Trolling Motor size question

I have an ’85 Monark 16’ Bass Type boat that I am rebuilding. It has an Evinrude Foot Controlled Trolling Motor on it and the manual says it is “15 lbs of static thrust”. I got it running and just listening to it I compared it to the sound of my 50# Minn Kota transom mount and it seems somewhat puny. I would like a newer TM. Here is the quandary: There a few used 40# TMs around but I wonder if they are big enough for my boat. I had the 50# on the back of my 16’ jon and it was not too big, so I am curious if I should bite the bullet and buy a 55# motor, which are harder to find and of course, a lot more expensive.

Check this out and see if one is there that you want. If not post a WTB and tell what you want. You never know what others have for sale till you ask.:twocents

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/personal-classified-ads/

To answer your question, I believe it is easier for a trolling motor to pull a boat around than push it, so you can't go by how one did on the back of a jonboat. Anything over 45 lbs thrust should be sufficient if you are just normal fishing, if you plan to troll, I would look for something with around 80 lbs, it will be easier on the batteries as you can start at lower speed and produce enough momentum to keep boat at speed, thus the battery or batteries will last longer on a charge

The bigger the better in my opinion.Especially if your prone to staying on the Lake when its blowin good,fish current,or use the motor to hold position in the wind occasionally.Also nice if outboard quits and you got to try and limp in. But you can live with a 40# or 45#...just nice to have the extra power if you can swing it. They all seem to work good till the wind starts to get crankin or you get some current.

I agree with Doggone, he just gave you some good advice!

If you ask there is always someone around with a 55 minn kota for sale, at least it seems to be. Lot of opinions out there but hard to beat Minn Kota and has the best shaft in the business.

West marine has a nice guide to sizing trolling motors. Sent a link a while back to scrapper, guess he aint got round to putting it o his links yet. Google search should pul it up.

give this link a look at it might help !!!

https://www.trollingmotors.net/troll...r-thrust-guide

I had seen the West Marine page but the one on trollingmotors.net added some some fuel to to the decision that I need a bigger TM than a 40# motor.

Personally ; for that boat I would shoot for 72 to 80 lbs ; better to much than to little...

If money were no object, I would not be fixing a 30 year old boat. A 70 to 80# motor, along with the extra battery or batteries would put this project way out of my reach. I am trying to justify the expense of a 55# TM over a 40#.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Clint

If money were no object, I would not be fixing a 30 year old boat. A 70 to 80# motor, along with the extra battery or batteries would put this project way out of my reach. I am trying to justify the expense of a 55# TM over a 40#.

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That's a decision nearly every fisherman has had to make at one time or another if they have been doing it a while and have owned some boats. I have a 16 ft Lowe Big John with some wood decks in it and some other stuff adding weight,along with the fat boys who ride with me sometimes. I bought it used with a 40 lb Minn Kota on it. I figure to upgrade when it gives up the ghost.The more powerful motors give you a much wider power band to control speed in the wind. When it gets very strong I just have to kicker to 5 which is too fast or strong where as 4 just wasn't quite enough.

I have a 24 volt 80 lb on my bassboat.To be able to choose between 12 or 24 volt and 5 speeds in each range just lets you find just the right amount of power. But in the right conditions even it is maxed out and thats on only a 17' fiberglass.

I have caught thousands of fish in that jon boat,its seen big and small water ,you learn to work with what you have. But now if you'd offer to swap me straight up for a bigger motor right now I'd say heck yeah you kiddin'

I hear ya ; I bough it for my 17.5 feet nitro because I got tired of getting pushed around in rough weather and I wanted another 20 years out of my boat. Its a rough call I feel for ya...

I believe the largest 12 volt system is 55# thrust. I've got a 55# Minnkota on my 17 ft. Polarcraft, and it's adequate for lakes without much wind. If you're on a river, such as the Tennessee, I bet it would be inadequate.

Well today I made up my mind to go completely overboard and picked up a 107# Motorguide Tour Sonar 36V motor. It bacame available locally and at a price I could not turn down. I have room for the extra batteries, so I decided to try to make it work. I should be able to troll all day and don't beleive I will have any problems going upstream in any of the local rivers. I asked around and everyone said you can go too small with a trolling motor but not too big. We shall see.

Thanks to all who replied.

Awesome ! That will be more than enough power and stamina to go all day. Glad you got a deal...
That much power will throw you out of the boat; Been there, done that... I was lucky I didn't knock myself out on trees on the way down. The guys in the boat fishing behind me got a good laugh out of it though.