electric motor advice?

[kdog6]

Hi,

I'm new to the site and pretty inexperienced when it comes to fishing/boating. Having said this, I really enjoy fresh water fishing here on the island and am pretty close to pulling the trigger on a 10ft alluminum Jon boat. I've decided on a 10ft Jon because it will fit in the back of my truck and I won't have to store a trailer in my driveway. I'm not the kind of person who is going to go out fishing every weekend either. I'm hoping that there are a few guys out there who can offer up some advice on an electric motor to pair it up with. I'm not interested in spending a ton of $ and I'm just looking for the best bang for the buck. I'm thinking 300 bucks should cover the motor. If anyone has any thoughts on batteries that would be great as well.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

[24_7Fisherman]

the thing to find out is how much the boat weigh and also how much weight will be in it with you and your gear. I would bet a motor between 40lb thrust and the big 55lb would work perfect.

Im actually heading out tomorrow to buy a 30 or 36lb thrust for use on my 9' pontoon because your not "supposed" to use a bigger one but my dad bought a 50lb LOL

[Zane]

I have a 10ft. aluminum jon boat( old as the hills) on which I run my 40lb. minkota maximiser. the boat weighs about 80lbs. and fully loaded with me and my gear, including motor and battery, around 400lbs. The motor moves the boat along OK but it ain't no speed demon. I am thinking about getting a 3.5 - 4 HP outboard to use on both the 10ft. and my 9ft. pontoon. I use the 40lb. on my pontoon also. That being said, If I have to go a fair distance lots of times I will row to save battery capacity and to watch my sounder. I usually troll a line with a searching pattern when rowing. Just remember that the more thrust that your motor produces, the faster your battery will run down. The battery I currently have, I got at crappy tire last year for about $125.00 ??? I have no complaints about the battery as of yet. Let's see how it lasts.

[count]

As far as batteries in my opinion the best way to go is a sealed gel cell like an Optima. I've run quite a few of these in my toys and have had great results. From what I've read they last longer cause they are sealed. Myself I like the fact that they are sealed, no leaks. They can even be run on their side or upside down with no issue. I wouldn't try that with a regular battery that's for sure. Gel cells are a little more pricey but worth it in my opinion, I wouldn't run anything else.

[kdog6]

I'm thinking a 40lb thrust should do the trick. I'm apprehensive on going to a motor with too much thrust because I don't want it to suck the juice from the battery too quickly.

[kdog6]

As far as batteries in my opinion the best way to go is a sealed gel cell like an Optima. I've run quite a few of these in my toys and have had great results. From what I've read they last longer cause they are sealed. Myself I like the fact that they are sealed, no leaks. They can even be run on their side or upside down with no issue. I wouldn't try that with a regular battery that's for sure. Gel cells are a little more pricey but worth it in my opinion, I wouldn't run anything else.

For the extra money that it costs the gel batteries sound like they're worth it. I'm just not sure size would be the best - obviously the larger the longer it will last but I wasn't sure if there was a preference among guys who use electric motors.
Thanks for the feedback!

[kdog6]

I have a 10ft. aluminum jon boat( old as the hills) on which I run my 40lb. minkota maximiser. the boat weighs about 80lbs. and fully loaded with me and my gear, including motor and battery, around 400lbs. The motor moves the boat along OK but it ain't no speed demon. I am thinking about getting a 3.5 - 4 HP outboard to use on both the 10ft. and my 9ft. pontoon. I use the 40lb. on my pontoon also. That being said, If I have to go a fair distance lots of times I will row to save battery capacity and to watch my sounder. I usually troll a line with a searching pattern when rowing. Just remember that the more thrust that your motor produces, the faster your battery will run down. The battery I currently have, I got at crappy tire last year for about $125.00 ??? I have no complaints about the battery as of yet. Let's see how it lasts.

So would you recommend going to a larger motor with 2 batteries as opposed to your current set up or is your set up sufficient?

[nebc]

So would you recommend going to a larger motor with 2 batteries as opposed to your current set up or is your set up sufficient?

I spoke to an angling guide who was taking a new client out on a lake and he had 4 batteries hooked up and said he did not troll a lot and they would generally last him most of an entire day fishing. His boat was a flat bottomed 4 seater made of wood and appeared to be fairly light weight...(not a drift boat but more a pram style.

[Zane]

So would you recommend going to a larger motor with 2 batteries as opposed to your current set up or is your set up sufficient?

The set up that I have is sufficient to do what it is supposed to do. Trolling. If you plan on using the motor as your primary locomotion, you may want to consider a bigger motor and multiple batteries, however, you will have to contend with increased weight and size. These motors are designed for trolling and when one runs them at max, battery capacity will suffer. The faster and longer you run em, the sooner the battery dies. That being said, I can get at least 2 full days out of my battery if I go easy. I think that for the boat you have, a 40 lb, motor and 1 good battery will be enough. Oh, I don't do a lot of trolling so I do use it for getting from A to B sometimes and when I troll I usually use the oars. I keep a second battery in camp as a backup. I guess you will have to experiment and find out what works for you. If I use the motor on my pontoon, I hardly ever use it for trolling.

[Ruger]

i have a Minn Kota 40lb thrust on a 13ft aluminum. however, said boat also has a 4 stroke 9.9hp on it, has been reinforced with wood and often has two people in it plus their gear, so it's a pretty heavy beast. it's probably 300lbs empty with the engine and gas on board, and add another 350 - 400 for two people and gear. it still goes pretty good. my friends have been quite impressed with how good the little electric pushes the boat along. i use it mainly for trolling, and for sneaking across a shoal. i really like it. i have a marine deep cycle battery that will keep us going for two solid days of fishing, trolling the majority of the day. you don't really use a lot of power just trolling.

but as was said earlier, if you plan to use it as a primary motor, i would wire in two batteries in parallel. i would spring for a small 5 horse 2 stroke, 4 stroke if you can find one for a good price, outboard and use that for getting around the lake and use the trolling motor for trolling. if you're on a larger lake and the wind picks up, an electric won't be the most pleasant to fight the wind with.