2nd tm on boat

Added a 2nd trolling motor to my boat so that I could go fast enough and long enough to troll cranks for crappie. Have an old 17'8" fiberglass ranger. When I bought the boat it came with 12v 55lb thrust minn Kota power drive v2 with ipilot. Long line trolling in spring was primary method of fishing. After putting 2 group 31 batteries in parallel, could troll .8-1.0 mph at power level 3-6 for 9-10 hours no problem, even though trolling motor is under powered for size of boat. When going over 1.0 mph, takes a lot more power. At level 10 (max power) boat would only go 1.4-1.5, and batteries wouldn't last long like that. Would like to have new 36v 112 thrust ultrex with ipilot link, but last I checked, that was around $2,700. Not an option. Had an old motor guide 12v 55 lb thrust tm on pontoon boat with a group 29 battery. Didn't use it when it was on pontoon, so put it on ranger. Pulled cranks the other day for ~7.5 hours at 1.4-1.7mph, running both trolling motors 40-70% power, based on wind, and had just under half charge left in em when done. Lot cheaper fix to get able to pull cranks than new tm. Thought I'd post this, in case it might help someone with similar situation. Here's some pics of setup. Got some rods for pushing & some for pulling.Attachment 269633Attachment 269634Attachment 269635Attachment 269636

HTC .... what rods are those, and how much weight are you using ?? Rods look to be loaded up pretty good, or at least the one in the third pic does. You got more weight on it because it's out front ??

Not dissing ... just curious :scratchhead

They are bn'm pro staff trolling rods. The front two rods are 14' and have a 2oz weight on em, with about a 3' leader going down to a small crankbait. The boat was moving in the pic, so they have some bend in em from the crank in the water. The middle poles are 14' pst as well, still have 2oz weight, but am pushing 2 pony heads with hot grubs, rigged like a Capps and Coleman style rig. The pony heads don't make pole bend as much as crank when moving. Then 3rd poles are 10' pst pulling cranks, no added weight. Sometimes I pull with middle poles as well, just tilt rod holder to straight out. I like to keep around 4' of seperation between poles when pulling.

Ingenuity, I like it. No real expense and getting the job done. I'm impressed that 55 pulled that older ranger as fast and as long as it did. Those things are tanks.

Good job. Country boy can survive.

I think that is great! I appreciate the info shared about your trolling set-up as well. 👍🏻

My question is how do you steer each motor so they are not working against each other? I have enough problem just operating one.

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Originally Posted by Quailtail

My question is how do you steer each motor so they are not working against each other? I have enough problem just operating one.

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I'm betting the hand operated TM is set to always run straight forward and the foot controlled TM is used to steer and make slight course corrections. They "would be working against each other" only in the case where a hard right/left maneuver would take place, but otherwise they'd only be "slightly" working against each other for more subtle changes in direction.

I say that because I have had my 90hp running at idle ... and used my 42lb thrust TM to correct course direction (under certain circumstances) and as weak as the TM thrust is (compared to the idling outboard's thrust) ... it still moved the boat's direction with little effort, even if not on the highest setting.

Good post. Thanks for sharing. Good job.

That's right, I turn hand operated tm on first, set it so it's pulling boat straight ahead and leave it alone. Make turns with the minn kota. It's operated with a remote control. Can also set the cruise control so it keeps a certain speed, it has the ipilot. Doesn't seem like the 2 trolling motors fight each other. Think of the 2nd tm being there just to give a boost of power.

Cewlbenz ... I like it...!!

:ThumbsUp

Rickie

Did the same when I started pulling cranks, basically the same situation except I had a transom mount trolling motor and mounted it on the back of the boat. Gave me time to get my pennies together and move up to 36v, fished a whole cranking season that way with no issues to speak of. Learn to manage my batteries and those lessons have served me well on bad windy days.
Way to figure it out!!! Good job.

when a man needs to troll, he needs to troll. good idea. always thinking of ways to "get it done"