Faq And Reviews – About Best Trolling Motor
Sharon asks…
Best trolling motor for my boat?
It is a 16′ 600lb bass boat, that is used in a private owned 18acre lake. I currently use a 28lb thrust and want to know how big i need to get all the speed possible.
Well there is no need to use the biggest out there because once you reach hull speed it wont go any faster without planing and that is not going to happen with a trolling motor. I need to know what lb thrust i need to get the full potential out of the boat.
Yes it is only source of propulsion.
Staff – Customer Service answers:
You could invest another $300 in batteries and switches, the weight to performance issue comes in there.
If the vessel is 16′ on Deck, 14. LWL, and has a 5′ Beam, then one 28lb motor with one Deep Cycle Marine battery would or should push it at trolling speed.
Maybe a little faster, but then you would go through charge cycles like crazy.
Take an oar.
You could get a 50lb or better, anything over 90 is like a waste of batteries.
I use a 35 on my sailboat, is quiet and pushes the vessel at a good 3 knots. I tried a 10hp Outboard on it, was actually just to show my buddy about Displacement and what it really means and the effect on motors.
We tried the 10hp on his SanJaun23 and my Victoria 18, his did 5knots, mine did 4.8knots, which is the hull speed.
Yours is a Planing Vessel, to get that up on plane with electric motors will eat up some batteries, but it can be done.
Just stick with a good reliable low watt/amp motor and enjoy the ride.
Always wear a PFD.
David asks…
What kind of battery is required or best for my 21ft runabout with no trolling motor?
I think I am gonna have to get a new battery do I need a big “deep cycle” battery or what?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Well you just first figure that your self you wont learn anything
you tell me that stop it right now i need help !!!!
Ruth asks…
I have a Minn Kota trolling motor, and im wondering what is the best battery and how much does it cost?
It is trolling a 2 person Jon Boat. Not really going in really deep water, just creeks and some ponds
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Buy the Wal Mart brand. They work well, last and have a good warranty.
Interstate batteries are overpriced and overrated.
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Mount Trolling Motor Boat
Mary asks…
what pound thrust trolling motor do i need on a 14 ft aluminum flat boat?
i just bought a 14 ft jon boat with a 15 hp motor on it and i need a bow mount trolling motor. what pound thrust will push my boat pretty well while fishing where it might get a little windy with little current? i will probably be fishing for a long time around 7 hours so i need it to last that long
Staff – Customer Service answers:
You wont be happy with less than 36. Especially if you are fishing where there is current and wind. Without the 15 horse outboard you could go smaller because the boat would weigh about half as much without it.
Between 36 and 55. Any bigger than 55 and you have to go to a 24 volt system which means two trolling batteries and a starting battery.
Speaking of batteries, thats the biggest factor on how long your motor will last. Not the size of the motor. A deep cycle marine battery is the only thing that will make you happy. Starting batteries are designed to release a bunch of energy in a short time, because thats what it takes to start a motor. Deep cycle marine batteries are designed to release a little power over a long time. Deep cycle batteries are also designed to be run dead and recharged. This will shorten the life of a starting battery, which is intended to stay charged.
A good charger that automatically monitors the charge on your trolling battery will help too. It makes sure you are completely charged before you go. Some also have “tune-up” functions that will refresh an older battery. If you have 250 bucks to blow on a battery. The blue top optimax deep cycle battery is far and away better than the 70 dollar walmart version. But the 70 dollar walmart version will suit your needs just fine.
Sandy asks…
motor mount for inflatable boat?
I finally got myself a trolling motor with 55 lbs. thrust.
Now i need to figure out how to mount it on my boat.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00681538000P?vName=Fitness+%26+Sports&cName=Boating&sName=Boating+Accessories#descriptionAnchor
this is the actual motor mount that is compatible with my boat.
but i do not want to spend the money for it.
any ideas on how to build one? cant be that hard right?
red star marine Navigator ii 500
Staff – Customer Service answers:
For $60 its worth it….I tried to make one for my Intex and it after I got about $50 into it, I needed another part, for that price I could have saved $50 and a whole lot of time and just bough the ready made one from ebay, which I ended up doing and it was only $39, check there or other places for a less expensive one.
Chris asks…
Electric vs Gas Trolling Motor?
I have a 1985 Glastron 18 ft (docs say 17′ 1″). With a 1979 Mercury 200HP motor. The boat has a mount for a trolling motor and the former owner used the 5 HP Briggs.
I wish to contionously troll on a lake (2-3 hrs at a time), not just from spot to spot. Can an electric trolling motor handle this challenge or should I stick with a gas powered trolling motor?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Electric is quiter, but you will need several batteries to push this boat in a breeze.
If you don’t mind the noise, gas is lighter and easier.
I would go with a 10 to 15 hp as it can bring you home if the big motor has troubles.
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Install Trolling Motor
Lizzie asks…
How much would this car mod cost?
I was looking at this article/YouTube video about how they took a scion tC and made numerous modifications to it. Mainly there were three things that caught my eye. One where they switched out the motor with a completely different motor going from a 4 cylinder to a V8 (along with a turbo i’m sure), and the other one turning it into a Rear Wheel Drive instead of front wheel, and along with that they changed up the transmission. (Here is the URL for the article in case you were curious – http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/video… – ) (And here is the URL for the YouTube video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSaw5kEjU… – ) I know it’s a rally car but that’s besides my point.
