electric mounted on outboard

[ralphl]

posted this elsewhere, probably the wrong place.. anyone have experiance, good or bad with electric trolling moter on the outboard??

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

I've never used one but have a couple friends that do. They use them for long lining for crappie and really like them.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

No personal experience with them yet, but have been researching them extensively for many months...these are the pros and cons that others have commented on:

Pros:
keeps your boat sleek looking and bow uncluttered
allows steering with steering wheel
Don't have to worry about forgetting to pull it up/out before a speed run

Cons:
have to steer with steering wheel (double edged sword)
limited steering angle
reverse can be almost useless
Have to have outdrive down to use (extra caution in shallow water)

The conclusion I have drawn regarding these motors is that the serve a limited purpose, which is to provide low speed forward movement with basic maneuverability...ideal for trolling striper in open water, but if you are looking to use it to follow a convoluted shoreline in shallow water (e.g. largemouth bash fishing) and getting in and around cover, it is not the right tool.

Hope this helps.

 

[NYBo]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

Another con: high price

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

My pontoon has one mounted on my mercury bigfoot. It has a small box with forward, off and reverse, and a dial for speed, which I mounted to the helm console. Everything is in one place and very handy. I have no problems with low speed manouvers; even in reverse.

 

[ralphl]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

I want to mount it on a 20 ft pontoon and by the time I get a long shaft high thrust (80 90 ) lb electric big enough for a pontoon, plus controllers, I am at the same price as the motor mount,about 1000$, for a 100 lb thrust (24volt). Why would the steering be in any way limited?? I do see your point on the shallow runing but I fish mostly Koke, lakers and cutthroat so stay pretty deep. Any thoughts on a 24 volt system??

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

Why would the steering be in any way limited??

I am referring to the trolling motors that mount directly onto an outboard or the outdrive of an I/O. The steering angle is limited by how far you can angle your drive, which is significantly less than a traditional bow or transom mount trolling motor, which gives you practically 360 degree steering angle. On my VP outdrive, I can only crank it about 30-40 degrees to each side. Am outboard may give you more, but not as much as a regular trolling motor. Hope this clarifies my point.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: electric mounted on outboard

My pontoon has one mounted on my mercury bigfoot. It has a small box with forward, off and reverse, and a dial for speed, which I mounted to the helm console. Everything is in one place and very handy. I have no problems with low speed manouvers; even in reverse.

You must have yours mounted deep enough to avoid the problem that some others have experienced...if mounted to "shallow" the prop will ventilate (suck air from the surface) and reduce the thrust. On I/O setups, there is the possibility that the reverse thrust is directed right at the transom, which will also negate some of the thrust power in reverse.

I have not experienced these myself, but in my research, these are complaints that others have reported in the ratings and comments sections of many retailers that sell them.