Anybody running a Terrova 80# on a bass hull?

To anyone running a Terrova 80# on a bass hull, what is your top speed you're seeing with the TM on max?

I installed a Terrova with Ipilot on my Champion 186 which is 18' 6" and has a 175 on it. The first outting, I can't recall for sure, but I'm almost certain the top speed was something like 2.4 mph with full live wells, 2 adults and 1 kid in the boat. I can't swear this was the speed since we were single poling, but it is what I recall.

Well, on that trip out, I discovered I had a leak and ended up pulling all batteries and everything out of the back to get to the pumps. Then reinstalling everything again.

Now, it seems the top speed with 1 in the boat is only 1.5. This seems extremely low to me like there may be something wrong. Once upon a time I had a 19.5 Stratos with a 200 and the cable steered 67# motor guide would pull that boat at 2.1 mph.

Now, I know I'm certain I'm getting 24V to the Terrova, but I can't for the life of me figure out what could be causing the low power other than that.

Anybody got any ideas on what I could check or anything I may be over looking?

Wannabe...

With everyone in their normal fishing position make sure the propeller blades are about 12" below the surface of the water. Check all your wiring connections. They must be clean and tight. Just because you are getting the proper voltage to the motor does not mean you are getting the proper amperage.

Terrova 80 on 16 foot fiber bass boat with what I would consider normal gear runs 2.8 top speed in little to no wind. This is with two hot batteries making the 24 volt system running 6 guage wire. What has impressed me with this motor is battery life. I get a long hard day pulling at 1.2 mph and the crank bait season is fixing to get started so I will really get to test this motor in the coming days.

Check your battery voltage at the connector while the TM is running.

Definately something wrong. I have an 18ft bass boat with a 150. With two people gear and all, I'm hitting 2.5 to 2.7mph. I troll cranks at 1.5 to 1.7 and still have quite a bit of juice left.

Forgot to mention that these batteries are group 31s and brand spanking new. Also, all wiring is 6 gauge. Zero corrosion, none. All connections tightened down with stainless nylocks and a ratchet. Last trip out, after running it for a good 20 minutes on max speed, I went back to the battery box and touched all connections and wires to check for an overheat condition. Wiring was all at ambient temp. ???

The Terrova is 54". I do have some more I could go down....maybe another 8", but it's not cavitating at it's current setting. It will cavitate in heavy chop, but the speed of 1.4 was on slick water.

My only concern is the jumper wire is on the dinky side. I'm guessing maybe 10 gauge. Is it possible that's my source for amperage loss? I'm going to change it out to some 6 gauge or heavier, just in case.

And IBN, I have a digital multimeter and I know how to check for voltage, but that's about it. How do I use the meter to check for amperage? Or are we talking the same thing?

Wannabe...

The digital meter will probably not help you much with measuring the current since the TM current will be too high unless a person were to use a shunt resistor in series with the motor and measure across it to figure the actual current. You could carry the meter with you and with the TM under load check the voltage at the TM and see if there was much voltage drop. This would not tell you exactly where your trouble was, but if the voltage drop was large you would know for sure you had an electrical problem.

Yep, what Catfan and RCC said. You could have the batteries load tested too. Just because they are new doesn't mean one couldn't be bad.

Will do. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out............well, either that or come back and whine about it not being fixed. Either way. :)

Wannabe...

Yeah, same here Wannabe. Sorry I took so long to respond but wanted to verify my speeds again today.
I'm pulling an 898 Nitro 20' 4" hull with a 94" beam, 3.1 to 3.2 MPH (on 2 GPS units) on still water at a speed setting 0f 10 on the 80# Terrova.
One thing that can be done on the trailer....with it set at max speed, check voltage with the head opened up and meter leads on the two wires (red and black) going directly to the motor. If you've got 24 VDC, find yourself an Oscilloscope (or a friend with one) and check the sine wave for no dropped SCR pulses. A smooth wave signature will be what you want to see.
Less than 24 volts, look for controller board, battery or wiring issues. BTW, if the #10 AWG jumper had been the culprit, it would have been very hot to the touch.
Let us know what you find.

LF

My boat hits 3.2mph on GPS it's a R71 Ranger about 18ft 125hp

Whelp, swapped the jumper to a 4 guage and still the same issue. Still stuck at 1.5mph. Gonna pull the front panel next and check the connection there just to be dang sure then it's off to the ASC. :(

Wannabe...

I have the same TM on a 20 ft viper and I get 2.4 fully charged batts

I have no electrical experience at all and I do not have access to any of the stuff ya'll are talking about. With that said, have you taken your prop off the TM and made sure nothing is wrapped around it like fishing line? I have got tangled in others line before and not even known it. Probably a dumb idea, but worth a shot?

Nah, that was a good thought Wish 4. I did check but it was all clear.

Anway, got it resolved last night. And who'd have thought it, but it turns out I'm an idiot. I know, I'm just as surprised as you are. :)

I went and bought a jam up meter, took out all my tools and prepared to wrestle this beast into submission one way or another. Put on my wrestlin' tights and everything.

Well, on my boat, there is a power distribution panel on the bow with the trim and nav light switch. The TM wires are carried to the block and screwed into the terminals there. From my TM, I direct wired to that panel and picked up 24V directly from there. I distinctly remember metering those terminals there and reading 24V. Well, I had a suspision that when I crimped the terminals on the TM side of the wire that possibly I didn't make a good connection or it had slipped. Yesterday, I pulled the panel and used my brand spanking new high dollar meter to check the TM side of connection and "What the crap?" 12.6 volts. Got to looking and some how or another, I terminated the TM on the 12V power distribution side of that block. So, no wonder it was running at only about 1/2 of what it should be capable of. That's normally the outcome when you only supply it with 1/2 of it's power. In my best Homer Simpson - "DOH!!!!!".

Moved the wires over to the 24V side and whatdoyaknow. Sounds like a jet engine spinning in the wind now.

So, to recap. Problem solved and your suspicions have been confirmed. I am, in fact, an idiot.

Thanks for the suggestions though guys. I do appreciate the help.

Wannabe...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wannabe...

So, to recap. Problem solved and your suspicions have been confirmed. I am, in fact, an idiot.


Wannabe...

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Not sure there were any doubts...:D:p I do know that running on 12 volts for an extended period is not good, learned the hard way that it will fry the board. Still have a 65 lb that I need to put a new board in.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wannabe...

So, to recap. Problem solved and your suspicions have been confirmed. I am, in fact, an idiot.

Thanks for the suggestions though guys. I do appreciate the help.

Wannabe...

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So Cane Pole is right then!!! :rolleyes: LOL :eek:

Say it ain't so!! :eek:

Well, CP, let me have it. C'mon now, this waiting around for my punishment is worse thant the actual punishment.

Wannabe...

Don't sweat it WB. If a person ain't an idiot every once in a while, life ain't no fun for everyone else. When I see my friends getting down and depressed, I just do something stupid and it cheers them right up.

Carry on soldier.



Next problem please.