HERE IS MY QUESTION – And before you go and Troll and criticize about my car selection STFU
Now then… I Love the look of the Hyundai Tiburon. Particularly this one – http://www.ibherdesign.com/hyundai-tibur… – However I am aware that this car sucks when it comes to performance/engine/etc.
1. How big of an engine could you put in it? (How much Hp/Torque/Etc.)
2. How much would the engine cost?
3. How much would it cost to install it?
4. How much would it cost to switch out the transmission to a better one? (if needed)
5. How much would it cost to switch it from front wheel drive to Rear Wheel Drive?
6. How much would it cost to do all of that?
So pretty much I’m asking how much would it cost to do the same thing they did to the rally car to the Tiburon.
Thanks ahead of time!!!
Random
Staff – Customer Service answers:
The scion you saw was a rally car and they put hundreds of thousands of dollars in to those cars. To turn a car from front to rear drive can cost $5000 if not more. The motor and tranny could cost at least $7500. All of the labor would cost way more the car was worth new. It is a really cool idea though. I would love to see it done. But ideally its not something everyone can do.
Paul asks…
Run-Rite or Terra Clean?
I recently purchased a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix (Base model). It has high mileage on it (177,400 km’s roughly), so I’ve done a couple of things to help with maintenance. I did a :
- Transmission flush (not a simple spill ‘n’ fill)
- Run-Rite treatment
I went to my local Mr. Lube to get these things done. The transmission fluid was really dirty (they showed me the pan full of the dirty oil) and there was lots of debris in the pan, so I was satisfied with the tranny flush. I noticed it sort of slips from 2nd to 3rd gear (which was my motivation to get it done in the first place) and was hoping the flush would help but so far it hasn’t. FYI….I also threw in a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix http://www.lucasoil.ca/products/product.asp?id=43&cat=Automotive when I had the transmission flush.
I got the idea for the fuel injector flush (Run-Rite) at my local Speedy shop (I was having a Dynomax Cat-Back exhaust system installed http://www.pfyc.com/GP5002.html ) and saw a poster for “Terra Clean”. That day I was pressed for time, so I didn’t do the Terra Clean.
So when I had the time, that’s when I went to Mr. Lube for the transmission flush and I asked about a fuel injector cleaning/flush and they said they use “Run-Rite”. I figured since I was there, I may as well save some time so I went ahead with it. I went on YouTube and did a search for both “Run-Rite” and “Terra Clean”. For Run-Rite plenty of videos came up from some user “edaptive”. I was really looking forward to reading some of the comments but interestingly enough, all of this persons videos have comments disabled. That kinda set off an alarm with me. Why no comments? This really left me with the impression that they had something to hide. And I don’t buy the argument that they wanted to discourage trolls fom bad mouthing them. It’s the internet; there’s plenty of other sites for them to troll. Then I started Googling both “Terra Clean” and “Run-Rite” and started going through some of the hits. Terms like “snake oil” are constantly thrown around but I’d like to know the opinion(s) of somebody who’s actually used the products.
I’m unable to change my motor oil, because they put something in my crank case (part of the Run-Rite cleanse I guess) and I have to let it run for like a month and then change the oil (I’ll change it myself anyways) but I paid for the Run-Rite treatment so I might as well let it work it’s magic (if it does anything at all). I plan on changing the motor oil next month. I’ll be adding 1 bottle of Motomaster Formula 1 Engine Flush http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/AutoFluidsChemicals/EngineCleaneEngineDegreasers/PRD~0381337P/Motomaster%252BFormula%252B1%252BEngine%252BFlush.jsp?locale=en and I’ll be using Mobil 1 Extended Performance Motor Oil (Synthetic) http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/AutoFluidsChemicals/EngineOils/PRD~0289431P/Mobil%252B1%252BExtended%252BPerformance%252BMotor%252BOil.jsp?locale=en and the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/FiltersTuneUp/EngineFiltersPCV/PRD~0171633P/Mobil%252B1%252BExtended%252BPerformance%252BOil%252BFilter.jsp?locale=en . I normally don’t like to use things like an engine flush. I’ve always believed that buying a good motor oil should be the way to prevent excessive engine wear/tear. But since I bought it with such high mileage and it runs a bit rough, I will be doing the engine flush, I’m going to add the synthetic oil and I plan on throwing a bottle of Restore Engine Restorer & Lubricant http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/3/AutoFluidsChemicals/EngineTreatments/PRD~0380290P/Restore%252BEngine%252BRestorer%252B%252526%252BLubricant.jsp?locale=en .The Restore seems to have some honest good reviews. But these days you never know if it’s legitimate or just some plant who’s spreading the good word for his product.
Again, I normally wouldn’t be doing the engine flush or the Restore but….it is a used car and not running as smooth as it could be. So why did I buy it? Because it’s what I could afford. Wanna troll and be all judgmental? Well I guess that’s your prerogative. But for those of you who can offer some USEFUL information (and can back it up with some links/reading materials), I’d like to know what you think of both Terra Clean and Run-Rite.
And for those of you wondering why I gave you such a long story about the other things I did to my car (when I’m primarily interested in Terra Clean and Run-Rite), it’s because I did use up 5 points for my question and I wanted to get some feedback on those other items as well. 
