Too big a trolling motor on a small boat?

[wasabi]

I'm getting a 8' plastic mini pontoon boat. Weighs about 130, add another 300 with my lard butt, battery, trolling motor and gear. I can mount the trolling motor on the front or back, and I'm inclined to do it up front.

The boat will be transported in the back of my truck. Gear will be removed, boat drug a short distance to the water, then the gear put in the boat. I'm OK making a couple trips for my gear and trolling motor/battery. That is how it is and I'm Ok with it.

I'm gonna fish 2 types of water. One is a small pond maybe 5 acres. I'll never need to crank it up to max thrust on this pond, instead just using lower settings to slow troll minnows or make brief adjustments to my location. The other water is a reservoir where I could conceivably need to travel a good 20+ minutes from ramp to where I want to fish. I see most of my fishing being on the pond.

I know a cheap 30 lb. thrust motor will move the boat "OK" on the pond. This would also be the lightest trolling motor and easiest to handle. My gut says get the 55 lb. thrust model though so I have the power when I need it. A friend suggested the 55 model would be 'heavier' but the extra power more than makes up for it. Any other factors I should consider? I can't decide whether to get a small, medium (like 40 lb thrust) or large (55) model.

[frank lawhead]

I,d go with the 55#--don,t think it would weigh that much more
Talked to a fellow that put a 35# on a mini 8ft. bass buggy--
got some wind and a little current and had to paddle for a long ways to help the troller

[Crappie Reaper]

I,d go with the 55#--don,t think it would weigh that much more
Talked to a fellow that put a 35# on a mini 8ft. bass buggy--
got some wind and a little current and had to paddle for a long ways to help the troller

Agreed, LUKE, use the power! You are already muscleing a 130lb boat around, the battery, and gear. The 55lb thrust most likely will not weigh as much as your battery. Get the power!

[Charger]

Go with the 55#. Thats what I use on the Crawdad and I can go UP river when I want, even with 2 in the boat.

[crappiemax]

I say go with the 30#. I have a 17' deep V alum and went from a 30# TM to a 71#TM. I hated every minute of it. It was just too much power. I could never get the boat to go slow enough. My boat probably weights 1500# I switched to 54# digital and love it.

You mentioned you like to slow troll minnows and I think even at the lowest speed you may find yourself going at a pretty good clip. If you can find it in your budget to go digital, I'd say go with the 55#.

[flycaster]

You might want to think about a second battery.
The larger the trolling motor the more power it will take.
The first time I took a small plastic boat out with my 55# I was a fat and happy camper---until it was time for me to head to the ramp. The motor had drawn the battery down so the trolling motor was only able to propel the boat about as fast as I cold swim. Not a good feeling. Second battery helped me stay out on the water much longer.
If it gets windy, you may end up using more of the battery than you had planned.
If I remember correctly the 55# would push the boat about 4.5 - 5.0 MPH using a GPS when the battery was at full charge.

[wasabi]

Yes, I do want to slow troll minnows sometimes so I am somewhat concerned the 55 at a setting of 1 might be too fast. I won't have a way to evaluate that before a purchase though. I just know going with a less powerful trolling motor will always leave me wanting more topend power.

[atfish]

Go with the 55 lb. and you won't regret it. If you can find a variable speed that will solve the speed problem. I have used one (55 LB, 5 SPEED) for years and never regretted it. I would get another battery for back-up. Also the 2nd battery will help balance the boat when both are placed in the back of the boat.

[Crappie Reaper]

I say go with the 30#. I have a 17' deep V alum and went from a 30# TM to a 71#TM. I hated every minute of it. It was just too much power. I could never get the boat to go slow enough. My boat probably weights 1500# I switched to 54# digital and love it.

You mentioned you like to slow troll minnows and I think even at the lowest speed you may find yourself going at a pretty good clip. If you can find it in your budget to go digital, I'd say go with the 55#.

To slow troll minnows, you wouldn't want any motor running constant imo. I just give the tm a short burst every now and then. I don't leave the TM running unless I am trolling a crank or something else that needs to dive a bit, even then, the big motor will be used for that. 55# would be just about right for the rig. I have a #55 minn kota and wish I had more thrust. I still have to fight the wind more than I want.

[Crappie Reaper]

If it's a Minn Kota, the variable speed should allow you to creep along at a snails pace for trolling minnows if you like to fish that way.