What is the best trolling motor?
7 min read
Asked by: Amanda Morris
Here are our top choices.
- Minn Kota Endura C2 55 Transom Mount Trolling Motor. …
- Newport Vessels L-Series Transom Mount Electric Trolling Motor For Saltwater. …
- Black Haswing 12V Bow Mount Trolling Motor. …
- Motorguide X3 Foot Control Trolling Motor. …
- Garmin Force Foot Steer Trolling Motor. …
- Minn Kota Terrova iPilot Trolling Motor.
Will a higher thrust trolling motor go faster?
Thrust is simply a static measurement of pushing or pulling power, and higher thrust does not necessarily mean greater speed. Speed is a factor of prop pitch and motor R.P.M. Given motor R.P.M. under load, and Minn Kota’s 4″ prop pitch, the approximate speed that a motor will push/pull a small boat can be calculated.
How fast can you go with a 55 lb thrust trolling motor?
Assuming perfect riding conditions, the use of the best fuel i.e. the distillate marine diesel, and moderate load, 55-pound trolling motors are likely to attain a maximum speed of only 5 miles per hour. This would take around two hours for the deep cycle battery charge to get completely depleted.
What size trolling motor do I need?
Boat weight is the most important consideration to take into account when choosing a trolling motor. A beginning rule of thumb is that you want a minimum of 2 lbs of thrust for every 100lbs. For example, if you have a 3000lb boat, fully loaded, then the calculation is (3000/100) * 2 = 60lbs of thrust.
What size trolling motor do I need for a 16 foot boat?
If your boat is 16-foot or smaller, a high-thrust 12-volt model will be adequate for the conditions that you will face. If your boat is any longer, moving up to a 24- or 36-volt system is the only way to go for hassle-free boating.
Can you have too much thrust on a trolling motor?
You can never have too much thrust and go with a variable speed. Not only is it more useful it also helps battery life. The one place that many people try to save money is on the electric trolling only to regret it.
How can I make my trolling motor faster?
How Can I Speed Up My Trolling Motor
- Replace or Charge Your Batteries. Click for more info. …
- Get Rid of the Extra Load. Make sure you know the maximum weight for your vessel. …
- Properly Maintain Your Trolling Motor. …
- Clean Battery Terminals. …
- Switch to a New Prop. …
- Time in the Water. …
- Go to a Repair Center. …
- Replace the Trolling Motor.
Will 2 trolling motors make you go faster?
Will 2 trolling motors make you go faster? A dual trolling motor can increase the speed of your inflatable boat. It won’t turn your vessel into a speed boat. However, it can boost the speeds to ensure you’ll consistently hit the motor’s top speeds.
How far down should a trolling motor be?
about 12-18 inches
A trolling motor’s ideal propeller should be at a depth that keeps about 6 inches of water above the blades. In other words, the centerline of the motor and the prop shaft should be about 12-18 inches below the waterline, depending on the make, model and dimensions of the trolling motor.
How many hours will a trolling motor battery last?
The larger the rating, the more power the battery can hold, and the longer it will be able to power a motor at a given speed. For example, a 100 amperage hour battery is one that would be able to supply 25 amps of power for 4 hours (25 amps * 4 hours = 100 amp hours) before running out of energy.
What is the fastest trolling motor you can buy?
One of the most powerful 36-volt trolling motors on the market, the MotorGuide R5 generates 105 pounds of thrust at the highest of its five speeds.
Can you use a car battery on a trolling motor?
Will my car battery work for my trolling motor? No, car batteries are not recommended and can ruin your motor.
What side of a boat do you mount a trolling motor?
Decide which side of the bow – port or starboard – you want to mount the motor. There’s no “wrong” answer for this as it really depends on how you operate the boat and how you fish. If you usually steer the boat from the port side, you’ll want to consider mounting the motor on the starboard side to improve visibility.
Where is the best place to mount a trolling motor?
The trolling motor should be placed as close to the center of the stern as possible without interfering with the operation of the main motor, if there is one. The top of the mounting bracket should be flush with the top of the stern.
How many pounds of thrust do I need for a trolling motor?
General rule of thumb: you need at least 2 lbs. of thrust for every 100 lbs. of fully-loaded boat weight (people and gear included). If things like wind or current are major factors where you fish, you’ll want a little extra thrust.
How long does it take to install a trolling motor?
Total man hours spent on the install was 14 hours ($1,900), with another 4 hours ($540) on the custom starboard, plus wiring, screws and other installation bits and pieces “I would plan on about a week of time to do the install, give or take, actual time on the boat may be less may be more,” Held said of the process, …
How much does it cost to have a trolling motor installed?
Figure between $100-$110 / hour in labor ; That’s nearly 50 hours of labor for that installation. Unless they are fabricating a fiberglass pad and custom matching it to your gelcoat on your bow, that installation figure is crazy.
How much does it cost to set up a trolling motor?
It depends a lot on the trolling motor you want. The 80 Ulterra Minnkota is around $2300, The simpler Ipilot model around $1400 with manual motors less by a couple more hundred. 2 Lead acid class 27 or 31 batteries Probably $250-$300.
Do all Minn Kota Terrova have spot lock?
Spot-Lock is available on select Ulterra, PowerDrive, Ultrex and Terrova trolling motors.
What is the difference between Ulterra and Terrova?
Both offer distinct features, but it’s clear that the Minn Kota Ulterra is better than Terrova. It simply offers high-tech features that Terrova doesn’t have. Ulterra has Auto-Deploy and Stow, Power Trim, Mega Imaging, and iPilot Link. However, if you’re not a serious angler, you may not need those additional features.
What is the difference between Riptide and Terrova?
A Terrova is the freshwater model and the saltwater version is the Riptide ST. The standard Riptide is the SP. Have a look here for the details on both models. The main differences are that the ST has the digital autopilot so it moves seamlessly whereas the SP moves in increments and is less precise.
What is the difference between Minn Kota i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link?
The i-Pilot system is a self-contained GPS system that is operated via a wireless remote. The i-Pilot Link system has everything the i-Pilot models has but also has the ability to communicate with a Humminbird fish finder.
Will Minn Kota work with Lowrance?
Yes, Minn Kota trolling motors are compatible with Lowrance devices! The best way to connect your Lowrance device to your Minn Kota trolling motor is through the Universal Sonar 2, or US2.
Does i-Pilot work with Humminbird?
With i-Pilot Link, you can take command from the wireless remote or your Humminbird. And once you do, the possibilities are endless: lock onto spots, learn and retrace paths and depth contours, and more. All with the ultimate GPS fishing system.
Can I add i-Pilot to my trolling motor?
i-Pilot can be added to Terrova, Riptide Terrova (ST), PowerDrive, PowerDrive V2, Riptide PowerDrive (SP), and Ulterra model. Different kits are needed depending on whether your model is Bluetooth compatible. Unfortunately, PowerDrive models produced before 2007 are not compatible.
What is the difference between i-Pilot and CoPilot?
Minn Kota’s i-Pilot and Copilot are both remote control systems for trolling motors. Copilot is a more basic unit, allowing you to remotely control speed, steering, and propeller function. i-Pilot is more high-tech, with features such as Spot Lock, iTracks, and Humminbird compatibility.
Does MotorGuide have spot lock?
The MotorGuide XI5 has its own version of Spot-Lock, i.e., virtual anchor technology. Anglers can take advantage of this trolling motor to lock GPS positions as they see fit and can even jog anchor position if needed.
