour day that’s 20 amp hours needed. A 30 ah lithium should be enough for you. If you want to be safe, a 50 should be plenty. That said, amped has a good sale on an 80 right now that is as cheap as a 50.  The benefit of a 30 would be size. It’s a tiny battery. 

 

https://ampedoutdoors.com/products/copy-of-80ah-lithium-battery-lifepo4-none-bluetooth

I would reconsider going with a single 36v battery. That will require a 36v charger which ramps up the price. And they are expensive as anything. Three 60 ah 12v would be the same price at retail but you’ll find them on sale which you won’t find for a 36. And if you have a cell go bad you can replace one battery for a third of the price instead of a full 36v battery replacement. Something like an amped 60 is about 7” cubed and takes up no space. Heck, at that rate just get 4 of them and call it a day. Then you have swapability if you need. 
 

for chargers, noco genius is great. If you get 4x 12v then I’d get two 10ah two-bank chargers. 

 

[Motoboss]

 

You can buy an additional 36v  battery for back up or wire in series to give you 36v and 60ah or upgrade to a 40ah and call it good.

 

Typically using separate 12v batteries requires having all the same age and brand for the most efficiency. I would not replace on bad battery in a series configuration as you wouldn’t be able to balance them correctly. Usually if one goes bad you would replace all of them. Not a real savings at all considering the cost of better grade lithium batteries, but an option.
 

And yes to a separate battery for the electronics, expensive  but top shelf

[casts_by_fly]

47 minutes ago, Motoboss said:

 

You can buy an additional 36v  battery for back up or wire in series to give you 36v and 60ah or upgrade to a 40ah and call it good.

 

Typically using separate 12v batteries requires having all the same age and brand for the most efficiency. I would not replace on bad battery in a series configuration as you wouldn’t be able to balance them correctly. Usually if one goes bad you would replace all of them. Not a real savings at all considering the cost of better grade lithium batteries, but an option.
 

And yes to a separate battery for the electronics, expensive  but top shelf

with lead acid that’s definitely the case. With lithiums that have bms less so.

 

a spare 36v battery is $1200 to have a spare. If you have a spare $1200 handy then great. That’s the easy button. But if you go with a set of 12v and have an issue on the water, you can drop your electronics battery in place of the bad one and get home. If you have an outboard this level of redundancy is less important. But here, the trolling motor is the only propulsion on a boat you’re not going to paddle well. So either a full spare battery or some way to get you powered again is needed. 
 

if it were me, I wouldn’t go 36v on the front. Keep the front motor simple for just fishing purposes. Get a 24v for the front, save a little cash there. Then put a 24v on the transom. That will keep the load lighter on the front motor. It means both motors are on the same voltage. It means two separate propulsion options. Yes it’s an extra 12v worth of battery and another motor, but deleting the outboard will save more than that cost. 

[WRB]

Your boat without the OB needs a rear rudder with the bow TM to keep the boat tracking straight.

[Motoboss]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

with lead acid that’s definitely the case. With lithiums that have bms less so.

 

a spare 36v battery is $1200 to have a spare. If you have a spare $1200 handy then great. That’s the easy button. But if you go with a set of 12v and have an issue on the water, you can drop your electronics battery in place of the bad one and get home. If you have an outboard this level of redundancy is less important. But here, the trolling motor is the only propulsion on a boat you’re not going to paddle well. So either a full spare battery or some way to get you powered again is needed. 
 

if it were me, I wouldn’t go 36v on the front. Keep the front motor simple for just fishing purposes. Get a 24v for the front, save a little cash there. Then put a 24v on the transom. That will keep the load lighter on the front motor. It means both motors are on the same voltage. It means two separate propulsion options. Yes it’s an extra 12v worth of battery and another motor, but deleting the outboard will save more than that cost. 

I agree with the 24v options but 36v 50ah lithium can be had for $350 unless you just want to spend $1200 🤔

[LonnieP]

Will Tracker sell a Classic XL without an OB? I’d buy an extra wide Jon Boat with a livewell, put a 80lb 24 v trolling motor on the bow, a 55lb on the transom. That’s the way I had my 1448 set up for electric lakes before I bought my Tracker PT175.

[casts_by_fly]

5 hours ago, Motoboss said:

I agree with the 24v options but 36v 50ah lithium can be had for $350 unless you just want to spend $1200 🤔

I’d not seen one that cheap ever but the li time batteries on Amazon are listed at that. In that case, I’d probably do that and then add a 36 transom mount to go with it!

 

then again, if you’re going with litime batteries they have the 12v 50’s for $92 right now. I’d just get 4 of those (one for electronics) and you have a set. I’m tempted to buy four for myself right now. 

[Susky River Rat]

@WRB no he doesn’t. I ran my prop OB out of the water all the time and never had issues with tracking straight. (In PA almost all are lakes are 20hp or electric only.)Jets same deal there is nothing in the water guiding you. The second you or a passenger, dog etc move in the boat it’s going to take it off course anyway. 

[WRB]

You are welcome to your opinion mine is different. Without the boat stern with something to prevent weather vaning in a side wind it will turn into the wind. I made a rudder to resolve this problem.

Tom