Trolling Motor Selection

[davemoore]

Hello all... just picked up a "project" duck boat the other day, and need to buy a motor for it. I don't want to bother with gas, so I'm going to use a 12V trolling motor only (don't need to go fast, just need to go).

I was looking at the units they sell at BassPro - the Prowler brand. They seem to have pretty good reviews, but I'm not sure which thrust to get.

The boat is about 13' at the waterline, 13.5' overall. At first I was considering the 30 lb. thrust model because it's cheap ($99) and we don't need to go fast. But after reading some similar topics, I thought that maybe I should consider the 55 lb. thrust model ($199). Is this brand okay, and what thrust should I buy?

With me and my son, a dog and gear, we'll have about 500 lbs. in the boat.

Any help will be appreciated. See photo attached for the "before" look of the boat.

Dave

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

What you select is determined by "how far" you have to travel. Electric trollers, like electric cars cannot go far on electricity alone. A small motor with a small battery will not get you very far. A high thrust motor will get you farther and a little quicker but you need more battery power. So you see, it all boils down to how far you need to travel. If you are on a small farm pond virtually any size motor and battery combination will work. If you are on a larger body of water and have to travel one mile out and one mile back, you best pop for the largest deep cycle battery you have room for and no smaller than a 40# thrust motor.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

How far are you going with the boat, are wind/waves a concern, big lakes, small pond, river current to deal with? Just wondering as there are very few places I go that I wouldn't want to have my gas outboard.

I would go with a 40-55# model, forget the 30. From what I've seen of the BPS trolling motors, they are a re-branded MotorGuide? Maybe BPS sent a Motorguide over to China and had them make up a 100,000....

You will use more battery power with the cheaper "speed coil" trolling motors (at the lower speed settings) than the newer "digital" trolling motors, so a second battery might be needed with the speed coil trolling motor. The digital motors are pretty darn efficient and I could easily troll 6-7 hours on 1 group 29 battery. Might be worth the extra expense to get a digital...

Oh yeah, I'd buy a Minn Kota over a BPS or Motorguide, I just like they way they work better.

 

[davemoore]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

Hmmm... I guess I should reconsider the outboard then. There are times when we'll be going out 1/2 to 1 mile, and some of that water might get choppy coming back in. Most of the time we'll be in the sloughs, which are still water and pretty shallow.

See image below for "typical" water we'll be in...

So if I went with an outboard, what size would be adequate, and what all do I need? I know nothing about outboards...

Thanks ~

 

[Skiwi]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

4hp should be comfortably adequate for trolling and push you along at a respectable clip on the run home

 

[lncoop]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

A 9.9 would be a good fit for that boat and your needs. Since you're in Cali I assume you'll have to have a four stroke. You'll spend more than you would on a trolling motor of course, but I think you'll be happier with an outboard. Put me down as a +1 for Minn Kota over Motorguide (or BPS house brand) if you end up sticking with electric propulsion. I've never had a Minn Kota I didn't love and I've never had a Motorguide I didn't hate. Good luck.

 

[eclark53520]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

I'm going to +1 the outboard decision but offer up my experience with a 14 foot boat and a 30lb thrust MinnKota trolling motor.

We have a smaller lake that is electric only. My buddy has a 14 foot alumacraft that we take there on a 30lb trolling motor and it gets us around at decent speed. We fish out there all day doing some trolling, and just going from spot to spot no problem on a cheap starting battery we had lying around.

 

[HONKER1]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

I had a electric on my duck boat, and learned real fast to have a good circuit breaker or several fuses on board. Be careful around grass or vegetation. If the prop gets hung-up. you will smoke your switches or wiring. Don't ask how I know this. But it's a long paddle back to the truck.

 

[davemoore]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

Thanks for that tip Honker...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling Motor Selection

Eh, if the picture shows your typical waters and you are only going a mile or 2 from the ramp, I'd try just the trolling motor. I've fished small waters like that before and never even fired up the outboard. I have a 40# MinnKota on my 14' jonboat and can troll constant (speed 2-3, old speed coil trolling motor) for about 7-8 miles before the battery is depleted.

The outboard will save you butt though, if you get caught in wind or your battery dies.