Please bare with me

I have already started a thread about which trolling motor would be best for me but, now I have a new question.

We have a 22 ft pontoon boat and a 16 ft flat bottom. I am going to get a Terrova with I-pilot to put on my 16 ft Jon but, I have a slight problem. I already have a 70# Minn Kota Maxxum on my jon and it flat just is TO much trolling motor. I have problems getting my trolling speeds down to where I like them. I was going to take the Maxxum off and just put it on the pontoon and leave it and put a 55# Terrova with I-Pilot on the Jon BUT, the only time we will be fishing from the pontoon is when we are fishing as a family (3 kids and 2 adults) so I move around alot unhooking fish, fixing tangles.... you can imagine. The I-pilot would be a BIG help on the pontoon but, I don't really want an 80# trust trolling motor on my jon. I would like to get a quick mount for both boats and just use 1 trolling motor. BUT, would a 55# trust be to small for trolling with on 22 ft pontoon? I know I would most likely drain the battery so I was thinking of just having 2 batteries for it but, what about pulling us around or be really hard to control in a breeze. I WILL NOT fish from the pontoon now in much more than a breeze unless we are anchored. Thanks for any help. Fishorhunt

Get the trolling motor sized for the pontoon. The Terrova's have PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) so they are completely variable for speed control. Get the thrust to take care of the pontoon, but you still won't overpower the jon. You will have more motor than you need, but you will have the best motor for both boats, plus the iPilot

agreed get the 80 ipilot, you will not be sorry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vic n

...jon....You will have more motor than you need....

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Not if the jon will be used in TMO lakes. My 80# Terrova pulls a 16' full V at 3.5 mph with 2 fully-charged batteries. You will most likely get a bit more top-end speed with a jon unless it's heavily loaded & low in the water. Some of my best spots are 2 miles or farther from the ramp, so a low-power TM eats into available fishing time and keeps me from fishing the most distant points.

When I'm drifting corks, the lowest power setting will move me at .3 mph to .5 mph, however that changes when there's wind or current. If there's anything pushing back at me, the Terrova can hold the boat in position or allow a controlled forward or backward drift at any speed the fish like.

Power the pontoon first. Since the motor is variable speed you can slow it down to fit the jon. Also get the quick release mounts to help with transporting from boat to boat.