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Wow… You sure did use up your 5 points heh well lets start tearing this apart
First off any good tech will tell you any additive (as you stated) is a waste of money, it doesn’t help and it isn’t going to do any magic tricks and make your transmission stop slipping
If the motor itself is running rough, i suggest you attempt to get the codes (any stored codes) off of the computer and do a simple tuneup (plugs, cap, wires), that alone might fix the “Running Rough” issue, also O2 sensors as well i can guarantee no one has planted new ones in there, also clean your EGR valve thats probably not sealing correctly either its really simple and change out your PCV valve as well its a little $3 part and with a high mileage car its worth it or give it a simple shake see if you can hear it rattle if you can’t change it
With the transmission slipping nothing is going to fix this but a rebuild, keep the transmission fluid full and light throttle between 2nd and 3rd as to not put strain on your planetary gear set which is probably the problem (worn teeth) although it could be a solenoid again get your codes ripped from your computer that might throw a sensor code from your trans i know through the little bit i know about trans hydraulics and mechanical ways lock your gears and leave others moving, a bad solenoid or something like that could be your problem, need to get that checked professionally though as I personally don’t know much about transmissions or differentials, anything else i pretty much know at least the basics of, but again this is just a precaution on my part so you don’t take your car in and demand that this is the problem ALWAYS listen to the tech i hate people who come in saying “My friend told me this was wrong” well that isn’t the problem idiot throw your money down the drain because you DEMAND the repair be done, sorry little rant there…
If you change your oil yourself, make sure your lubing all of your spots (U joints, Ball joints, Tie rod ends etc. Etc.) if you don’t have a grease gun go to your local autozone and buy one puff up the rubber boot to the point of swelling, just a little bit of a “Poof” don’t over do it you don’t want to be replacing that part soon.
As for your transmission flush, if the car wasn’t slipping from second to third you may have threw some crud out of your planetary gear set resluting in the slipping which why most tech’s suggest that you do a drain and fill if your trans fluid is black and yes it can destroy your trans i’ve had it happen 4 times now and already won 2 cases in court, one has already given me a summons to court, the other one i think isn’t going to but meh its life i’ll win anyway i have documentation signed by them but they insist just like they insisted on that flush that killed their car but meh oh well.
Another thing i just seen in your post as i’m being lazy and not adding it in is the fact that you got a new exhaust, if by any chance your car ran good with no stumble before you may need to have a mechanic mess with your timing and possibly change the programming on your computer to compensate for the loss of back pressure as your car is a 2005, which i suggest to anyone that 2004 and newer keep their old exhaust stock as your back pressure will affect with engine performance, i know you want to hear the roar of your engine but in all honesty you need to have your timing and possibly your computer flashed to compensate or re-install your old exhaust, if it doesn’t bother you by all means keep driving it, but if it is stumbling and acting weird ever since the exhaust has been put on you may want to look into it.
Ruth asks…
How much would this car mod cost?
I was looking at this article/YouTube video about how they took a scion tC and made numerous modifications to it. Mainly there were three things that caught my eye. One where they switched out the motor with a completely different motor going from a 4 cylinder to a V8 (along with a turbo i’m sure), and the other one turning it into a Rear Wheel Drive instead of front wheel, and along with that they changed up the transmission. (Here is the URL for the article in case you were curious – http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/video… – ) (And here is the URL for the YouTube video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSaw5kEjU… – ) I know it’s a rally car but that’s besides my point.
HERE IS MY QUESTION – And before you go and Troll and criticize about my car selection STFU
Now then… I Love the look of the Hyundai Tiburon. Particularly this one – http://www.ibherdesign.com/hyundai-tibur… – However I am aware that this car sucks when it comes to performance/engine/etc.
1. How big of an engine could you put in it? (How much Hp/Torque/Etc.)
2. How much would the engine cost?
3. How much would it cost to install it?
4. How much would it cost to switch out the transmission to a better one? (if needed)
5. How much would it cost to switch it from front wheel drive to Rear Wheel Drive?
6. How much would it cost to do all of that?
So pretty much I’m asking how much would it cost to do the same thing they did to the rally car to the Tiburon.
Thanks ahead of time!!!
Random
Staff – Customer Service answers:
You’re looking at an expensive and time consuming transformation. You’re probably looking in the $15,000-$20,000 range, depending on the engine, tranny, and the extent of the modifying that will need to be done to the structure of the car.
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Trolling Motor Battery Life
Jenny asks…
what size trolling motor should i go for… 30lbs to 55lbs thrust? 1980′s coleman crawdad approx 11-12 feet
i’m looking to redo this boat as i only use it on small lakes/ponds it should do fine. the gas motor that i previously used no longer runs. i’m looking for something that will let this boat cruise easily around with some decent battery life. the motors that i’m looking at are minn kota endura 30/36/55.
thanks for the responses… i think i’ll get with the 55 since i’ll be doing some river fishing too. i have a ever start maxx-29, 125ah battery. hopefully it’ll do the trick!
Staff – Customer Service answers:
I’d recommend a 36 or higher. Keep in mind at the top speed setting the battery life of an average deep cycle battery will only be about 2 hours. You might get a little more time out of top-of-the-line deep cycle batteries (like the Batteries Plus Optima). I’d suggest getting two batteries (make sure they’re deep cycle batteries, regular car batteries will drain much, much faster) and hooking them in parallel. This will double the time you can spend on the water.
