Electric Only Setup

I just purchased a nice jon that I will be putting a floor into (no decking) with a padded cooler as a front seat and a regular bass seat on the rear bench. Nothing too fancy, I just hate the ankle-breakers and want a stable place to stand and move around.

The boat is an Alumacraft 1442NCS - 12" long, 42" bottom width, 62" beam, 230# hull weight.

I fish almost exclusively in "no combustion", "no wake", "minimum wake" and "restricted 10hp or less" lakes. I could care less about going fast and most of the lakes that I fish are 20-100 acres with the largest impoundment being 700 acres. 50% of the time I fish alone (175#) and 50% of the time with my wife or friends (125-175#).

I have a thought about propulsion and "balancing" the boat that I would like input on. Electric ONLY on the rear and two deep cycle cells toward the front.

Minnkota Vantage 24V 80# thrust paired with Optima's Troll Fury system (two cells in one battery box) - 120RC @ 24V.

Would this give me adequate pushing power and duration?? I haven't ever used a trolling motor on the rear of a boat AND I haven't ever had a jon boat - just canoes and large powerboats. This is quite a change in strategy for me and I am not sure how to finish the build on this new boat.

Thanks for your input!

Jim -

Sounds good to me Jim. From what I have read, the Optimas perform well. Install like you said, the battery box forward and adjust it's placement for weight and balance as conditions dictate.

I'd think 80#s is overkill for a 12 foot jon. I'd rather spend the money on a I-Pilot bowmount in maybe 55#s tops. Still use the pair of batteries longer duration.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shellback

I'd think 80#s is overkill for a 12 foot jon. I'd rather spend the money on a I-Pilot bowmount in maybe 55#s tops. Still use the pair of batteries longer duration.

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BTW, the hull is 14' long. My original post was incorrect, but I can't figure out how to edit it ... I think maybe there isn't a way.

The reason I was looking at 80#, it is the smallest of the Vantage motors which are transom mounted models, hand controlled motors with some nice advanced features - but hand controlled nonetheless.

I looked at the PowerDrive bow mount 12V 55# with iDrive and the remote seems REALLY neat. How is the reliability on the electronics? I am not going to be too happy paddling back if the remote or control head decides to take a nap. There is no way to control the motor by hand. Batteries I can manage, technical failures not so much so.

Thanks!

Jim -

you will be happy with that type of setup 80# thrust 24volt system will get up around without no troubles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TampaJim

BTW, the hull is 14' long. My original post was incorrect, but I can't figure out how to edit it ... I think maybe there isn't a way.
The reason I was looking at 80#, it is the smallest of the Vantage motors which are transom mounted models, hand controlled motors with some nice advanced features - but hand controlled nonetheless.

I looked at the PowerDrive bow mount 12V 55# with iDrive and the remote seems REALLY neat. How is the reliability on the electronics? I am not going to be too happy paddling back if the remote or control head decides to take a nap. There is no way to control the motor by hand. Batteries I can manage, technical failures not so much so.

Thanks!

Jim -

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I think there's a time limit on getting your post edited....