trolling motors?

[crappie4me2]

Guys I have a Minnkota 40lb edge on my 17.5' crappie boat, the motor works fine but when the wind picks up it is a little under power with my boat. I just want to know what ya'll think we be a good one, I want to stay with a 12volt system. Thanks for any info!

[midnight_f150]

My 17ft procraft had a older model 55lb minnkota it worked good and was a 12 volt.

[tommyboyrn]

Ive got a 16/48 war eagle and have a 55lb terrova and like it too. It will keep up with the wind for awhile. I have fished windy days zig-zaggin across the lake for bout 5 hours without too much problem.

[midnight_f150]

Ive got a 16/48 war eagle and have a 55lb terrova and like it too. It will keep up with the wind for awhile. I have fished windy days zig-zaggin across the lake for bout 5 hours without too much problem.

Is that terrova hard on battery?

[beagle man]

if you are going to invest in a new motor, think about this, you need 55lb thrust and it is fine cause you have 55 lb thrust motor, now you need on a real windy day 65 lb. thrust.you have 55. not good, say you have 70lb thrust and it is a real windy day and you need 65 lb thrust. no problem. always get more than you need, if possible, it will run the boat longer, and 24 volt will hold up twice to three times as long. just my opinion.

[striperking]

In my opinon theres a fine line with trolling motors,if you have a big one on a small boat and its a calm day will you be trolling to fast even on low speed,but it sounds like on a 17.5FT boat your a little under powered.

[crappie4me2]

In my opinon theres a fine line with trolling motors,if you have a big one on a small boat and its a calm day will you be trolling to fast even on low speed,but it sounds like on a 17.5FT boat your a little under powered.

The boat I have is an Alumacraft 175 Crappie Pro, about like a Bass tracker 175. The boat is pretty heavy and on a flat day the motor does fine but you get a 5 to 10mph wind and I have to kick the power up pretty high. Now I know you have to kick the power up on all motors when the wind picks up, I was thinking about a 55lb trolling motor and I'm pretty set on that size. Now the problem I have is to get a Power Drive, Wireless or edge. My concern is on Wireless and PD motor is the cord for my tranducer because I have it mounted on my trolling motor now. Please give ya'll thoughs on it guys, and thanks for all the responses so far.
Lynn

[CatFan]

12V means you can only go up to about 55lb thrust. A digital motor will be easier on the battery at lower speeds than a 5-speed motor. The 5-speed used the same power at all settings, the digital uses lower power at lower settings.

[wannabe fisherman]

Minn-Kota recommends 2 lbs. thrust per foot of boat, that said, I have a 40lb pd on a 17' glass boat and in a good wind it's under powered. I do believe that a 55lb pd would be the ticket, besides if you go bigger then most trollers are 24 volt and you'd have to add another battery for it. JMO

[majflyboy]

I know you said you want to stay with 12 volt, but if space for an additional battery is available do the 24 volt. I have a Tracker 175 pro crappie that came with a MG 46lb that I replaced with a Terrova, 80lb US2, i-pilot, 24 volt and I wouldn't consider trying to fish without it now. I fish alone and pull cranks mostly.