Trolling motor help.

[fishn' problem]

I have a 24 V trolling system that is connected to two separate batteries with four wires, each pair of wires carries 12 V to the receptacle. The wires are red and black and orange and black and white. The plug at the trolling motor has four prongs. The problem I have found is only one pair of wires is taking 12 V to the receptacle the other pair is not. The only explanation is the wire is broken somewhere underneath the floor because I have voltage to where it enters the floor but not where it comes back out to the trolling motor. My question is can I convert from a four wire system to a two wire system by connecting the batteries in series. If this is possible do I need to change plug and receptacle? What about the accessories I currently have running off of those batteries will they need to be removed or is there a way to wire those also?

Thanks for any help.

[Barnacle Bill]

What trolling motor is it and how old is it?

[fishn' problem]

It's a min Kota. I think 72 or 74lb thrust. It's about 3 or 4 years old.

[aj306]

You should have a breaker for each battery that need to be checked.

[LOZ Targa]

You should have a breaker for each battery that need to be checked.

My boat is wired the same way with 4 wires and has a breaker on each battery. One is probably tripped. As for just using two of the wires for the full 24 volts the wire probably isn't heavy enough gauge to carry the amperage and can be bad for the trolling motor.