Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

[blackleytroy]

I have a 22 ft Celebrity Cuddy with a Mercruiser 350 with Alpha 1 outdrive. I want to have the ability to use this boat for fishing (trolling), but adding a kicker motor is not that easy with the swim platform, adding a bow mount trolling motor impossible. Came accross the engine mounted trolling motor and am wondering if anyone else has experiences they can share? Although the price seems fairly high, it would be much less expensive that adding a kicker, mount etc. Those that do have them, are they able to be removed easily? I know they say that they can stay on and don't effect the operation of the boat, but I think it would be better to remove it if not going to be using it. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

I have a 22 ft Celebrity Cuddy with a Mercruiser 350 with Alpha 1 outdrive. I want to have the ability to use this boat for fishing (trolling), but adding a kicker motor is not that easy with the swim platform, adding a bow mount trolling motor impossible. Came accross the engine mounted trolling motor and am wondering if anyone else has experiences they can share? Although the price seems fairly high, it would be much less expensive that adding a kicker, mount etc. Those that do have them, are they able to be removed easily? I know they say that they can stay on and don't effect the operation of the boat, but I think it would be better to remove it if not going to be using it. Any thoughts? Thanks

Ayuh,.... How long do you plan on trollin',..??

More than a few minutes, 'n you'll need a ton of batteries...
'n the power steerin' won't work...

Just use the main motor, 'n drive...
If it runs to Fast, tie drift socks, or 5 gallon pails off the forward cleats to slow the barge down to the trollin' speeds needed...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

There is no quick release plate for an engine mounted troller setup. They are bolted to the AV plate. As pointed out, depending on how a large a unit you get you end up with (50, 89, or 1001# thrust) you will need one, two, or three large deep cycle batteries for 12, 24, or 36 volt operation respectively. For your boat you will need at least a 24 volt (89# thrust) unit. Those motors draw 50, 58 and 49 amps respectively. Deep cycle batteries have a "Reserve Minute" capacity which is typically specified as RESERVE MINUTES: xxx @ 23 (or 25) amps. What that means is the battery is capable of delivering 25 amps for xxx minutes after which it is no longer capable of doing so. Using a 50 amp draw which is twice the specified rate of the battery, the battery can deliver those 50 amps for 1/2 the time on the label. That calculation is assuming the motor is running at its fasted speed and is actually drawing its maximum current. There are no current draw specs for various slower speed settings because of the variance in boats, loads, etc.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

Hired a guide last year for one day on a new big lake, figured I'd learn from him for one day and save time looking for spots to fish the rest of the week. Anyway, he had one of those trolling motors on his 20' Ranger. I though it worked very well. He did have two dedicated 27 series batteries. The motor lasted about 6 hours before the batteries gave out. We were walleye trolling at around 1.5mph ish for those 6 hours, no idea how long the batt's would have lasted at higher speeds.

 

[blackleytroy]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

Thanks for the input. Based on the Minn Kota website,give the size of my boat, I will need to use the 160# thrust motor, it is designed for salt water but I'm sure it won't hurt to run it in fresh water. Not sure of the battery draw when in use, but it is a 24 volt system. I would have 2 seperate batteries for this and does anyone know if these batteries could be connected to the alternator, so they could charge while running the on-board engine?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

Anyway, he had one of those trolling motors on his 20' Ranger.

A 20' Ranger with an outboard is a lot less to push than a 22' cuddy with an I/O, a lot less battery capacity required. I have a 70# transom mount TM (not and engine mount) on my 18'er and can only get 5-6 hours out of 2- group 29 batteries. If conditions are good or if I'm going with the wind it works OK. If going into the wind or if there are crosswinds it works terrible. (my 18'er is a lot less than a 20' cuddy too...)

I will need to use the 160# thrust motor.......it is a 24 volt system.

anyone know if these batteries could be connected to the alternator, so they could charge while running the on-board engine?

For the capacity you'll need, I think you'll need to go with 2- 4-D batteries. OR, 4- 6V golf cart in a parallel/series configuration.

The 24V bank can be charged off an I/O's alternator, but it needs to be wired correctly and it's dependent on the alternators output. I do this all the time and it takes 3 hours or so, with a 105 amp alternator putting out 60 amps at idle speed. The stock 60 amp alternator doesn't put out much at idle speed (20-30amps?) so it would take for ever to charge, unless running at high RPM for hours, which is unrealistic. You can't run the high output alternator at high RPM to throw 100 amps at the batteries, too much current, to quick of a charge, the batteries will cook. (30 amps/battery like I'm doing is pushing it...)

