And a good electric motor would be....

[riverfisher]

Well, I'm the proud owner of a North River scout. I just picked it up a few weeks ago and have been dressing it up with all the bank account draining, need to have, fish catching contraptions one needs to have fun on the water :grin: .
Now I'm coming to the point of getting a bow mount electric motor. I have looked at Motor Guides and Minn Kotas, and tend to sway to the Kotas. The Genesis motor with the transducer mount on its shaft has really caught my attention.
Any suggestions from the gallery?

[Smj]

riverfisher, I agree with your choice of Minn Kota. I run a 55# Power Drive off the bow of my 17.5' Smoker Stealth. Stevens was able to install the slide bracket so I could still use the jamb cleat and roller when the Minn Kota was on the bow.

I would sure like to hear some input from Motor Guide lovers as to why they prefer Motor Guide over Minn Kota, you sure see a lot of Motor Guides on the "sparkley go fast boats".

I insalled the transducer on the motor housing myself and it was no problem at all, and have had no probs with the transducer or the cable in three years. All it takes is a large hose clamp, some zip ties and a strip of inner tube. If I had it to do over I would do the same, instead of paying, what is it, a $100.00 extra to have the transducer in the head of the motor.

If that Genesis motor is the one that deploys and stows itself don't do it! run screeming! I've heard they had major probs with those motors.


Good luck in what ever you decide to do.

Smj

[bucketmouth]

I have 55 lbs thrust on my Kota fitted to my 16.5 crestliner. Wish I had gotten more thrust. The Minn Kota 101 would be ideal in my opinion and it is what I would get if I ever upgrade.

I have a friend who got the genisis and right off the bat he had problems with the self deployment mechanism. He took it in for warranty work and has had no other problems with it that I know of.

What I like about the Minn Kota models is the foot control. Left foot pressure turns the boat Left samo samo for the right. The Motor Guide models have foot pedals that require up and down pressure to turn left or right. To me, thats like rubbing your head and patting your tummy at the same time. I just don't want to retrain my brain to Motor Guides foot controler.

[shalom]

The bigger the better the MINN KOTAS 101 would be my choice for my next motor . I had a 65 lb thrust on a 22-foot JET-PACE sled and there were times that it wasn;t enough. I now have a 48 lb trust MINN KOTAS ON MY RANGER BOAT . It isn;t big enough for going up river in the wILLAMETTE .
:dance:

[riverfisher]

Well, the boat I have now is pretty heavy, so I will need somthing with lots of power. The more power the better, especially when fishing the Columbia on windy days.

[Joss]

riverfisher:

I just got a 19' NR Sportster in September. I know the manager at the Roseburg store. When I asked him about the motor to get for my boat he said he would do nothing under 65#'s. I might even go higher if I can. But have to save and save my pennies. Buying all the other tuff to get it out drained me. I love the boat though, it hunted great this year.

[shalom]

If i missed welcoming you let me do so now.
Welcome on board . :dance: :smile:

[shalom]

Joss i forgot to type your name in . Sorry for that . I noticed that you were just begining to post . Glad to have you on board . :dance: :smile:

[shalom]

Joss i forgot to type your name in . Sorry for that . I noticed that you were just begining to post . Glad to have you on board . :dance: :smile:

[riverfisher]

Joss,
Friend of mine has a 19'Sportster. We have had some great trips in it. I have had mine on the water twice to get used to the tiller style steering. Haven't fished it yet, but I'm chompin' and the bit!

[sbasser]

I have one of those "fast & sparkly" boats, with a MotorGuide. Before that, I had a 14' skiff with a Minn Kota Power Drive, electric steered. I didn't like it. After a few years, I got one of MotorGuide's electric steered Lazers, and guess what? I didn't like it! In fact, I really hated it, and I don't recommend them. I called the factory, after a repair, and told them I really didn't like it, and they said to ship it back, they'd fix it again. I said no, thanks, I really just don't like it. What did they do? They said to send it back, they'd convert it to a cable steered. Their (then new) single cable steering is wonderful. Don't worry about the toe down/heel down steering, it's fine. The thrust you get depends a lot on which of the 4 props you use. I like the 3 blade, others need the 2 blade, and some like the 4 blade. The fewer blades, the more thrust. I haven't tried the aluminum prop, but would like to give it a go. I also like the 24v. only motors with power saving pulsed throttle. It can give you trouble with sonars, esp. if you try to run them off the TM batteries.

One of my buddies had his "composite shaft" Minn Kota develop a leak and fill the motor with water. He was on a week's vacation, so he called BPS and ordered a new Motor Guide overnighted to Coulee Playland in Electric City. He's still a happy camper. Others I know like Minn Kotas. I think each has some strong points and weak points :cheers: C&R, Steve.

[Smj]

sbasser...Thanx for the input on the Motor Guide electrics! I hope you don't think I'm putting you bass boat owners down when I call your rides "Sparkely go fast boats", I tkink it's a cool name for bass boats. The reason I don't have a bass boat is that I fish for every thing, AND they sure look funny in a hog line. I've seen guys a time or two anchor up for salmon in bass boats though.

I got the 55lb Power Drive with the electronic control and I'm not sure I care for it but, that's all I know. I'm thinking about getting the remote control they have now for the Power Drives for $149.00. My only other electrics have been tiller transom mount on a small boat. I'll stay with Minn Kota because we have Ollie Damons as a local service center if repairs are ever needed, 3 yrs. so far and so good.

