What LB. Thrust for Drift Boat

Rustyoar · 02-04-2004, 07:04 AM

I have 50lb thurst minnkota but have never used it on the 17 glass DB. What do you think??? Enough power???

stevo · 02-04-2004, 07:12 AM

Depends on what you are doing, but should be sufficient. A DB is, essentially, a displacement type hull, it therefore requires very little thrust to move it, the flipside is that a DB just won't go very fast, period. I have #14 electric, really just a toy, that I have used on my 14' DB, trolling in lakes. The lowest setting makes for a nice slow troll. Also have a 4hp kicker, have been able to fish all ove rthe Willy and even in the big C last summer at low flow.

Salmon Stryker · 02-04-2004, 07:17 AM

I assume your talking for side drifting applications. If you can reverse the head it should slow your drift and allow you to steer the boat down the stream. It most likely won't get you back up stream though. Most guy's say that to get back upstream you need at least 65-70 pounds of thrust.
When you give it a try I'd be interested to hear how it does. I've been researching this for a while and plan to put an electric on my boat sometime in the near future.

Rustyoar · 02-04-2004, 07:23 AM

Salmon Stryker that is exactly what I had hoped it would accomplish for SDing. I would like to have the abality to motor up stream to re-run a hole as well???? We'll see.

Wet_Willy · 02-04-2004, 08:15 AM

Rusty Oar,
A 50# won't get you back upstream very effectively but it will slow you down enough for sidedrifting and controlling the boat. I've got a 55 Minn Kota on my 16' boat and I use it a lot. On the highest setting it is surprising how effective the thrust is. In moderately heavy current it will hold you in place and possibly upstream at a slow rate. If you can get to the soft water out of the current you can run upstream though.

I bought it knowing the limitations and if you can't row back up quickly you aren't going to motor back up with that motor either. Cost was a major factor for me and a single battery vs multiple batteries sealed it.

Carry an extra prop. They bust pretty quickly when running upstream in that shallow soft water.

cosmo · 02-04-2004, 08:17 AM

The main problem you'll find with a motor powered by a single battery is longevity. It may get you upstream a couple of times, but running at 100% the battery will be toast very quickly. I have a two battery system and can drain both batteries by early afternoon making extra passes through slots.
You could maximize fishing time by not making the upstream reruns.
Good luck.

Salmonator · 02-04-2004, 08:39 AM

70lb + for what you want to do.