Thread: Trolling Motor Speed

Originally Posted by Corker

Good move, Max. Nothing's more valuable than quality fishing time. When you're fighting with your gear, you aren't getting top quality out of those precious minutes on the water. It's a bonus if the same motor will move you against a 15+ mph wind, but the low end is most important.

I fought it for a year and thought this is ridiculous. Since I have a few more years before I retire I figured "I can always get more money but I'll never get more time."
Life itself is stressful enough...

Glad to hear im not the only one ever had this problem. So what did you replace it with Crappiemax? Sounds like that might be a good move.

Originally Posted by ytownmonroe

Glad to hear im not the only one ever had this problem. So what did you replace it with Crappiemax? Sounds like that might be a good move.

These posts pop up all the time.

My original TM was a 12v MG 30# 5 speed, cable steer. It was great on days that were calm but it was tough on the windy days. So like others I had heard how great the 24v system was and I figured I would get more than enough TM this time and opted for the 24v 70# 5 speed and just like alot of guys I found it to be way too much for my boat. When I was reading all these post, it reminded me of what I went through...I tried a wind sock, I tried a different prop (3 to be exact) I towed a bucket, I cut 1 prop down to a smaller diameter. It all sucked big time. I just finally faced the fact that it just wasn't going to work on my tin boat.My set up isn't light, it's probably 1500# on the water.

So one thing I knew for sure, what ever I bought it was not going to be a fixed speed motor, it would have a dial. I also knew I didn't need 70# of TM. I was always afraid that thing was going to tear itself off the bow of my boat. Also, I grew up with cable steer and I just like them. I probably had one of the 1st MK's with a power drive back in the early 90's and I just didn't like it. That 24v TM left such a bad taste in my mouth also I decided to go back to 12v.

I finally decided to buy a MG Tour 56# 12v, digital, cable steer, it has a speed dial but no fixed speed. I do still run my 2 batteries,(rewired for 12V) so I have plenty of juice no matter how long I want to fish. I run 2 Everstart Maxx 29 series batteries.

One thing I like about the 12v is if I screw up and leave something running and drain my starting battery, I can just steal one of the TM batteries for the OB and just keep on fishing. One problem with these digital TM's is the digital motors like to talk to the electronics (rf interference) but you can usually eliminate most of that. It doesn't matter which brand and it doesn't always happen.

One thing I would like to point out is I'm not a brand snob. Both MG and MK have been around forever. The both have good and bad points so I would look for what fits you and your style of fishing.
If I had to do it all over again, I would have to say I would probably buy the same thing.

I have a 165 fishing machine which a a deep v boat. I have an 80# 24 volt power drive with copilot. This is a 2007 model motor. If i run copilot using the hand held fob set on one it barly moves my boat so i have to go to the second setting and i run almost .8 mile and hour with six rods out on the front. Its too fast for spider rigging so i bump the on/off to keep my speed down. However, if i go to the cord pedal (which i hate) the speed dial will set between 1 and 2 so you can actually slow it down. I do not like the pedal as it seems to malfunction a lot. it sounds like you need a new motor which suits your fishing style and boat size.