Carol asks…
Can I use a Car battery for my small fishing boat?
I have a small 12 foot alum fishing boat with a small sonar and a 38# thrust trolling motor. I also have a 1yr old car battery (from a totalled car) available for use.
I know the car battery isn’t a marine battery and that there’s a reason to use marine over auto batteries for boats, but I won’t hurt anything by using the car battery in the boat, will I? (Other than shortening the eventual life of the car battery.)
Staff – Customer Service answers:
I look at this different than most. I use a car battery for my boat it is a 16′ bass tracker. I use it to start the motor and run the trolling motor, bilge pump, aerators, and fish finder. I have no problem in running it all day. It will drain a car battery but it will also drain a marine battery. It will shorten the life of a car batter but it is warranty for 5 yrs. A marine battery is warranty for one year. My car battery usually last for 3 years doing this and I get a pro rated replacement which ends up in about 1/2 the cost of the battery. A car battery cost about half as much as a marine battery and I only get one year maybe 2 out of the marine battery. Now you do the math on it.
So go ahead and use the car battery, just charge it up each time and enjoy.
Lisa asks…
what amp rate should I charge my deep cycle battery?
I am charging a deep cycle battery (enigizer) for use on a trolling motor. Is there a preferred method for the amp rate at which I charge it? The battery charger I have has a 2, 10, and 15 amp rate. I also have a charger which has 2, 6, and 8. Does the rate make a difference? I have time to charge it will charging at different rates give me longer life on the lake? Thanks
Staff – Customer Service answers:
If time is not a factor use the 2 amp charge. But if the battery is totally ran down from a previous fishing trip, the battery, even if left overnight will not fully charge using the 2 amp setting. But it is always best to use the trickle charge setting if you can do so. It will put a more complete charge in your battery and your battery will have a longer life time. I fish daily and run my batteries down completely each day. Then I am forced to use the higher settings on my chargers, but when you run a battery totally down and fast charge it in order to be able to use it the next day it as I do, the batteries just do not last very long. You can only run one down completely and recharge it only so many times. I have never had a battery last over 14 months in the last 16 years. But now I am going to go with 2 batteries so that I can trickle charge for 24 hours on each battery before using it instead of 9-12 hours.
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Best Trolling Motor
Sandra asks…
What is the best way to set up a trolling motor on a fishing kayak?
I want to put a trolling motor on my kayak to make it pretty much hands free. Where u he eat place to put it? If there is any way to neatly put a foot controlled trolling motor on it, that woul be even better?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
If you have a sit upon kayak here is a great idea using a plastic crate with a motor mount affixed on it. The battery fits in the crate which is mounted in the kayak behind your seat.
Http://www.martialartsacademy.org/quietmanelectrickayak.htm
kayak motor mounts and trolling motors designed to mount on kayaks
http://www.islandhopperoutboards.com/index.html
video on stern mounted trolling motor, with steering and throttle in the cockpit.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P98yqlKc4k8
hope this helps
Donald asks…
What is the Best way to set up a transducer of a fishfinder to your electric trolling motor?
Best way to set up a transducer of a fishfinder to your electric trolling motor
Staff – Customer Service answers:
I would use a hose clamp
Ken asks…
What is the best foot operated trolling motor for fresh/salt water?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Minn Kota has got to be the best as far as for pound for pound, I know the older moto guides are a pain to operate, the newer ones look about the same with a little power button on the right hand side of the foot pedal, the minn kota has about and inch and a half round nob to step on and is really dependable, most guys that have motor guides carry a spare with them. I have an 18 foot ranger and a maxx74 on it and don’t have any problems with the wind, I did put a 40 all-terrain on it for a bit due to the fact the old trolling motor that came on it finally went bad, that was an old johnson/evinrude. As soon as I got the money for the maxx74 I purchased one and absoultely love it, no more getting blown down a lake. Some times you can find a deal on ebay on them or bass pro, cabella’s has a bargin cave and you may get a great deal their online also. Minn kota makes saltwater motors also. Good luck
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Mount Trolling Motor
William asks…
Where can I mount my trolling motor on a closed bow boat?
I have a 16’6″ foot boat with a closed bow. There is a hand operated trolling motor mounted to the transom and I have a 50 hp motor there to. It is kinda tight with both of them there and I want to put a trolling motor with autopilot somewhere on the boat. Where is a good place to mount this new motor I have on my closed bow boat.
Staff – Customer Service answers:
On the closed boat> That’s where most mount them> The cables are long> Hope you don’t have a bow rail??
Laura asks…
How to shorten the shaft on a bow mount trolling motor?
Can anyone give me detailed instructions on how to shorten the shaft on a minnkota cable driven trolling motor
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Completely disassemble the motor . Cut the shaft. Shorten the wires. Reassemble the motor . It’s not a difficult job to take it apart . If it’s a steel shaft , it may be beyond the ability of a common hack saw , and require a machine shop . Mark the wires before you take it apart, so you know what goes where when it’s time to reassemble. Seal the bottom head with silicon before it goes back in the water
Nancy asks…
where can i get a trolling motor mount?
I am going to buy a trolling motor for my canoe but it doesnt have a mount to put it on. So where can I get a mount for a canoe to put a trolling motor on?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
I am afraid you left out a key point about the canoe. We really need to know if it is a flat back or pointed canoe to really point you towards the right mount. I have a friend that uses this on his flat back canoe –> http://goo.gl/gIJ3p
@ksbigbass
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Install Trolling Motor
Mary asks…
Cheapest product to make boat have power trim?
