Trolling Motor Upgrade

[Otis313]

With the boat in storage and fishing at least 3 or 4 months away, Im starting to think about this seasons upgrades

My old Minnkota 36lb electric trolling motor is getting pretty tired, so Im thinking of replacing it this summer. I find that with a single deep cycle battery, by the end of a long day that Im running out of power before the last cast.

Wanted to upgrade to a larger motor - 55lb MK PowerDrive V2 (with iPilot.... maybe) and add an onboard AC charger. With a larger motor the amp draw would be higher, so I would need more a powerful battery as well. There is room to spare in the battery compartment, so thought if adding 2 x 12V batteries of the same chemistry in parallel to increase my available power and run time.

If I were to use an onboard charger on a bank of 2 x 12v in parallel, would I be able to connect it to one battery and have it "see" one 12V bank and charge both batteries completely? Was looking at a 10A AC model like the MK 110D, or would I need a 2 bank system for the 2 batteries?

Any "gotchas" here that I'm not seeing?
Would it be more efficient to go to a 24V system?
The wires going to my motor from the battery compartment are quite small... what gauge should I have for a motor of this size?

Thanks... Jon

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

I would go with a 24V motor, a 2 bank charger and change the wiring to 6 gauge. You will love the setup.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

What size boat do you have and where do you fish? I have a 16' aluminum Starcraft. I recently added a 55lb. Minnkota Riptide Terrova with Co-pilot and remote steer. I like the Terrova because you can have the remote and the pedal attached for use at the same time, unlike the powerdrive. I use it for staying on top of bass schools, and striper trolling and downlining. I added a two bank 8amp motorguide onboard charger, and keep the trolling motor and main motor batteries topped off. I can troll 8-10 hours, in wind, current and chop and still have 50% charge when I get home. I have a 27bank battery. Adding the onboard charger has really given me the upper hand when it comes to battery life. Beautiful setup.

I also have a Humminbird 898SI which I LOVE. I am considering adding the Ipilot Link because then I can plot a course on the graph and have the trolling motor follow it, or hold its place. Ahhhh, technology!

 

[Otis313]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

I have a 1999 Legend Scorpion which is just under 18' (17'8") with a 40hp outboard. The old 36lb MinnKota on the bow is the same age, and the deep-cycle battery is coming up on 5 years old now. I have a Lowrance Elite 5 GPS\sonar that I purchased last year, but am considering flipping it for a Humminbird so I can take advantage of the compatibility with the iPilot. Cant decide on a model though.... my local shop has a no-tax event going on until the 31st so I need to decide by then and purchase it all in one shot... motor, Chartplotter and charger.

Still deciding if the iPilot is worthwhile or overkill for my needs. I mostly fish smaller lakes - bass, crappie, pike, but am considering some Lake Ontario trips for salmon or trout this summer.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Otis,

I think you'll be amazed at going from a 36# to something in the 55# range. Plus, the technology is much better now so battery draw is less. Your call on if you want to stay 12V or go 24V. Two 12V batteries (running 12V to motor) is going to give you a lot of range. Your boat doesn't sound that heavy.

iPilot? Again, your call. I had one and never used it but I never did any type of fishing that I would have found it useful.

I have a wireless remote for my Minn Kota V2 and love it. I just wear it around my neck. I got hooked on the wireless remotes with my last Motorguide.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Agreed wireless rocks! I have considered ipilot for some time. I think it'd be worth it but I just can't pull the trigger. Honestly I wouldn't bother switching to hbird just to go ipilot link. The elite5 is plenty of finder. If you can't find the fish with it you may as well give up and pay a guide to take you out!!' But I do love te side imaging on my bird. Biggest reason is it tracking bait balls.

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

I use my i-Pilot features most of the time when I'm inland water fishing. Setting it to follow the coast line or depth contour using either "record a track" or just locking onto a specific heading gives me almost 100% fishing time, not constantly maneuvering due to wind and/or wave activity. My most favorite feature is the "spot lock", basically an electronic anchor that keeps the boat in relatively the same position if you hit a hot spot or need to do something on the boat that distracts you from navigating. My previous boat had only a foot pedal and I thought that was great at the time. Now, although my Terrova has a foot pedal too, I have yet to bring it out of my storage locker to use it. The wireless is so convenient to use wherever you want to be on the boat at any time....... just a tip, store extra remote batteries.

I like the idea of the technology mating with the Humminbird. I might have given stronger consideration the Humminbird unit if it had been available I the time I outfitted my boat (I went with a Lowrance HDS 7 at the time).

 

[sutor623]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

CJ I have a terrova also. Main reason was because I can use the pedal or remote. I use the pedal up front when I am by myself throwing the cast net. Kinda hard to use the remote when you are all tied up. Sometimes when Im scanning the lake for striper, Ill see the birds working the docks or coves. If thats the case then I hop on the casting deck and work spoons, and that is another time I will use the foot pedal. That's pretty much the only time. Otherwise, like you I just use the remote. Auto-pilot is great.

