Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

[freedom55]

Hi Folks.
I need some advice. I need a slowwwww trolling motor for a 8 foot boat that I have just finished building. All my fishing is for trout and a slow presentation seems to work best in my region.
I have a Minn Kota Endura 30 and even on my 14' Jon Boat it is 2 times too fast at it's slowest speed. I'm thinking it will even be faster on my 8' boat.
Old Town canoes recently quit production on a 30# thrust motor (Made by Minn Kota, I think) that has slower speed on the first two speeds of a 5 speed forward motor.
Both Minn Kota and Motorguide make a variable speed 40#motor, but I don't need 40#'s thrust plus additional weight. Would this variable speed run at a speed slower than my 30# Endura?
I like the idea of the added running time of Minn Kota's maximizer models and have toyed with the idea of purchasing a pulse modulator as an add on for my Endura 30. Could this give me a slower speed and extend run time.

Any advice on a setup to meet my needs would be greatly appreciated.

Tight Lines All!
Rick

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

just a thought wonder what would happen if you tried a 6 volt battery?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

6 volts might foil the electronics in the maximizer but on a standard troller that is certainly an option. You could also look for a prop for your existing motor that has less pitch than you currently use, or try drilling some holes in it to decrease it's efficiency.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

Watch e-bay for a Minnkota Maximizer. They sell fast because your problem is common with crappie fishermen.

 

[John_S]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

Maximizer is the best choice, but there are a couple of options you might try.

- Set the motor deeper, and then run at as large as angle as you can. With the thrust pushing toward the surface, it will slow your forward speed. This also provides a very protective position for your prop.

- Try trolling in Reverse 1. If this is the same rpm as forward 1, it will be slower.

- Might be able to combine the two, if the both are still too fast.

Some people use drift socks. I think they become more of a pain remembering to bring them in or fighting a large fish and keeping from tangling.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

Hi Folks.
I need some advice. I need a slowwwww trolling motor for a 8 foot boat that I have just finished building. All my fishing is for trout and a slow presentation seems to work best in my region.
I have a Minn Kota Endura 30 and even on my 14' Jon Boat it is 2 times too fast at it's slowest speed. I'm thinking it will even be faster on my 8' boat.
Old Town canoes recently quit production on a 30# thrust motor (Made by Minn Kota, I think) that has slower speed on the first two speeds of a 5 speed forward motor.

My variable speed Minn Kota #50 can crawl and run all day on a deep cell. Speed though can come from rpm, blade size, number of blades or blade pitch. On another thread fishrdan said

I've also seen people throw out a drift sock (trolling sock, sea anchor) to slow the boat for trolling,,, or even a 5 gallon bucket.

It all depends on your budget.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

I used to push a 7' tender with a MinnKota 15 which was only 3 speeds and 9# thrust. It got the job done in all but the windiest of weather. ( Still have it, and it still runs great btw! Seems to my you should be able to ebay up a nice used 15,17,20 or 24# thrust electric for around $50.
Another way to slow them down is to add a weed basket. (Plastic badmitten birdy looking thing that froms a cage around your prop). Added one of these to a 30# motor and it cut my speed in half!

I'd agree that a 36-40# maximizer equiped motor will give you the greatest flexability but note it's going to come at a $250+ price tag. All depends how much your willing to pay for reserve power I guess.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

Both Minn Kota and Motorguide make a variable speed 40#motor, but I don't need 40#'s thrust plus additional weight. Would this variable speed run at a speed slower than my 30# Endura?

Yes, it will troll slower.

Went from a 30# Minn Kota with 5 forward speeds to a 46# Motorguide with variable speed. No question I could go slower with the variable.

 

[blouderback]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

You could wire in a rheostat (dimmer switch) between the motor and the power supply. Crank the dimmer down, and you reduce the amount of power that could possibly be sent to the motor from the standard foot switch or tiller.

 

[83mulligan]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

use a drift sock with it tied off the bow when trolling or make a plate to baffle the output of the propeller. I used to tie a bucket to a rope and tie it to the bow cleat on my starcraft when i was a kid to help slow it down into the desirable speed range for salmon and lake trout.

 

[jedft]

Re: Advice? Need SLOW Trolling Motor for Small Boat

A rheostat would work, but making it safe and waterproof may be a trick. A variable speed trolling motor will definately do what you need. I've had the same problem with small boats for years, until I bought a Minn Kota Riptide with variable speed. You can slow that thing down to probably 30 or 40 rpm which is great for plastic worm fishing down here in Florida. Another idea on the cheaper side is to find some old curtain counterweights. They are 3-5 lb. cast iron cylindrical weights which will drag along behind a boat nicely without snagging much.