I have a 17 ft bass tracker with a 40 hp johnson tracker outboard…..
I have buttons on the throttle and on a console in the front of the boat next to the trolling motor plug in
Obviously these buttums dont work because the boat wasn’t installed with the tilt/trim
i was wondering if there is a cheaper way than a 650 dollar
CMC Power Tilt and Trim
i plan to install all of the necessary components myself to help on saving money
Please Help
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Bottom line, the CMC will work and that’s a fair price (retail). The other answers are Ok but finding a used intermediate housing with trim is a very low percentage because so few of these engines were so equipped and trim tabs will help but they will not do the same job a T&T will do. I think I’d look for a used 50 HP or 70 HP that has a T&T. Sell your current motor and pick up a used larger engine (3 cyl). Stay away from Force or other discontinued motors. Go with Johnson/Evinrude or Mercury.
Mark asks…
Should I get another boat battery and On Board Battery Charger?
We recently bought our first boat. Its an outboard 16 ft 1989 Sea-Ray. We are new to boating and have a few questions we need answered before memorial day weekend! We bout the boat in Feb. this year and took it out for a short trip in April on a small lake and it started right up and ran great after never charging the battery. Its now almost June and am wondering if we need to recharge the battery before we take it out again. And I am seriously considering getting an On Board Battery Charger and another battery but money is kind of tight. Ive done some research on them and I know how they work but Im just wondering if its really necessary to get all this right now or if I could just buy a new battery and switch it over if one battery goes dead instead of installing an on board battery charger. We do have a stereo that will be hooked up and a fish finder but that’s about it no trolling motor or anything. Also if any one has any info on transomsupports and if they are worth it that would be great. Like i said we have an outboard and plan on trailering it at least 150 miles each way a couple times a month. Im wondering if it is really needed or if I could wait on that too. Thanks for any help im just a little confused and just want to have a stress-free day out on the lake!!
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Your outboard has an alternator to keep the battery charged while the main engine is running. The sonar will draw almost no current, but the stereo…depends on how much power it uses, and how long you spend anchored up in “party cove” with the tunes blasting vs running up & down the lake (which will recharge the battery). Also, the output of your outboard; some older motors have only 4- or 6-amp alternators, but modern V-4 & V-6′s output 35 or more amps.
You can always experiment by playing the stereo in the driveway and measure the battery voltage with a voltmeter and crank the motor every so often. Then you’ll know how long it takes the radio to drain the battery to the point of not starting the motor.
The trick to rope-starting a very large outboard is to remove half the spark plugs (makes it twice as easy to start), crank it and let it idle up to operating temp — a warm motor should start with just a fraction of a crankshaft rotation. Shut it off, reinstall the plugs and away you go.
You can use a marine deepcycle battery (or a dual-use cranking/deepcycle) for cranking (as long as it has enough cranking amps for your motor), and it will give you better service than a cranking battery. Don’t use an automotive battery — they aren’t made to take the abuse of the boating environment.
12V batteries self-discharge over time, and storage at less than full charge is the main cause of premature battery failure, so you should either get a bench charger and recharge the battery every couple or three weeks between uses, or else an onboard charger with a “float” or “maintain” mode (*not* a 1- or 2-amp “trickle-charger”) that can stay plugged in 24/7 — the onboard charger is the ideal way to maintain a battery.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
if by “transom support” you mean a “transom saver” to hold the motor while trailering, yes by all means use one. You can wait on it, however — if you have enough clearance to trailer with the motor vertical, that’s best. Otherwise, you have to secure it in the tilted up position — the power tilt is *NOT* sufficient to hold it for trailering, and neither is the “tilt lock” mechanism.
If you mean your transom is soft, there’s nothing you can do but replace the entire transom — fastening a support to rotten wood is really no support at all.
Daniel asks…
Where is an entrepreneur who will import solar powered motor bikes to SA?
I have found a very interesting scooter: (Unfortunately it is all in german)
http://www.solarserver.de/store/kategorie.kategorie-35.html
It is powered by electricity gained from a solar panel installed in the garden or yard. This panel can produce up to 250-280kWh Electriciy per year, that would be enough for about 10 000 km environment friendly riding
Surely this would beat the power and fuel problems in SA: And stealing such a bike would not bring a thief far unless he has a supply of elctricty for it.
A tip for potential trolls: This is not meant as solicitation!!
Staff – Customer Service answers:
I read an article some time ago that compared the price of the solar panels and the power saving over the life of the panels. It financially balanced out. But the obvious advantages are to the environment.
I believe the panels only last between 8-10 years.
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Trolling Motor Battery Case
Ken asks…
What is the best way to make a pontoon boat?
I found a site that uses plywood http://www.jemwatercraft.com/pontoon.php , drums, and pvc. My boyfriend wants to make a small pontoon, between 6 and 12 feet long, out of 10″ or 12″ pvc. What is the best way to make it? It’s going to be used on a river for fishing, primarily shallow, he only wants a trolling motor and some oars in case the motor runs out of battery.
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Here is a great site on building the rebel cat sailboat (a pvc pipe sailboat) you can take the hull shape idea and use it to design your boat. He uses traffic cones to streamline the stern ends of the pvc pipe and heats and shapes the bow ends of the pipe to a point.
