Trolling motor recommendations needed

Post by **dbplug** » August 22nd, 2003, 6:28 pm

1720 KW, no bow rail, want a bow mounted TM, DIY job.

Great White or Minn Kota?

Shaft length, Thrust? Will buy beverages if you want to help on a rainy saturday project. Thanks in advance.

Post by **Tom Keels** » August 22nd, 2003, 9:27 pm

Minn Kota. Don't get me started on MotorGuide.

52 pound thrust or better. The shaft legth is a trade off. Too long and it sticks out over the edge of the boat and makes trailering tough if you have tall trailer guides. Too short and the prop will ventilate in a chop.

Post by **Fish Masterson** » August 23rd, 2003, 1:46 am

Tom, where was ya when I bought my Great White? I never heard a bad comment about them until after I bought one. Ya'll are startin to scare me. So far so good, but wonderin if I should be wearin some protective gear when I operate it? From all the negative comments I hear, I'm wonderin if it might 'splode or something!
Fish Masterson

Post by **CSMarine** » August 23rd, 2003, 8:30 am

Hey FM, don't know when you bought your Great White, but a few months back we had a fairly long thread on the two motors. Lot's of folks have different opinions of course. Here's mine; I've owned plenty of both. I prefer a Riptide bow mount hand controlled, no question about it. I fished a few years in local Bass tournaments. I learned to hate a Motor Guide. They were noisy, loose, and I think I've bent the shaft on every one I've ever owned, at least once.
The Rip Tide has a composit shaft. No corrision, no bending

The Motor guide has a metal shaft with a corrosion anoid.(spelling?) The Rip just seems tighter. The Rip Tide also comes with a latched door on the mount so you can remove the motor easily. The 12V Rt 55 is what I have. It's 55Lb of thrust, which pulls my 18'CC around all day fishing the bank. The long shaft is an inconvience, untill you put it in the water. The more shaft you have, the less bending you'll do to reach the handle during the day.
Downside of the Rip Tide is; they have a weak throttle handle stop. I've seen two new ones spin all the way around. Warranty work fixed both. Also they have a weak 1-2 speed. After 3 it controls the bow very well.
This is just my personal uneducated opinions.

Post by **dbplug** » August 23rd, 2003, 8:51 am

Thanks for the replies, keep 'em coming. I was inclined to the Minn Kota RT 55AP, mostly because I fish by myself frequently and would like hands free navigation.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/_swf/index.asp

Will I need a second battery? - I have an Interstate cranking battery, 24M-RD, 400CCA's. Should the trolling motor be on its own separate battery? A Marine Battery? It looks like it should fit in alongside the cranking battery in the well.

Post by **CSMarine** » August 23rd, 2003, 9:30 am

You do need a second Marine Deep Cycle battery for your trolling motor. You should always use a Marine battery if possible. They are designed for the pounding and abuse they get on the water. Your cranking battery is for a sudden surge of power to turn a motor over. Drain it down low too many times and the life is cut short. Deep cycles are designed to drain all the way down and be slow charged back up many times. I have three batterys in my boat. One cranking for the big motor mounted at the stern. Nothing else is on it. One for my trolling motor mounted under the bow. I have one under the console for lights, bildge, and electronics.
I had a trip out once when the live well and electronics was hooked to the starting battery. Didn't do enough running that day and it killed my starting battery. Since then I hook up seperatly. Most folks don't go that far though.

Post by **dbplug** » August 23rd, 2003, 9:44 am

Great info CS, I will probably put all other electronics on the trolling battery(they are minimal - lights, depth, bilge, livewell)

Post by **Fish Masterson** » August 23rd, 2003, 1:49 pm

CS, Yeah I saw the thread a few monthes back but unfortunatley I had already purchased it. I guess I had bought it about a month before that thread, which is why I said that ya'll are startin to scare me. So far it has worked fine, but I have since learned about the different shaft materials and also the minnkota's electronics boards are supposed to be totally sealed off to prevent salt water from ever being to get to them. I guess if I had it to do over again, I would probably go with the minnkota. I did opt for a 67# 24v motor which will darn near take my 18ft aluminum john boat to a plane. My boat drafts very shallow and is easily blown about by the wind so I wanted a strong motor to compensate for that and so far I'm glad I went for the bigger size. I'm not sure of the shaft lenght, but it is fairly short. I installed a Big Foot foot rest and a hot foot switch so I can sit in my chair on the bow and operate it by propping my leg on it and steering it that way. I am a lazy fisherman and that helps me tremendously.

Fish Masterson

Post by **Cranfield** » August 23rd, 2003, 1:54 pm

fish masterson don,t worry, you probably have the one good one they make a year.

Post by **CSMarine** » August 23rd, 2003, 2:49 pm

The 24v is naturally better. Especially at the end of the day when the 12v juice is low, and the tide is running hard. I could have used it in a few creeks and the rivers last winter. Just didn't think it was cost worthy. I hardly ever mount my seat on the bow. I always fish standing up, so I don't need the foot switch. The longer handle for the hand controls would be nice. Bought the Minn Kota extension, but it kept getting in the way when it was up, so I took back it off.

Post by **dbplug** » August 25th, 2003, 4:18 pm

Done it. I have a Minn Kota Riptide RT 65AP I will pick up Friday. Bow mount, 24 volt, 65 Lbs thrust, 52" shaft, foot control, maximizer, auto pilot and copilot. I am really excited.

I have a Blind Fastener, quick release and extra hardware in case. Will be looking for a little piece of starboard this week.

Bought it local for close to the lowest price on the net. Would rather deal local anyday.

If you are not busy Saturday and want to "bone up" on electrical/fiberglass/engineering/beverages, lemme know - old killearn area.

Thanks for all the input.

Post by **CSMarine** » August 25th, 2003, 4:25 pm

Congrats db, I think you'll be happy with it. Thanks for the invite for Sat., but I hope to be on the water either for trout at Keaton, or offshore out of St. Marks. I guess you've seen the threads here on Starboard in Perry?

Post by **dbplug** » August 25th, 2003, 4:37 pm

Thanks CS, yes, I will be in Perry to pick up the motor anyway. Good luck at Keaton and St. Marks. Hope the water has cleared some at SM, no rain in 2 days, must be a record.

Post by **dbplug** » September 11th, 2003, 4:59 pm

Installed MK Riptide 65AP, dual optimas, took about 6 hours - mostly to cogitate and run electrical. Will fill y'all in on next post.

Headed to St. Marks in the morning to let 'er rip. Thanks again for all the input.