Trolling motor advice

[red_yakker]

I bought a 45 lb thrust Motor Guide Great White a few months back to put on the front of my Riverhawk. I loved it the first several times I used it, but have been having trouble with it lately. It does't work right when it gets wet. Sometimes it won't turn off, sometimes it won't turn on.

The trouble is that it constantly gets splashed with water while I'm under way. I have it mounted so that it lays down on the gunnel when I have it folded up. If I were to move the mounting bracket so that the head of the trolling motor were inside the gunnel of the boat, instead of teetering on the edge, it would get splashed less often. I also plan to move the battery to the back of the boat, in an attempt to help keep the bow up out of the water while under way.

My question is this. This is a saltwater trolling motor, I was under the impression that it could take a dunking and keep on trucking. Am I wrong? If the problem is with it getting too wet, I think I can take care of that, but do I need to have it looked at while it's still under warranty?

Has anyone had similar issues? I've read that the freshwater version of this trolling motor has this problem, but everyone I know who has the saltwater version has been happy with it. Should I have gone with Minn Kota?

[captkeyser]

Not sure if this will help but here is my experience with trolling motors. I used to go through one a year when I owned my 17ft G3 aluminum boat. I tried Minn Kota then Motorguide back to Minn Kota etc. I believe that the issues were due to the trolling motor taking a pounding caused by the rough ride. I have since purchased a fiberglass flats boat and have not had an issue the the Minn Kota that came on it. Your issue may have nothing to do with water, it may be due to the jarring that it takes. Hopefully that helps. YOu may just have to buy a bigger boat.

[Jumptrout51]

Jarring is bad. The water in it doesn't help either.

[wevans]

I just replaced my 7 year old MotorGuide that was on my 17.5 aluminum G3 "fresh water troller, used about half the time in salt and it took a beating in the 1400 hours that the big motor was running" and it was still workin when I replaced it "just a bit noisy and rusty" sounds like a quality control issue for the manufacturer ta me

[captkeyser]

Wish I had that kinda luck with mine... Heck I couldn't even keep my boat together.

[red_yakker]

Thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention that the motor works fine once I remove the cover and let it dry out, and only starts to mess up again if it gets wet. If this is normal, I'm fine with it. I just need to figure out a way to keep it dryer. But if I were to find out that it's supposed to be able to get pretty wet and still work fine, I'd be a bit ticked, and demand a replacement from the manufacturer.

I agree 100% that jarring is bad, but I don't think that's the problem here. It works when it's dry.

[red_yakker]

Unless of course it is the jarring that has loosened up something that has allowed the water to penetrate the electronics when it shouldn't be able to. That may explain why it worked fine for a couple of months and has only recently began to malfunction. Thanks, I think I'm gonna see what the manufacturer will do for me.

[wevans]

I would have a certified repair shop look at it

[silverking]

Funny, but I've never had any issues with my trolling motor--the long, black 22-footer. It starts every time and jarring doesn't bother it in the least.

Seriously, if you can move the mount to reduce the dousing without compromising operation and perhaps make a waterproof cover for the head when you're running, that might solve the problem. If it's still under warranty, now is the time to have it checked though.

There are times when I wish I had a trolling motor, but then I hear some of these stories and am thankful for my push pole.

[red_yakker]

I would have a certified repair shop look at it

Anyone know where one is close to me? I live in Perry. Thanks.

[wevans]

TM Service Center 3452 Garber Dr Tallahassee FL 32303 850-574-4245

http://sites.mercurymarine.com/portal/p ... L&State=fl