Http://rebelcat.com/RebelCat-5-Intro.html
http://rebelcat.com/
more raft making info
http://www.raftplan.com/index.aspx
http://johnosoriobuck.com/bostonraft.htm
sounds like a great project
hope this helps
John asks…
Gas or electric trolling motor on my 14′ Fiberglass v-hull?
I just need to know if an electric motor would do the job for my boat, or if I should pick a gas motor. Also I would have to rear mount the motor and I don’t have much room. Can I find a gas motor almost that small, or will I be stuck with electric. All I really want is to have something in case my old outboard quits on me in the middle of the lake. I have a deep cycle battery for the main motor, can I use that or will I need to find another.
Staff – Customer Service answers:
An electric motor weighs less and takes up less room. Your boat is small enough that a large electric might get you in. However, I tried that on a small aluminum 12′ boat and when I encountered a moderate head wind and a few weeds, I stopped dead in the water. You could use the same battery since you only plan on using it if your main engine fails. How about just taking along a cell phone and a few phone numbers of nearby marinas. Also just flagging down a passing boat for a tow works pretty good here in the Midwest where I live. You would spend more on a back up then you will in tows.
Charles asks…
What should I do with a 12V deep cycle battery that has spilled some electrolyte?
I had an Everstart 12V deep cycle battery in the trunk of my car. The battery tipped over and spilled some electrolyte from the vent caps. It laid on its side for about 12 hours that day before I found it. There are two vent caps with three vent holes each. I opened the caps and noted that the fluid level is slightly below what I think are the lead plates. The voltage at this time is 12.34 V. The battery was last charged about one month prior to today. It is a fairly new battery and only been used on a trolling motor three to four times and discharged to about 12.3 V each time.
I know that some batteries can be topped off with distilled water, but this is to be done if the electrolyte solution has evaporated. In the case of water evaporation, topping off with distilled water will maintain the proper electrolyte concentration. However, if electrolyte has been spilled instead of evaporated, then topping off with water could result in a diluted electrolyte solution.
So, in practical terms, what can I do with this battery? Can I charge it and use it as it is? Should I top it off with distilled water? Or would it require sulfuric acid for a top-off since the electrolyte was spilled rather than evaporated? I don’t think I want to bother to top-off with H2SO4. I would rather buy a new battery. Please advise.
Staff – Customer Service answers:
If you have lost electrolyte, go to an auto parts store and buy a quart of battery acid to re-fill the cells. Sears and some auto parts stores have a red colored filler bulb to top off the cells without spilling. You can also use it to top-off cells with distilled water when ever the need is necessary.
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Best Trolling Motor Battery
Steven asks…
Deep cycle marine battery?
I realize a for best efficiency a deep cycle battery (12v) requires a deep cycle charger. I already have 4 12v chargers. They range from a trickle charger, 6-10 AMP charger , 10 amp automatic charger and 10amp charger, I sure don’t want to buy another one, but none are rated for deep cycle batteries. I have a deep cycle battery in a boat that powers a trolling motor, I usually charge it with one of my conventional chargers. Is a deep cycle charger going to be af any real benefit to me?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
There ain’t no such thing. “deep cycle charger” is just a conventional battery charger. Use the automatic charger. Once the amperage has decreased to 1Amp or so, leave in on for a few more hours and then disconnect it. Deep cycle batteries are usually just conventional lead acid batteries with thicker plates and a slightly difference geometric construction to allow for greater buildup of sulfates on the bottom of the case. Chemically, they are identical to conventional batteries, but are not designed to delivery very high starting currents. You could use any charger designed for lead acid batteries.
Thomas asks…
so i have a solar power battery charging question…?
I guess the best way would be to explain what i want to do.. I’m looking to buy a small boat and power it with an electric trolling motor. I’m pretty sure that they use a 12v battery for their power source. Now what i would like to do is hook up a solar panel on the boat that will contantly be charging the boat.
So now i have a few questions..
1.Will a regular car battery work? or do i need a deep cycle battery?
2. How large of a solar panel will i need, for it to take about 20 hours or so to charge as i intend to use the boat daily, or if i never used a full battery in a day say i only used 50% or so what rating should i look for when buying the panel to keep the battery charged daily?
3. Is it possible to leave the solar panel hooked up while i’m using the battery?
I am basically looking for a simple inexpensive as possible self sustainable setup that will allow me to never have to worry about charging the battery
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Hi Kris. As fate would have it, we have the exact boating arrangement you are talking about. There are several options, it all really comes down to how much performance you can afford. Our little boat has a 30 pound thrust motor and a 65 amp hour deep cycle marine battery. I am charging it with a 55 watt panel. First off, there is lots of misinformation about batteries. A deep cycle battery is designed to handle discharges and recharges, but that doesn’t mean that they are good for them. If the sun is shining and you’re trolling, by all means use the panel as well. The motor will probably use anywhere from 5 to 20 amps, the panel only puts out 3. Even if you stop running the motor for a bit, the 3 amps can feed back into the battery while you are stationary. The only battery type that developes a, “Memory,” from cycling like this is the old Nickle Cadmium we used in cordless tools and toys for years. A lead acid does not have these issues. You can call the tech support guys at Trojan, Interstate or Exide and they will tell you the same thing. Better yet, stop at the library and check out, “The Complete Battery Book,” by Richard Perez and read the chapters on lead acid batteries. Our entire home is powered by solar, wind and batteries, has been for almost 10 years, and we’ve already made all the mistakes.
