Trolling motor swap question

[gfa1964]

Hello to all: just bought a 1982 Bass Tracker 16 footer with a 40 horse Merc. Has the original older trolling motor that came on it when new. I have a newer one that I want to swap it out with, but the plugs are considerably different. Is this as simple as changing out the outlets on the boat, or is it more in depth than that. And oh yeah, I know very little about electrical. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Trolling motor swap question

Welcome to iboats!:welcome:

It could be as simple as that, but it depends on the voltage and thrust of the old and newer motors. Whatcha got?

 

[gfa1964]

Re: Trolling motor swap question

The newer one is a Motor Guide 12 volt 40 lb thrust. Has a large round plug with several flat prongs in a circle. The older one now on the boat is a Motor Guide Hawg. The only visible markings still on it is the name and part of a sticker that has a large 19 on it. And it white in color if that means anything, lol. Has a small round plug with three round prongs. Thanks a bunch.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Trolling motor swap question

One battery for the current motor? Then it's also 12 volt and the basic wiring scheme is the same. But the more I think about it, you are probably looking at wires that are more than 30 years old and possibly undersized. I would go with new wiring. How long are the wires? The longer the wires, the larger they need to be.

EDIT: Did a little research. It appears the Hawg was a 28# thrust motor. So if the wires were sized for this particular trolling motor, it will definitely be undersized for the 40# thrust motor.

 

[gfa1964]

Re: Trolling motor swap question

There appears to be a starting battery and then another one for everything else. The batteries are in the back and trolling motor in the front, so the wires run almost the length of the boat.

 

[Br14n]

Re: Trolling motor swap question

I just put a new trolling motor on an '85 bass tracker.

The old one was a mariner that had a 30a inline fuse on 10g wire.
the new one is a minn kota power drive. According to minn kota this unit needs a 50a fuse. I ran new 8awg wire from bow to my battery, ~20 feet of wire.

20' of wire, inline fuse, and new terminal ends cost me about $30 and about 2 hours of work.
But most importantly piece of mind.