I have one of the troller batteries on an AB battery switch as backup for the main engine, then both trolling batteries connected to a Marinco 12/24 receptacle. Plug in the jumpered 12V plug to series connect the batteries,,, then throw the AB switch to charge. Flipping switches and plugging in is cumbersome though. There are automatic/electronic chargers, but nothing I've seen will carry the current needed. An ACR could be used in place of the AB switch to make things easier.

Then you have the I/O's power steering issue. And, an EM troller will have slow steering response just by design or using the steering wheel. I run a Troll-a-Matic trolling plate that calms my I/O to trolling speed, though it doesn't some without drawbacks, diminished steering, blocks prop in reverse.

Bond-O's suggestion of a couple buckets or trolling bags deployed mid-ship would get you the results you are looking for, cheap.

Actually, a bow mount trolling motor would work better at controlling a 22' boat, than a transom mount. You would be in the 36V range and charging off the main wouldn't be an option anymore (unless you did some really creative wiring).

 

[blackleytroy]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

I understand the theory of the drift socks, but I was also trying to avoid idling the motor while trolling. Have always thought that it was hard on a motor to idle for 2 or 3 hours. If money was taken out of the equation would the suggestions be the same? Given the cuddy cabin it is impossible for a bow mount motor, and with the swim platform the transome mount is an issue. If it were easy enough to mount a transome motor, I would just add a kicker motor. Would like to hear from someone that has the experience with the engine mount motor.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

Unless some sort of switching system is employed to break the series connection between each battery in a 24 or 36 volt string y0u cannot charge a 24 or 36 volt system from the 12 volt engine alternator. Now for the current draw situation. A 160# engine mount consists of two 80# motors each of which requires 24 volts. You can run both motors from a pair of big deep cycles but lets run some numbers. As I pointed out earlier, an 80# motor draws 58 amps. Since you have two motors, that's 116 amps. From this you can do the math. You mentioned your buddy's batteries lasted 6 hours running at less than full power. With a 160# the best you could expect would be 3 hours unless you installed two verrrrry larrrge batteries. As a minimum you also need a very large two bank on-board charger to charge the batteries while at the dock.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

I understand the theory of the drift socks, but I was also trying to avoid idling the motor while trolling. Have always thought that it was hard on a motor to idle for 2 or 3 hours. If money was taken out of the equation would the suggestions be the same? Given the cuddy cabin it is impossible for a bow mount motor, and with the swim platform the transome mount is an issue. If it were easy enough to mount a transome motor, I would just add a kicker motor. Would like to hear from someone that has the experience with the engine mount motor.

Ayuh,.... So,... Throw on an over-sized set of trim tabs, 'n a set of over-sized drift socks,...

Then you can run the motor at 1000 rpms, darn near forever, 'n still be at trollin' speeds...

You'll have Great boat control, even in the wind....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

The simplest setup is a trolling plate that drops over the prop and locks down.

 

[mike165]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

Had a EM80 on a 20' for 2 years does 4KPH draws 45 amps, 2x 90amp/hour in series gives me 4 hours,I run a redarc invertor charger from the std alt,great unit,the best thing we troll in complete silence

 

[tahoejag]

Re: Minn Kota Engine Mount good, bad, or ?

I have a 22 ft Celebrity Cuddy with a Mercruiser 350 with Alpha 1 outdrive. I want to have the ability to use this boat for fishing (trolling)

I run a 20'5" open bow runabout ski/fish aprx wt 3500lb (total) I have detachable bow mount MK Terrova 24v 60" shaft (to get me to the water) and 80# thrust, it has a remote plus an 18ft corded foot pedal w/2 group 29 interstates. I fish in the great lakes as well as detroit river (up to 3mph current) and I get by just fine with 80#. Would be nice to have the 101# but I'm satisfied with the 80#. However I don't "troll" per say constantly, I use it more for keeping course or moving around and still have batteries left when back at dock after 6-8 hours. MK has this new "digital maximizer" motor that only uses as much amps as needed.

Alot of variables here...depending on weight of boat; height of bow from water; is it possible to mount a detachable bow mount motor; room for 3 batteries (36volts) if so, you have a foot pedal and remote to operate motor. A 101# thrust motor may get you by. Just something to consider if you are looking for a detachable troller. Like I say...all depends on alot of variables.