As far as using a car battery, you can for a year or so, but it will fail after that. Car batteries have thin, light weight pourous plates designed only to give out heavy amperage for short bursts, enough to start the motor, then recharge all the time while you drive. To deeply discharge these types of batteries is to subject them to abuse for which they were not designed. Good deep cycle batteries have solid lead plates, and they are heavy.
A 55 watt panel like ours is about 18 inches wide and 40 inches long, and might cost about $200. At 3 amps maximum current, you can leave it hooked to a deep cycle lead acid battery all the time. The rule of thumb is if your panels maximum amperage is less than 2% of the battery’s amp hour capacity, then no charge controller is needed, the panel can never overcharge the battery. All you need between the panel and battery is a diode, one with enough current capacity to handle the panels amp rating. Most panels come with them already installed in the junction box today, check to see if yours has one, or several inside already. The bad news is it will probably not keep up with daily use either. Ours doesn’t, but it takes a good bite out of our charging needs. So now if we use our boat several hours a day, even if it’s sunny, at least once a week, I take out the battery and hook it to a regular automotive charger overnight to bring it back up to full.
If you decide on a larger panel, and the panels amps exceed 2% of the battery’s amp hour rating, then you will need a charge controller between the panel and battery in case the battery fills up on a sunny day and you’re not using the boat. You can also use several panels together, as long as they are all about the same voltage. Look on the back of the panel, if they all have an, “Open Circuit Voltage,” around 16 – 19 volts, you can wire them in parallel and into a 12 volt charge controller. As far as never having to charge the battery, you might be asking a lot from your panel. A 30 pound motor, the smallest I’ve seen, still uses 10 – 20 amps at full power. If you want to use solar only, you’ll need something like 10 – 15 amps worth, or about 200 watts, a costly and fairly large array, maybe $800, and it might take up all your boat space. Another option is to charge the boat battery while you drive, if you tow your boat. You can run a line from your battery back to the trailer hitch, and use a separate trailer light harness, different from the one you have now that hooks your boat battery to the car battery. Just plug it in after you start the motor, and the boat will charge from the car alternator while you drive home.
If you want some real horsepower, skip the marine battery and opt for two Trojan T-105 batteries. They are made for golf carts. They are really heavy and well made, only 6 volts, that’s why you’ll need two, and they have a capacity of 220 amp hours. Two hooked in series will give you 12 volts at 220 amp hours. Now you can drive a 175 watt panel into them without a charge controller if you like, just make sure to water the cells at least once a month, they will go through distilled water pretty regularly. We plan on upgrading our little boat with T-105′s this year just to carry additional loads, like lights, freshwater pump and fish finder so we can troll after dark too, but we’ll probably stick with the one small panel for space, and just recharge a couple times a week at home.
There is a great periodical that covers the nuts and bolts of hardware like this, it’s called Home Power Magazine, I’ll include link below. Good luck trolling, and take care, Rudydo
Paul asks…
boating questions thruster t30?
Can i Use a Thruster T30 trolling motor as a Main Transom Outboard Engine on a 12′ Fiberglass Game-fisher how long will it last on one battery?Best types of battery‘s to buy for durability and long lasting? its Stats and speeds? Can i use a Car battery instead? What are the benefits of using a car battery verses a marine battery?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Yes u can use it just get u a deep cycle battery auto or marine
Courtesy of Y!Answers
Faq And Reviews – About Trolling Motor Repair
James asks…
Throttle slip’s on my 1973 Evinrude 4hp?
The guy at the sevice facility told me this can not be repaired but I beg to differ. (I think he was trying to get me to buy a new motor in a sneaky manner) LOL! .
But the throttle does not want to stay put so I can troll or buzz up stream at full throttle to where I want to go. I have taken to tying a twine to the throttle handle so I can face forward.
NOT safe as thing is a fishing/duck hunting boat that goes in the shallows and the prop occasionally hits gravel and mud and if I get lazy and tie it offf well I wouldn’t be able to shut it down instantly not safe ,stupid
somebody else told me it has a slippy throttle as it is a motor designed to put on a skiff to service sailboats that have to anchor in deep ports and the throttle slips in case the boozed up partiers on the party boat fall over the thing does not just take off so they might just be able to save them self’s by getting back on the boat and they don’t go see Capt Posiden glug glug.lol.
I can’t seem to find an exploded diagram on the net of the thing and I am really fed up with the library here for several reasons which shall not be a topic here. so I am not going in to see if they have a manual. (Actually the city is so broke they can not afford to pay for the Sr. Citizen/disabled goto the Dr.’s office/shopping center van service and they went ahead and built a NEW library. Hey that’s OK…as its only 5 stories tall) And they are looking for someone to blame that big ole credit card swipe on and buddy it aint gonna be ME!
Back to the motor it looks to me that no one has had it apart as it has the factory emmeron paint still on the bolts holding it together
So it is all good in there no knuckleheads have monkey wrenched it
and if someone could could send some info this way as to how to repair the slippy throttle I would be grateful.
as then I would have a beautiful 4 hp trolling motor, (after I repair it) lol)
Staff – Customer Service answers:
BRP has the factory parts list at : http://epc.brp.com/Index.aspx?lang=E&s1=03848a12-6ef2-4ab5-9561-de27144f3e60
but I think what your looking for is the friction bushing part no. 0312856…..you might also need 0314815 which is a rubber bushing. This is what puts the friction on the throttle lever. The parts may no longer be available or the numbers changed but any Evinrude dealer can help with that. OR you can take the strap/clamp off (2 screws) and wrap something around the shaft and reinstall.