 

[Otis313]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Well, I did it... pulled the trigger on the PowerDrive v2 with iPilot and US2. Will likely need to have my canvas cover redone to accommodate the larger shaft too now. Luckily its special order so I probably wont see it delivered for another month.... that's one less month I have to look at the box until fishing time arrives

Anyone know if the wireless foot pedal that works with the co-pilot will also work with the ipilot? Id like to have both available, but if not Ill provavly buy a second remote to keep onhand.

Cheers!

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Congrat's!

I really like my V2. It is much quiter, especially rotating, than the last Motorguide I had.

When I bought my wireless remote I noticed there was a different one for iPilot. Much larger and more extensive/expensive.

Bass Pro has a pretty good description in their on line catalog.

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Well, I did it... pulled the trigger on the PowerDrive v2 with iPilot and US2. Will likely need to have my canvas cover redone to accommodate the larger shaft too now. Luckily its special order so I probably wont see it delivered for another month.... that's one less month I have to look at the box until fishing time arrives

Anyone know if the wireless foot pedal that works with the co-pilot will also work with the ipilot? Id like to have both available, but if not Ill provavly buy a second remote to keep onhand.

Cheers!

You will be thrilled with your decision.

Not sure on the wireless pedal question as i-Pilot usually replaces Co-Pilot, at least that's what I understood, I could be wrong.

Have you decided on a mounting bracket as well?

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

CJ I have a terrova also. Main reason was because I can use the pedal or remote. I use the pedal up front when I am by myself throwing the cast net. Kinda hard to use the remote when you are all tied up. Sometimes when Im scanning the lake for striper, Ill see the birds working the docks or coves. If thats the case then I hop on the casting deck and work spoons, and that is another time I will use the foot pedal. That's pretty much the only time. Otherwise, like you I just use the remote. Auto-pilot is great.

I can see where the pedal would definitely come in handy for that, sutor! You must be glad the unit has both!

 

[Otis313]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Havent thought much on it yet. I like the idea of the quick release, but worry that it would make it easier for someone to pop off my new motor and walk away with it. The place I bought the motor from stocks them so figured Id just chat and pick one out when the motor comes in.

Any recommendations or things to look for?

 

[Otis313]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Also, I decided not to buy a new Humminbird ... for now. Seems the US2 feature of the motor is only a basic unit and not compatible with the DI and SI features of the newer sonars. I have an old 525 on the bow now that I can simply plug in to the motor, or buy an adapter and mount for my Lowrance and just move it from the dash to the bow when fishing.

Will wait and revisit this issue later in the year .. New models will be out soon anyway.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

Anyone know if the wireless foot pedal that works with the co-pilot will also work with the ipilot? Id like to have both available, but if not Ill provavly buy a second remote to keep onhand.

Cheers!

Unfortunately, you cannot keep the pedal when you install the ipilot. The pedal only works with the copilot head, which you will be removing. That is the only downside to the powerdrive. That is also why I got a Terrova instead of the powerdrive, because it allows you to keep the remote for co pilot or ipilot, as well as the pedal, and you can use either one at any time.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

I can see where the pedal would definitely come in handy for that, sutor! You must be glad the unit has both!

I am!! But shoot you understand, thats probably another reason why you bought the Terrova right?

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

As far as quick release brackets go, I chose the MKA-32 for my boat. Since I got the 80lb Terrova with the 60" shaft, I thought that model using extruded aluminum would be beefy enough to handle the heavy unit. I also liked the cover that locked over the base plate when the motor wasn't installed. Minn Kota doesn't show the cover installed on the bracket on their site, so I attached a couple of pics (I apologize.

Others very much like the MKA-21. It's made with a polymer and the base has a smaller footprint than the aluminum models. If you have a white fiberglass hull, the RTA-17 is exactly the same as the MKA-21, only it's in white. Minn Kota lists it only fitting the Riptide models, but I talked with Minn Kota and they confirmed both brackets being identical except in color (can't understand why they don't market the two brackets differently; just make it a color choice). I bet there are a bunch of Minn Kota owners that would have used the white bracket over the black to have it compliment the color of their hull.

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

P.S. The brackets can take padlocks to lock the unit to the brackets if you want to leave the motor on.

 

[cjjjdeck]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

I am!! But shoot you understand, thats probably another reason why you bought the Terrova right?

I got this vision of a one armed wall paper hanger workin' on the bow of your boat! Lol!

 

[sutor623]

Re: Trolling Motor Upgrade

I have the RTA-17. The reason I got it in white is because I have the saltwater terrova. The reason that I got the polymer is because it really does have a small footprint. And yes the padlock system is pretty awesome!!