Electric Motors

[birdhunter]

Okay, so I just inherited a brand new 30 lb thrust Minn Kota. My understanding is that it would be a bit light for holding a drift boat on most rivers. I prefer the sticks anyways, but wouldn't mind trying it out. Can anyone give me some basics on this electric. Like, dislike, stick to the lakes with it?

[ 05-20-2002, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: birdhunter ]

[JeepMcMuddy]

You'll hate it....give it to me and i'll take care of it for you :wink:

Seriously, I have have no experience with dB's but the Endura 30 is a fine little motor. The shaft is only 30" though, isnt that way too short for a db?? Its got more than enough power for trolling lakes, but not sure it'll push you much against a river current. Might need something beefier. Whatever you do enjoy your fishin time!

[BUGLEMAN]

It should hold and back troll just fine. As you already know don't expect it to walk on water :smile: Fire it up you will be one happy camper. Let me know how things work out. The 55 we put on my 16' fishrite was more than enough.

[Wet_Willy]

BH,
I got a 50# 42" endura this year and it works fine in moderate current. Even pulls me back upstream in most situations (but I don't use it like that). The biggest issue is the juice. Mine is a 12volt and at 3 or above it drains the battery pretty quickly. About 2 hrs running time when I average 3 power or higher out of 5 speeds. I reversed the head so I have 5 backtrolling speeds and 3 forward speeds. In moderate current (like most slots on the Clack under the current flow) I can easily backtroll at 3power alternating with 2 power to move downstream slowly. Control is a major issue for me though. Haven't mastered it yet. It is the opposite of rowing and with the power head reversed for backtrolling it is a little more confusing adjusting speeds. I haven't used it a lot for backtrolling because of that. I do use it to straighten the boat out and keep it in line while free drifting through long drifts. This allows me to fish instead of just staying on the sticks while my passengers boondoggle. For this use, I think any trolling motor with a long enough shaft will be an asset. Hope that is helpful.

Bill

[Snapset]

If you are going to clamp it to the transom, you will have to offset your anchor pulley. I did this and it actually hepled reduce swaying when anchored in current.

The 30 lb. MinnKota won't hold you in a current that is faster than walking speed, but it can help a lot. What I sometimes do is spin the motor around so the handle is pointing behind me, and lock the motor so it wont turn. I turn it on 5, then get on the sticks and control my rate of descent through the hole. I would only bother with this at the start of a long run, but it will save a considerable amount of energy. You would also be surprised how much current you can travel upstream against with this method.

If you are going to use the motor exclusively on the river, do what Wet Willy did. I have 2 of the motors you mentioned, and I reversed the power heads, built a yoke to mount them on, and put them near the front of my boat for lake trolling. Reversing the heads is a simple 5 minute job. I added a rudder to the back of my DB and I can handle almost any wind, now.

[Williedrifter]

Birdhunter the 30 will do little more than move you slowly downriver, through frog water or such. I had a 54 and returned it for a 74 that has plenty of holding power and power to move upstream through pretty fast water. I would still use the 30, but mainly for boat positioning for long single pass drifts and motoring in after picking up a limit at the top end of the drift. :grin:
Snapset, you run two 30 lb motors and you have a rudder, wow. You better patent that before willie starts offering it as a option on new boats :grin: