Get this,
My 17' Xpress came with a 46 pound MotorGuide bow trolling motor and has 10 ga wire from the battery in the back of the boat, equipped with a 40 amp fuse. It has never blown. 46 pound, 10 ga wire, 40 amp fuse.

I bought a 40 pound 12V Minn Kota Edge for another boat. I called Minn Kota and they said maximum amp draw for the 40 pound motor is 42 amps, it also says in the manual a rule of thumb is it runs about 1 amp per pound of maximum thrust. The motor instructions say to use 6 gauge wire and a 50 amp fuse. 40 pound, 6 ga wire, 50 amp fuse.

I bought an Attwood trolling motor plug and receptacle and it is only 10 ga wire(!), of course they only have 6" leads.

What gives? If I trust Minn Kota, either my Motorguide setup shouldn't work, or maybe Motorguide motors use much fewer amps? (I can't beleive that).

MY QUESTION: I'm considering a new Maxxum 24V 70 pound for the bow of the Xpress to replace the 12V. DO these newer 24V motors have 2 12V + leads and 1 12V - lead, or just two leads, implying that I have to hook my two batteries in series at the back of the boat, which would SURELY mean I have to go to 6 ga or even 4 gauge new wires all the way from the back to the front of the boat? This wire is $$$, 20' for my smaller boat of 6 gauge marine wire was easily $50 (both positive and negative, that is, 40' total)

What size wire are you guys using for your 24V 70 pound motors, and are there two or three 4, 6, 8, or 10 ga wires going from the back of the boat to the bow?

thanks,
Joe