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I now have a 12 volt 55# trolling motor on a 17ft boat with 1270 lbs. total load. Will I see any great improvement going to 24 volt 70# motor? Do the two batteries have to be same age, brand and size? What wire size and how to connect? I guess the two bank battery charger will take care of trolling batteries but will need 12 volt deep cell battery that can be charged with another charger.
I have a similar size boat, It had a 70# 24Volt. I went to a new 12 volt 55# Motor Guide. .01 mph difference. Very little loss. Plus only one battery. Love it.
I have a 17 ft bass boat fiberglass with a new #55 on it running 2 batteries. Love it.
I ran a 12 volt 50lb on a 17' boat for several years. On an all day spider rig trip I ran my battery down several times...I fish a lot. I also got less than two years service from my trolling battery...that was about standard for me and I tried different batteries. Went to the 24 volt 80lb ipilot. No comparison at all. I have not come close to running down these batteries. Never gone below 3 bars on the ipilot scale. The 80lb is much stronger than the 50. It would push me at 3.5 mph max. On the 50lb the wind would actually push me backwards sometimes, not so with the 80. I'm starting my 3rd year on these batteries with no sign of weakening. I'm not the exception...talk to the guys who run em. You'll like it.
What current or wind do you fish in, A 24 wont really get you there faster but hold you there much longer. If you have the room for an extra battery and fish windy days, go for it. You'll need 6 ga wiring and also a 14" jumper wire to go from battery to battery. Yes both battery's should be purchased at the same time and both should be of same size. If you have the room go with group 30. If you dont fish windy days or no current stay with the 12v. If you plan on trolling cranks go 36v.
The main question is how do you intend to use it? If you just cast, single pole, or spider rig the 55 should be sufficient. If you intend to long line for extended periods or pull cranks then the 24 is the route to go. Times 2 on battery being same age and size.
You could run 2 batteries in parallel to double your run time. You would be surprised at how much stronger the 12 volt motor is with 2 batteries wired in parallel. I'm sure some one will chime in to say I'm wrong because the amps don't add in parallel, but things don't always work the way paper and pen says they will. I've done it and it works!
I'm using a 55 - 12V power drive, 18.5 boat, it will pull me about 2.2 mph. When I troll all day I use 2 batteries, run one half the day then flip a switch and run on the 2nd one the rest of the day, that way they dont have to be the same age or size, works good for me.
Hmm. I run an 30pd thrust 12v Minkota Endura transom mount TM and top out at 2.5mph. Your boats are too heavy. :biggrin
Went out today first time with my new I Pilot, 24 volt. Top speed fluctuated 3.0 to 3.2 miles per hour. Pop
I own a BT 175 with the stock 12v 43# Tm and fish a couple electric only lakes, on windy days 10mph and windier I would drain the battery down. Decided to upgrade Tm to a 24v 80# MG XI5 and after much reading and price comparing going to a 24 v system made perfect scents. I added a battery and went to a 3 bank charger but later realized My 50 merc would charge the cranking battery so a 2 bank charger would of been enough, I added a 50 amp fuse and used the stock guage wire and havent had any issues.
I would check to see if your gas motor re charges your cranking battery, if so You would need a 2 bank charger for a 24v TM or check to see if you have a single or a 2 bank charger on the boat now that would let you know if the motor charges the cranking battery.
PS. I love the new Tm never ever have come close to running down the batteries.
Go 24v..IMO there is no such thing as too big, when it comes to elec trolling motors