I hope this helps.
Carol asks…
Is your Spouse Like mine? or what? He Keeps about everything !?
OK Here’s the deal of it. My spouse seems to never throw away anything that belongs to him ! It gets on my last nerve sometimes so i am vented here and want to know if you have the same problem and what you do about it? So anyway for one, He has a real old Boat. It has been parked in our drive way for a very long time not being used ! Ok at first it was there not being used cause He had no truck to pull it with anyway. So now he has a truck so i am waiting to see when summer comes If he will actually move it or Fix it? It has flat tires and a old motor but he claims to have a trolling motor for it in the building that works. I had told him the motor was tore up and no good so then he said the trolling motor still works. well i had a friend to tell me why do you all just keep that boat there all these years, trash it ! I can’t its not mine and one day along time back a guy stopped by and ask me if he would sell it but he never did! he just keeps it and said One day He’s going to fix it but that day has never came yet! Another one is He has a Treadmill someone gave to him so it needed fixing the belt .so he did fix that then the Deck broke now He keeps saying he is going to fix it soon as he can order the part or get the money for the part ! problem is he bought another treadmill . its used too, so He has Two treadmills now! he has had them for awhile and the one he bought was messing up so months later he did finally fix it but said it will need that part or tare up again one day. but problem is he Puts stuff off , and I ask him why do you need Two treadmills? He said he is keeping one of them, the best one but he still keeps both as of now. He is suppose to get rid of one, I told him to keep the one he wants and get rid of the other one! but we will see when that happens! And now he has a bench in there in the same room with not enough room for all that stuff. so i said when you get something new or old you gotta get rid of something to make room for the new one! He just gets mad or ends up keeping it all. So another thing is I got another stereo for the living room a used one but it works so my old one is messed up it won’t play cds it skips and other problems with it so i wanted to get rid of the old one but He wants to keep it ! what for? I ask him were you gonna put it ? he said he don’t know yet! So i tell him its not worth fixing they said at the place when i called and told them what was wrong with it. They say its cheaper to buy One then to pay for repair cost! so now my new/used one works great and looks much better too but why does he want to keep the old one that’s messed up? I firmly think that if its no good throw it away or if its usable give it away ! But this man he dont’even throw away old shirts! I have to clean out the closet and don’t tell him If I throw away anything of his . cause He would keep it all! he had a shirt he loved that was all to pieces and he kept that thing forever! he wouldn’t let me trash it. it had rips, holes,and all . well now its gone and I don’t care but he was looking for it. oh i didn’t throw it out he lost it or something, I wouldn’t throw it out cause i knew he liked it to much. but anyway its gone now but you know He didn’t need it . he has plenty more shirts that are thick for the winter. that’s what he claimed that he kept it cause it was good and warm and its cold at work. but he has others ones that’s just as thick or warmer then it was! I buy him heavy sweat shirts for winter so i know he has plenty and they are in good shape. so why i wonder? I get rid of my stuff i don’t wear or need and give it to somebody who might need it but He won’t get rid of nothing!! ok if you’ve read all this then you deserve a Star ! or 100 points ! Thanks !!
yeah I wondered if he was a hoarder. My outside building is full of crap ! Thats why I dont ever go out there to look in it ! its a mess. yrs. ago I cleaned it out once and then later on He junked it back up again so I said I will never clean it again, and I didn’t, its his problem . but I’m trying to not let him bring junk into the house !
Staff – Customer Service answers:
Honestly…I put my husbands stuff on craigslist. “YOU WANT IT,COME GET IT!” LOL I toss his old shirts while he’s at the store and honestly…he’s never asked about it b/c he just forgets. Lol Have someone take the boat while he’s a work or something…once it’s gone, it’s GONE…lol And start getting all of his crap piled up and just give it to good will. Tell him you honestly just can’t take it anymore. You don’t want it to end in divorce but, most people who are married to a hoarder, which YOU my friend ARE, divorce them b/c they didn’t realize how serious the problem was. My father in law is a hoarder and I can’t STAND going to his place…it’s horrible. Best of luck!!!
Helen asks…
How much to sell 2005 Bass Tracker Pro Team 175tx?
I am looking to sell my 2005 bass tracker pro team 175tx
17′
Good condition but on the left side in the back their is deep scratches in one area from hitting the dock other then that normal wear and tear but i can get repaired or will sell as it is with the scratches
60 hp motor one it, mecury in good condition
with fish finder, trolling motor in front
comes with life vests, safety equipment
Livewell w/aerator,recirculator & auto pump out
Navigational lights
Bilge pump
Lots of Rod & tackle storage
2 fishing seats w/backrests & pedastals
12v adapter
3 cup holders
3 life jackets
3 across seating
Only one owner
HOW MUCH CAN I SELL IT FOR?
I am trying to get $6000 is that possible?
Staff – Customer Service answers:
$6k sounds a pretty good price assuming clear titles, good compression on the motor, and a roadworthy trailer.
Courtesy of Y!Answers