Smj

[shalom]

SMJ Have you considered a WALLEYE BOAT ? That is what I have . This is the first boat that I’ve owned that didn’t have a jet pump on it. The only thing that I can’t do with this boat is to go into the whitewater .It looks like a BASS BOAT with higher sides which gives me more freeboard. I HAVE A HIGH REPECED FOR THE OCEAN , BUT I WOULD TAKE IT OVER THE BAR IF I WANTED TO GO OUT . I have seen to many people mess up and get in trouble out there while I was in the COAST GUARD . I do like to fish in the hog lines .It is a little slower than a BASS BOAT because of the higher sides and the added weight . I love I t because of all the fish that I can fish for and not be limited to one fish. :dance: :smile:

[Smj]

shalom....Bass and walleye boat is pretty much what you could call my 17.5' Smoker, along with salmon, trout, perch, whatever boat. I don't think this boat will ever see the ocean though, unless it sees it from the Hwy.!

Smj

[shalom]

SMJ

You have a great boat . Back in the 50 ‘s I wanted a SMOKER CRAFT BOAT in
the worst way .Every time I was walking up the DESCHUTES RIVER from the
mouth and a sled went by I would drool . I eventually got a sled and started guiding up
there .When I start thinking about the DESCHUTES is the only time that I miss having a
sled .You can do so much with your boat .One more thing that I miss about not having a
sled is not having to be so careful about scratching my boat .Please be sure to flag me
down so that we can visit . I have a RANGER BOAT that is white with black sparkles a
and it has STREN DECALS ON THE BOW AND LURE AND JENSEN DECALS ON
THE STEARN . Hope to see you on the river soon . :dance: :smile:

[riverfisher]

I recently traded my dads 16 foot smoker craft sled for some trips on the Quinault River. Great times I had in that old boat, scratches, dings, scrapes and all. The most improtant thing about that boat is that it caught fish!

[sbasser]

Smj wrote: "I hope you don't think I'm putting you bass boat owners down when I call your rides "Sparkely go fast boats", I tkink it's a cool name for bass boats."

We'ns just call 'em "HydroBlasters". C&R, Steve

[Knot in leader]

MotorGuide trolling motors are having lots of troubles. The new digital motors my be OK. But beware if you by a Motorguide that isn't digital.

[Hunt'nFish]

Riverfisher,
I've got an 18ft Tracker w/ a 42lb Minn-Kota w/ autopilot. Love it, especially the autopilot feature. Really cuts down on the steering, just minor corrects every now-n-then. The 42lb thrust is fine for lake fishing, but it's no match for a west wind on the Columbia!! I've added a small 4hp Merc kicker for pulling harnesses for Walleye. Sure I could go to a bigger bowmount but they don't give them away! And I'd probably have to go to a 24v model to really get enough thrust. That means more money spent on batteries & more weight in the boat. I figured I'd just add a small kicker for propulsion and still let the autopilot do the steering. Not a bad idea to have a second backup motor anyway. I plan to rig a parallel kill switch up to a footbutton on the deck so when I hookup on an eye, I can just step on the switch, kill the kicker, and flip the boat around on the bowmount for landing/netting. I won't have to worry about draining batteries & not being able to recharge on those long weekends away from home either.
My advise.... buy the autopilot w/ the highest thrust and longest shaft, you'll need it on the Columbia. If you can keep the prop in the water it won't cavitate and it'll help anchor the bow down in a heavy 3ft chop.

Also, mount your batteries up front to keep the wire length to a minimum. You can get a surprising voltage drop w/ long runs of small guage wire. Use the largest gauge wire and keep it short and you'll realize the full thrust potential of your electric.

An observation...when my batteries get low, the autopilot starts to act screwy (starts going in circles). Better get the main motor started, else you'll be paddling real soon.

Walleye Tracker

[shalom]

Riverfisher .
You will need to decide what kind of fishing you will be doing the most of . If you are going to pull worm harnesses for Walleye an autopilot will be ok most of the time . I had one and found that the wind will come up and make it very hard to keep your boat under control .It will react to slow .I NOW HAVE A FOOT CONTROL THAT IS FAST . You can go from one side to the other or lock to lock in one second. It makes it a whole lot easier for controlling your boat in the wind. If you want to do any Bass fishing I think that an autopilot will be disappointing. That has been my experience. :dance:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[riverfisher]

Thanks for all the input on this subject. I have always been a bass fisherman and look forward to learning how to catch walleye on the Columbia. Because of the weight of my boat (1400 LBS.not including motors), I think the more thrust the better.

[shalom]

You will not go wrong with bigger is BETTER . You do not need to use full power very often , but it is nice to have when you want it .Go with 36- volt would be my suggestion
. If money is a problem , I would wait until I could afford it and do without for awhile . If you were to buy a smaller size you would have to sell it and probably not get what it was worth . Please feel free to come to an OREGON BASS AND PANFISH CLUB MEETING . We are a family oriented club that likes to help people catch fish . :dance:
Drop me an e-mail for more info . :laugh: laf: :laugh:

[Dr Strangelove]

I'm getting the Minn Kota 74PD bowmount with Copilot installed on my 19ft NR Sportster tomorrow. I can hardly wait. Small mouth and summer steelie watch out!

[Dr Strangelove]

Well I can tell you the MK 74pd has loads of power and the copilot is great, but I don't really like the microtouch foot pedal it comes with. I think cable drives are superior for better control. If not for the copilot ability to stay under cover while trolling when raining, I would not opt for this system again. I also think the autopilot might have been a good investment but I didn't really want to spend the extra $200.