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We have been researching trolling motors. Our boat is a 27' tritoon rand weighs between 5000-5500 lbs. We draw about 14 inches of water, but with the engine down about 20". It's hard to sneak up on the fishies with a 250 Merc Verado, so looking for options for stealthy fishing.

Anyone know anything about the Lenco dual digital trolling motors that mount on the transom (on pontoons they mount on the outside pontoons)? I think we would get better control with a bow mount, but like the concept of the Lenco alternative. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

p.s. What about a jack plate? The Verado engine is so quiet, I have to ask if it is started or not. Maybe that would accomplish the job.

My thoughts are you would destroy a aft mounted trolling motor trying to retrieve it before hitting bottom,rocks and bars.
A bow mounted troller can be retrieved easily.
The jack plate is a good idea regardless.
It will give you 6 more inches of clearance when topped out.

a jack plate is a great idea

You will probably need the biggest 36v electric motor you can find. I have an 85# thrust and my boat weighs half as much as yours. A jackplate is never a bad idea, but I would probably rather have a power pole if I had to choose. You will probably only use the jackplate when going slowly. It won't really help that much for sneaking up on reds. Steath is the key.

The Lencos tab-mounted trollers are good when they're working. But when you have electric motors constantly submerged in salt water, the life span is limited. I also agree with JT about the stopping distance with your boat with the rear mount. A bow mount would be the best solution. The jack plate will help vertically raise the engine for shallow idling, but they are also a great accessory to improve overall performance by reducing drag and improving hydrodynamics. With the semi-planing displacement characteristic of the pontoons, however, those benefits will not be as pronounced.

As an alternative for real stealth and shallow depth, use the pontoon as a mothership to haul a couple kayaks into position and then sneak on into the really skinny stuff on plastic.

I would suggest a 36 volt hand controlled electric on the front. The rear mounted motors are not intended to turn you quickly, and you have to put them in reverse to back up. No prop is designed to turn backward efficiently. Also, with the limited power of an electric, you can pull a load with much more control than you can push it.

A hydraulic jack plate is always a plus. even a toon will handle much easier with a raised motor over a tilted motor.

If i had that big boat, i would tow a nice flats boat behind it just for fishin !

Good info, all. Thanks. The wife's main objection about the trolling motor is its appearance laying accros the bow. It seems with the quick release plate it would be easy to remove on days we know we won't be using it like scalloping and sand bar days. Am I correct? How about keeping a charge on the batteries; since I store the boat at Sheild's will I need to bring the batteries home occasionally?

The quick release plate is easy and allows you to remove the trolling motor at any time.

Your deep cycle batteries should be charged after every use. I would suggest an onboard charger. I plug mine in as soon as I back my boat in the shed, and leave it plugged in all the time. I would think Shields has electricity available.

I think it would be cheapter to buy an aluminum john boat you pull behind the pontoon with a small outboard.

Yep, I know. Another person suggested that solution along with loading yacks and use them to get skinny. Of course, I would have to leave the comfort of the double bimini and all that shade, the reclining chase lounge when the bite is slow, the frig and freezer, etc. all behind to go bake in the sun! Besides, I really don't want to load two adults and two kids in a john boat, head somewhere else and leave the mothership unattended. Anything could happen, like the anchor doesn't hold and she goes wandering about, etc. Plus, I doubt (could be wrong), we could cruise at 35 mph towing a john boat. I love fishing along with the creature comforts we have on the boat. We only draw about 14", so we can get skinny, but not as skinny as some. Thanks to everyone for the great feedback and suggestions. Let's all hope for some decent fishing tomorrow morning! Minnkota 101 riptide with ipilot will arrive on Tuesday! Can't wait to check it out!

iPilot

tallykenj wrote:Good info, all. Thanks. The wife's main objection about the trolling motor is its appearance laying accros the bow. It seems with the quick release plate it would be easy to remove on days we know we won't be using it like scalloping and sand bar days. Am I correct? How about keeping a charge on the batteries; since I store the boat at Sheild's will I need to bring the batteries home occasionally?

Don't worry about aesthetics, an electric motor makes a boat look like a fishing boat. Display it with pride.

You are going to love the spot lock/anchor on the iPilot my favorite feature. I used it offshore to hold over a wreck, when my buddy's wanted to know why we weren't drifting off I told them I had my Talon down... In 100' of water...